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Earth Science Gr7
Chapter 5
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| weathering | the mechanical and chemical processes that change Earth's surface over time |
| mechanical weathering | physical processes that naturally break rocks into smaller pieces |
| chemical weathering | the process that changes the composition of rocks and minerals due to exposure to the environment |
| oxidation | the process that combines the element oxygen with other elements or molecules |
| soil | mixture of weathered rock, rock fragments, decayed organic matter, water, and air |
| organic matter | remains of something that was once alive |
| pore | small hole or space in soil |
| decomposition | the breaking down of dead organisms and organic waste |
| parent material | that starting material of soil consisting of rock or sediment that is subject to weathering |
| climate | long-term average weather conditions that occur in a particular region |
| topography | the shape and steepness of the landscape |
| biota | all of the organisms that live in a region |
| horizon | layer of soil formed from the movement of the products of weathering |