Question | Answer |
Weathering | The process by which rock materials are broken down by the action of physical and chemical processes. |
Mechanical weathering | The breakdown of rock into smaller pieces by physical means. |
Abrasion | The grinding and wearing away of rock surfaces through the mechanical action of other rock or sand particles. |
Chemical Weathering | The process by which rocks break down as a result of chemical reactions. |
Acid Precipitation | Rain, sleet, or snow, that contains a high concentrations of acid. |
Differential weathering | The process by which softer, less weather resistant rocks wear away and leave harder, more weather resistant rocks behind. |
Soil | A loose mixture of rock fragments, organic material, water, and air that can support the growth of vegetation. |
Parent rock | A rock formation that is the source of soil. |
Bedrock | The layer of rock beneath soil. |
Soil texture | The soil quality that is based on the proportions of soil particles. |
Soil structure | The arrangement of soil particles. |
Humus | The dark, organic material formed in soil from the decayed remains of plants and animals. |
Leaching | The removal of substances that can be dissolved from rock, ore, or layers of soil due to the passing of water. |
Soil conservation | A method to maintain the fertility of the soil by protecting the soil from erosion and nutrient loss. |
Erosion | The process by which wind, water, ice, or gravity transport soil and sediment from one location to another. |