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chapter2
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| uniformitarianism | The geological principle that the same geological processes that operate today operated in the past to change earths surface |
| erosion | the process by which water, ice , wind or gravity moves weathered particles of rock or soil |
| weathering | the various mechanical and chemical processes that cause exposed rock to decompose |
| mechanical weathering | any of the various weathering processes that cause physical disintegration of exposed rock without any change in the chemical composition of the rock |
| chemical weathering | any of the various weathering processes that cause exposed rock to undergo chemical decomposition, changing the chemical and mineralogical composition of the rock |
| abrasion | a scraped spot or area; the result of rubbing or abrading |
| frost wedging | a type of mechanical weathering where water seeps into cracks in rocks, freezes and expands, and then thaws and refreezes repeatedly, exerting pressure that breaks the rock apart into smaller fragments |
| oxidation | the deposit that forms on the surface of a metal as it oxidizes |
| permeable | something that allows liquids or gasses to pass through it |
| soil | the loose mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, gases, and organisms found on the Earth's surface that supports plant life by providing water and nutrients |
| bedrock | unbroken solid rock, overlaid in most places by soil |
| humus | decomposed plant matter |
| fertillity | the capacity to supply nutrients in proper amounts for plant growth |
| loam | a rich, friable soil containing a relatively equal mixture of sand and silt and a somewhat smaller proportion of clay |
| pH scale | a scale from 0 to 14 that measures how acidic or basic a substance is |
| soil horizon | distinct horizontal layers within a soil profile, each with its own physical and chemical properties, formed by processes like decomposition, erosion, and mineral accumulation |
| topsoil | the uppermost layer of soil on Earth's surface, crucial for plant life because it is rich in organic matter, minerals, sand, silt, and clay |
| subsoil | the soil lying immediately under the surface soil, typically containing more clay, stones, etc. and less organic matter |
| decomposer | an organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material |
| natural resource | any naturally occurring substance or asset, such as air, water, minerals, or sunlight, that is available in the environment and is valuable to humans for their survival and development |
| soil conservation | a set of practices designed to protect soil from erosion and degradation, thereby preserving soil fertility and ensuring long-term sustainability for agriculture and ecosystems |
| crop rotation | the practice of planting a different crop in the same field or garden area each year to improve soil health, manage pests and diseases, and boost crop yields |
| contour plowing | an agricultural method of tilling and planting crops along the natural curves (contours) of a slope, rather than up and down the hill |
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mwienclaw002
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