Term
| when does mechanical weathering occur? |
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Definition
| when physical forces break rock into smaller pieces without changing the rocks mineral composition |
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Term
| name the three physical processes that cause mechanical weathering |
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Definition
| frost wedging--- unloading--- and biological activity |
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Term
| describe frost weathering |
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Definition
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Term
| slabs of outer rock separate like the layers of an onion and break loose in a process called |
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Definition
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Term
| what is meant by biological activity? |
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Definition
| the activities of organisms, including plants, burrowing animals, and humans can also cause mechanical weathering |
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Term
| explain chemical weathering |
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Definition
| is the transfromation of rock into one or more new compounds |
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Term
| _______ is the most important agent of chemical weathering |
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Definition
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Term
| can chemical weathering change the physical shape of rock |
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Definition
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Term
| what two factors affect the rate of weathering? |
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Definition
| rock characteristics---climate |
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Term
| give an example of a rock characteristic |
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Definition
| physical characteristics of rock |
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Term
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Definition
| the layer of rock and mineral fragements that nearly everywhere covers earths surface |
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Term
| name the four major components of soil |
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Definition
| air--water--organic matter--mineral matter |
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Term
| what are the most important factors in soil formation? |
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Definition
| parent material, time, climate, organisms, and slope |
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Term
| soil varies in composition,_______,________, and _______ at different depths |
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Definition
| composition, texture, structure, and color at different depths |
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Term
| what are the three common types of soil? |
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Definition
| pedalfer, pedocal, and laterite |
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Term
| how do human activities affect rates of erosion? |
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Definition
| human activities that remove natural vegetation, such as farming, logging, and construction, have greatly accelerated erosion |
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Term
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Definition
| the transfer of rock and soil downslope due to gravity |
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Term
| what triggers mass movements? |
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Definition
| saturation of surface materials with water, oversteepening of slopes, removal of vegetation, and earthquakes |
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Term
| how do geologists classify mass movements? |
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Definition
| based on the kind of material that moves, how it moves, and the speed of movement |
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Term
| when does rockfall occur? |
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Definition
| when rocks or rock fragments fall freely through the air |
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Term
| how do mudflows differ from earthflows? |
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Definition
| mudflows move quickly and earthflows move relatively slowly |
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