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Weathering, Erosion,
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| weathering | breakdown of rocks, soils, and minerals through physical, chemical, or biological processes caused by atmospheric conditions, water, and organisms |
| physical weathering | the process of breaking down rocks, minerals, and soils into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition |
| abrasion | the mechanical process of wearing, grinding, or scraping away surfaces through friction and impact, caused by moving particles in wind, water, or ice |
| chemical weathering | the process where rocks and minerals are broken down, altered, or dissolved through chemical reactions, changing their original molecular structure and composition rather than just their size |
| oxidation | the loss of electrons by a molecule, atom, or ion during a reaction |
| acid precipitation | any form of precipitation—rain, snow, fog, or dust—with high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids, typically |
| erosion | the geological process in which earth materials—soil, rock, and sediments—are worn away and transported by natural forces like water, wind, or ice |
| deposition | the settling of sediment (sand, soil, rocks) transported by water, wind, or ice to new locations, creating landforms |
| floodplain | a dynamic, productive ecosystem subject to periodic flooding, which acts as natural storage for floodwaters and connects aquatic and terrestrial habitats. |
| delta | a landform created at the mouth of a river where it deposits sediment (silt, sand, clay) as it slows upon entering a standing body of water like an ocean, lake, or wetland |
| alluvial fan | a fan-shaped or cone-shaped deposit of sediment—including gravel, sand, and mud—built up by streams where they emerge from narrow, steep mountain canyons onto a flat valley floor |
| groundwater | fresh water located beneath the Earth's surface, filling the pore spaces, cracks, and fractures in soil, sand, and rock formations |
| shoreline | the line of intersection between water and land, frequently mapped at the mean high water mark. |
| beach | a dynamic coastal landform composed of loose, unconsolidated sediment—such as sand, gravel, or shell fragments—accumulated by wave action, tides, and currents |
| sandbar | a submerged or partly exposed ridge of sand, gravel, or silt built up in water—such as rivers, lakes, or coastal oceans—by the action of waves and currents |
| barrier island | a long, narrow, offshore deposit of sand or sediment running parallel to the coastline, separated from the mainland by a shallow sound, bay, or salt marsh |
| dune | a hill, ridge, or mound of accumulated sediment—typically sand—formed by the action of wind or water, acting as a dynamic, evolving landform in desert or coastal environments |
| loess | a widespread, fine-grained, yellowish-gray, wind-blown (eolian) sediment composed mainly of silt-sized quartz grains |
| glacier | large, perennial accumulations of ice, snow, and rock that form on land and flow downhill under their own weight |
| glacial drift | the comprehensive term for all sediment, including clay, sand, gravel, and boulders, that has been transported by a glacier and deposited either directly from the melting ice or by running water meltwater streams |
| creep | the slow, time-dependent, and permanent deformation of solid materials subjected to persistent mechanical stress, often occurring at high temperatures |
| rockfall | a rapid geological process involving the detachment, free-fall, bouncing, and rolling of rock fragments or boulders from steep slopes or cliffs |
| landslide | the downslope movement of rock, debris, soil, or earth under the direct influence of gravity |
| mudflow | a rapid, high-density mass movement of water-saturated soil, rock debris, and fine-grained earth material, acting as a viscous fluid that flows downslope, often following drainageways. |
| mountain | a large-scale landform that rises prominently above its surroundings, typically characterized by steep slopes, a confined summit area, and significant local relief. |
| lake | a relatively large, inland, standing body of water (lentic ecosystem) occupying a basin |
| river | a natural, flowing watercourse—typically freshwater—that moves under gravity from higher elevations (headwaters) to a lower elevation, |
| coastline | the dynamic, constantly shifting boundary where land meets a large body of water, typically an ocean or sea |
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