Earth Science: Chapter 8 – Weathering and Soil Formation – Flashcards
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weathering
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the chemical and physical processes that break down rock at Earth's surface
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erosion
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the process by which water, ice, wind, or gravity moves weathered rock or soil
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uniformitarianism
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the geologic principle that the same geologic processes that operate today operated in the past to change Earth's surface
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mechanical weathering
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the type of weathering in which rock is physically broken down into smaller pieces
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abrasion
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the grinding away of rock by other rock
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ice wedging
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process that splits rock when water seeps into cracks, then freezes and expands
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chemical weathering
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the process that breaks down rock through chemical changes
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oxidation
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a chemical change in which a substance combines with oxygen, as when iron oxidizes, forming rust
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permeable
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characteristic of a material that is full of tiny, connected air spaces that water can seep through
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soil
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the loose, weathered material on Earth's surface in which plants can grow
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bedrock
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the solid layer of rock beneath the soil
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humus
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dark-colored organic material in soil
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fertility
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a measure of how well soil supports plant grown
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loam
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rich, fertile soil that is made up of about equal parts of clay, sand, and silt
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soil horizon
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the layer of soil that differs in color and texture from the layers above or below it
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topsoil
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mixture of humus, clay, and other minerals that forms the crumbly, topmost layer of soil
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subsoil
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the layer of soil beneath the topsoil that contains mostly clay and other minerals
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litter
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the loose layer of dead plant leaves and stems on the surface of the soil
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decomposer
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soil organism that breaks down the remains of organisms and digests them
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sod
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a thick mass of grass roots and soil
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natural resource
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anything in the environment that humans use
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Dust Bowl
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the area of the Great Plains where wind erosion caused soil loss during the 1930's
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soil conservation
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the management of soil to prevent its destruction
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contour plowing
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plowing fields along the curves of a slope to prevent soil loss
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conservation plowing
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soil conservation method in which the dead stalks from the previous year's crop are left in the ground to hold the soil in place
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crop rotation
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the planting of different crops in a field each year to maintain the soil's fertility
