Term
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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. |
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Term
chemical weathering [image] |
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Definition
| The breaking down of surface rock material by solution or chemical alteration. Common alteration processes are oxidation and hydrolysis. |
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Definition
| creep of soil on even slopes; often accelerated by spring freeze-and-thaw or general periglacial conditions. |
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Term
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Definition
| A general term applied to the wearing away and movement of earth materials by gravity, wind, water and ice. |
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Definition
| A physical weathering process in which concentric layers of rock are removed from an outcrop. |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical reaction involving water that results in the breakdown of mineral material |
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Term
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Definition
| Some 35% of Earth's land area undergoes regular freezing and thawing. Ice heaving and ice wedging are two of the mechanisms by which water in soil lifts, penetrates, and sorts soils and rocks when repeatedly melted and frozen. Ice heaving is the lifting of soil by horizontal ice layers; ice wedging is the top-down growth into soil of vertical wedges of ice. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
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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. |
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Term
mechanical weathering [image] |
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Definition
| A 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. |
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Term
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Definition
| A type of mass movement composed mainly of clay-size materials with a high enough water content that it flows readily. |
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