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Unit 8
Weathering, Erosion, Deposition, and Landforms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Weathering | the natural process by which atmospheric and environmental agents, 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 form 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 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 |