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Weathering and soil formation
Chapter 7 key terms
32
Science
7th Grade
12/04/2006

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Term
weathering
Definition
process that breaks down rock and other substances at Earth's surface
Term
erosion
Definition
movement of rock particlesby wind, water, ice, or gravity
Term
physical/mechanical weathering
Definition
type of weathering in which rock is PHYSICALLY broken down into smaller pieces
Term
abrasion
Definition
the grinding away of rock by rock particles carried by water, ice, wind, or gravity
Term
ice wedging
Definition
water seeps into cracks and since it freezes it acts as a wedge, widening and deepening cracks in rocks
Term
chemical weathering
Definition
process that breaks down rock through chemical changesby water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, living organisms, and acid rain
Term
permeable
Definition
means that a material is full of tiny, connected air spaces that allow water to seep through it
Term
soil
Definition
loose, weathered material on Earth's surface in which plants can grow
Term
bedrock
Definition
solid layer of rock beneath the soil
Term
humus
Definition
dark-colored substance that forms as plant and animal remains decay
Term
soil horizon
Definition
layer of soil that differs in color and texture from the layers above or below it
Term
topsoil
Definition
crumbly, dark-brown soil that is a mixture of humus, clay, and other minerals
Term
subsoil
Definition
usually consists of clay and other particles washed down from the A horizon, but little humus
Term
litter
Definition
loose layer of leaves formed by shedded leaves from plants
Term
decomposers
Definition
organisms that break down the remains of dead organisms into smaller pieces and digest them with chemicals
Term
sod
Definition
thick mass of tough roots at the surface of the soil
Term
renewable resource
Definition
resource that is naturally replaced in a relatively short time
Term
Dust Bowl
Definition
area where wind erosion caused severe loss of topsoil
Term
soil conaservetion
Definition
management of soil to prevent its destruction
Term
contour plowing
Definition
practice of plowing fields along the curves of a slope
Term
conservation plowing
Definition
disturbs the soil and its plant cover as little as possible
Term
the factors that cause mechanical/physical weathering
Definition
freezing and thawing, release of pressure, growth of plants, actions of animals, and abrasion
Term
three causes of chemical weathering
Definition
-if rocks contain iron, then in the presence of water, oxygen will make it rust and crumble
-plants' roots produce an acid that slowly dissolves the rock
-acid rain can be formed and greatly weather rock
Term
the factors that affect the rate of weathering
Definition
climate and type of rock
Term
reason why rocks weather more in hot, rainy climates than in cold, dry ones
Definition
chemical reactions occur faster at higher temperatures, and water is a factor of chemical weathering
Term
weathering's role in the formation of soil
Definition
weathering creates the soil by weathering the bedrock into smaller and smaller pieces
Term
the different materials that make up topsoil
Definition
rock particles, organic matter,minerals, water, and air
Term
the way plants and animals affect the formation and composition of soil
Definition
plants become most of the humus in the soil, animals mix it and bring in humus throughout it, some other animals also become humus
Term
difference between forest soils and prairie soils
Definition
forest soils are lacking great amounts of humus where as prairie soils have great amounts of humus
Term
the importance of soil as one of Earth's resources
Definition
everything depends directly or indirectly on soil
Term
what the settlers did that helped make the Dust Bowl
Definition
they plowed away the grass, leaving the soil exposed
Term
loam
Definition
soil made of equal amounts of clay, silt, and sand
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