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BSS Chapter 8 Vocab
Weathering and Ersosion
21
Science
11th Grade
12/19/2008

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Term

carbonic acid

[image]

Definition
A weak acid (H2CO3) that forms from the reaction of water and carbon dioxide. Most rain water is a very weak carbonic acid solution formed by the reaction of rain with small amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Term

[image]soil

Definition
Soil is the naturally occurring, unconsolidated or loose covering on the Earth's surface. Soil is made up of broken rock particles that have been altered by chemical and environmental conditions, affected by processes such as weathering and erosion
Term
landslide[image]
Definition
A downslope movement of rock and soil over a failure surface and under the influence of gravity. Slumps, earthflows, debris flows and debris slides are examples.
Term
chemical weathering[image]
Definition
The breaking down of surface rock material by solution or chemical alteration. Common alteration processes are oxidation and hydrolysis.
Term
[image]mass movement
Definition

A general term used for any downslope movement of rock, soil, snow or ice under the influence of gravity. Includes: landslides, creep, rock falls and avalanches.

Term
soil erosion[image]
Definition
Soil erosion by water, wind and tillage affects both agriculture and the natural environment.
Term

creep[image]

Definition
 to slip or gradually shift position b: to change shape permanently from prolonged stress or exposure to high temperatures.
Term
mechanical weathering[image]
Definition
 general term applied to a variety of weathering processes that result in the particle size reduction of rock materials with no change in composition. Frost action, salt crystal growth and pressure relief fracturing are examples. Also known as physical weathering.
Term
soil profile[image]
Definition
 A profile is a side view of a person. So a soil profile must be the side view of soil. There are six layers to the soil profile. They are as follows from the top:
Term
erosion[image]
Definition
A general term applied to the wearing away and movement of earth materials by gravity, wind, water and ice.
Term
mudflow[image]
Definition
A type of mass movement composed mainly of clay-size materials with a high enough water content that it flows readily.
Term
exfoliation[image]
Definition
A physical weathering process in which concentric layers of rock are removed from an outcrop.
Term
oxidation[image]
Definition
A chemical reaction in which substances combine with oxygen. For example, the combination of iron with oxygen to form an iron oxide.
Term
top soil[image]
Definition
Topsoil is the upper, outermost layer of soil, usually the top 2 to 8 inches. It has the highest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms and is where most of the Earth's biological soil activity occurs.
Term
hydrolysis[image]
Definition
A chemical reaction involving water that results in the breakdown of mineral material.
Term
parent material[image]
Definition
A radioactive element that spontaneously decays into a new substance. The product of this decay is known as a "daughter" element.
Term
transpoted soil[image]
Definition
Residual soil is soil that stays where it was created. If the boulder is local and has come to the surface through natural processes such as frost heaving and then breaks down into soil that remains in the area, it is residual.
Term
ice wedging[image]
Definition
An ice wedge is a crack in the ground formed by a narrow or thin piece of ice that measures anywhere from 3 to 4 meters wide and extends downwards into the ground up to 10 inches.
Term
residual soil[image]
Definition
the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock.
Term
weathering[image]
Definition

Weathering is the decomposition of earth rocks, soils and their minerals through direct contact with the planet's atmosphere[1]. Weathering occurs in situ, or "with no movement", and thus should not to be confused with erosion, which involves the movement of rocks and minerals by agents such as water, ice, wind, and gravity.

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