Chapter 7: Weathering, Erosion and Soil – Flashcards

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the process by which rocks on or near earth's surface breakdown or change
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weathering
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the removal and transport of weathered material from one location to another
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erosion
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the type of weathering by which rocks and minerals break down into smaller pieces
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mechanical weathering
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mechanical weathering is also called
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physical weathering
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these are the two major factors of mechanical weathering
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temperature and pressure
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Frozen water takes up __% more space than liquid water
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9
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the repeated thawing and freezing of water in the cracks of rocks
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frost wedging
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the process by which outer rock layers are stripped away
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exfoliation
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the process by which rocks and minerals undergo changes in their composition as the result of chemical reactions
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chemical weathering
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agents of chemical weathering include: water, oxygen, carbon dioxide and ______
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acids
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the rate of chemical weathering reactions doubles with each __°C increase in temperature
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10
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the reaction of water with other substances
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hydrolysis
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the chemical reaction of oxygen with other substances
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oxidation
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the percent of earth's atmosphere which is oxygen gas
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21
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this atmospheric gas contributes to the chemical weathering process by combining with water and forming carbonic acid
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carbon dioxide
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the variables which effect the rate of weathering
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climate, rock type and composition, surface area and topography and other variables
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this type of weathering occurs in climates with warm temperatures, abundant rainfall and lush vegetation
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chemical weathering
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this type of weathering occurs in cool, dry climates
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mechanical weathering
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this rock type is the most susceptible to weathering processes
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sedimentary
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the interaction between __________ and ____________ has the greatest effect on a region's rate of weathering
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temperature, precipitation
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when materials are dropped in a location in a process known as this, the final stage in the erosional process
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deposition
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this force is associated with many erosional agents, because this force tends to pull all materials downslope
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gravity
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the erosion by running water in small channels, on the side of a slope
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rill erosion
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when a channel becomes deep and wide it can evolve into this type of erosion, gullies can be more than 3m deep
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gully erosion
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coastal areas undergo erosion by ____________ and ______
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ocean waves, wind
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when a river enters a large body of water, such as the ocean, the water slows down and deposits large amounts of sediments, forming these
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deltas
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agents of erosion
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gravity, running water, glaciers and wind
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a major erosional agent in areas with limited precipitation and high temperatures
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wind
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erode by scraping, gouging and picking up large rock and debris piles
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glaciers
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the loose covering of broken rock particles and decaying organic matter, called humus, overlying the bedrock of earth's surface
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soil
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the solid bedrock from which weathered pieces of rock first break off
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parent bedrock
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soil located above its parent material
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residual soil
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soil that has been moved from its parent bedrock to another location
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transported soil
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the vertical sequence of soil layers
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soil profile
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a distinct layer, or zone, within a soil profile
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soil horizon
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the three major soil horizons
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A, B and C
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high concentrations of organic matter and humus are found in this soil horizon (soils rich in humus are usually dark coloured)
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A
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organic, dark material remaining after decomposition of living organisms
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humus
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this soil horizon contains subsoils that are enriched with clay minerals
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B
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this soil horizon is directly above the bedrock and contains weathered parent material
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C
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this soil horizon commonly has a zone of accumulation consisting of soluble minerals that have been washed out from the topsoil, the horizon may be red or brown in colour due to the presence of iron oxides
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B
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in the B soil horizon this hard material is commonly found, which may be so dense that it doesn't allow much water through it
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hardpan
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dependant on the region, this effects the thickness of the developing soil
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topography
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slopes facing this direction receive more direct sunlight and have somewhat thicker soils that slopes facing in other directions
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south
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which has more fertile soils valleys or slopes
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slopes
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the four major types of soil (alphabetical)
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desert, polar, temperate and tropical
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these soils form at high altitudes and high elevations such as Greenland, Canada and Antartica, the soil has good drainage but no distinct horizons because they are very shallow
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polar soils
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permanently frozen ground
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permafrost
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these soils vary greatly and are able to support such diverse environments as forests, grasslands and prairies
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temperate soils
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these soils receive low levels of precipitation, as a result they often have accumulated salts and can support only a limited amount of vegetation
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desert soils
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these soils experience high temperatures and heavy rainfall, leading to intensely weathered and often infertile soil
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tropical soils
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particles of soil are classified according to this
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size
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the smallest particle of soil
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clay
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the largest particle of soil
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sand
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the measure of how well a soil can support the growth of plants
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soil fertility
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a soil's ___________ and the _______ in which it developed are the main factors that determine a soil's colour
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composition, climate
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