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Chpt 2 section 1 & 2
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Weathering | Process that breaks down rock and other substances at Earth’s surface due to heat, cold, water, and ice. |
Erosion | The movement of rock particles by wind, water, ice, or gravity. |
Mechanical weathering | A type of weathering in which rock is physically broken into smaller pieces (ex: freezing and thawing, growth of plants, etc...) |
Abrasion | The grinding away of rock by rock particles carried by water, ice, wind, or gravity. |
Ice wedging | Wedges of ice in rocks widen and deepen cracks. |
Chemical weathering | The process that breaks down rock through chemical changes. Ex. = water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and acid rain |
Permeable | A material that is full of tiny, connected air spaces that allow water to seep through it. |
Soil | The loose, weathered material on Earth’s surface in which plants can grow |
Bedrock | The solid layer of rock beneath the soil.The solid layer of rock beneath the soil. |
Humus | The dark-colored substance that forms as plant and animal remains decay. |
Loam | Soil that is made up of about equal parts of clay, sand, and silt. |
Soil horizon | A layer of soil that differs in color and texture from the layers above or below it |
Topsoil | Mixture of humus, clay, and other minerals that forms the crumbly, topmost layer of soil. |
Subsoil | The layer of soil beneath the topsoil that contains mostly clay and other minerals. |
Litter | The loose layer of dead plant leaves and stems on the surface of the soil. |
Decomposer | Organisms that break the remains of dead organisms into smaller pieces and digest them with chemicals. |