click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Unit 8
Erosion, Deposition, Weathering and Landforms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Weathering | The natural process by which atmospheric and environmental, such as wind, rain and temperature changes, disintegrate and decompose rocks. |
| physical weathering | The mechanical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces that is caused by natural processes and that does not change the chemical composition of the rock material. |
| abrasion | The process by which rock is reduced in size by the scraping action of other rocks driven by water, wind and gravity |
| chemical weathering | The chemical breakdown and decomposition of rocks by natural processes in the environment. |
| oxidation | A chemical reaction in which a material combines with oxygen to from a new material; in geology, oxidation is a form of chemical weathering. |
| acid precipitation | precipitation, such as rain, sleet, or snow, that contains a high concentration of acids, often because of the pollution of the atmosphere |
| erosion | The process by the which wind, water, ice or gravity transports soil and sediment from one location to another. |
| deposition | The process in which material is laid down. |
| floodplain | An area along a river that forms from sediments deposited when the river overflows its banks. |
| delta | A mass of material deposited in a triangular or fan shape at the mouth of a river or stream |
| alluvial fan | A fan-shaped mass of rock material deposited by a stream when the slope of the land decreases sharply. |
| groundwater | The water that is beneath Earth's surface. |
| shoreline | The boundary between land and a body of water. |
| beach | An area of the shoreline that is made up of deposited sediment. |
| sandbar | A low ridge of sand deposited along the shore of a lake or sea |
| barrier island | A long ridge of sand or narrow island that lies parallel to the shore. |
| dune | A mound of wind-deposited sand that moves as a result of the action of wind |
| loess | Fine-grained sediments of quartz, feldspar, hornblende, mica and clay deposited by the wind |
| glacier | A large mass of ice that exists year-round and moves over land |
| glacial drift | The rock material carried and deposited by glaciers |
| creep | The slow downhill movement of weathered rock material |
| rockfall | The rapid mass movement of rock down a steep slope or cliff |
| landslide | The sudden movement of rock and soil down a slope |
| mudflow | The flow of a mass of mud or rock and soil mixed with a larger amount of water |
| mountain | An area of significantly increased elevation on Earth's surface, usually rising to a summit |
| river | A large natural stream of water that flows across land surfaces |
| lake | A filled or partially filled basin of fresh or salt water surrounded by land |
| coastline | A location where land and ocean surface meet |