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Weathering and Soil
Weathering and Soil Formation Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| mechanical weathering | the breaking up of rocks by physical forces |
| desertification | the expansion of desert conditions in areas where the natural plant cover has been destroyed |
| exfoliation | a process in which layers or sheets of rock gradually break off |
| soil horizon | a layer of soil with properties that differ from those of the layer above or below it |
| soil profile | the soil horizons in a specific location |
| chemical weathering | the breakdown of rocks by chemical reactions that change the rocks’ makeup, or composition |
| weathering | the process by which natural forces break down rocks |
| humus | decayed organic matter in soil |
| abrasion | the process of wearing down by friction, the rubbing of one object or surface against another |