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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
The process that breaks down rock and other substances at Earth's surface.
Term
Erosion
Definition
The movement of rock particles by wind, water, ice, or gravity.
Term
Mechanical/Physical Weathering
Definition
The type of weathering in which rock is physically broken 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
the process where wedges of ice in rocks widen and deepen cracks.
Term
Chemical weathering
Definition
the process that breaks down rock through chemical changes.
Term
Permeable
Definition
when a material is full of tiny, connected air spaces that allow water to seep through it.
Term
Soil
Definition
The loose, weathered material on Earth's surface in which plants can grow.
Term
Bedrock
Definition
The solid layer of rock beneath the soil.
Term
Humus
Definition
A dark-colored substance that forms as plant and animal remains decay.
Term
Loam
Definition
Soil that is made up of about equal parts of clay,sand,and silt.
Term
Soil horizon
Definition
A layer of soil that differs in color and texture from the layers above or below it.
Term
Topsoil
Definition
A crumbly,dark,brown soil that is a mixture of humus,clay,and other materials,
Term
Subsoil
Definition
Consists of clay and other particles washed down from the A horizon,but little humus.
Term
Litter
Definition
The loose layer of dead plant leaves and stems on the surface of the soil.
Term
Decomposers
Definition
The organisms that break the remains of dead organisms into smaller pieces and digest them with chemicals.
Term
Sod
Definition
The thick mass of tough roots at the surface of the soil.
Term
Renewable Resource
Definition
A resource that is naturally replaced in a relatively short time.
Term
The Dust Bowl
Definition
Was an area where wind erosion caused severe loss of topsiol suring the 1930's
Term
Soil Conservation
Definition
The management of soil to prevent its destruction.
Term
Contour Plowing
Definition
the 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
release of pressure, freezing and thawing, plant growth, abrasion, and animal actions.
Definition
Factors that cause mechanical weathering.
Term
Water,oxygen, and acid rain.
Definition
Three causes of chemical weathering.
Term
Type of rock amd Climate
Definition
Factors that affect the rate of weathering.
Term
Why chemical weathering occurs faster in hot,wet climates than in cool,dry climates.
Definition
Chemical reaction occur faster at higher temperatures.
Term
Soil forms as rock is broken down by weathering.
Definition
role weathering plays in the formation of soil.
Term
water/air,sand/silt,clay,organic matter
Definition
different materials that make up soil from largest to smallest.
Term
Forest-cool,wet climates,thin & little humus
Prarie-cool,dry climates,thick & rich humus
Definition
How forest soils differ from prarie soils.
Term
Everything that lives on land depends directly or indirectly on soil.
Definition
Importance of soil as one of earth's resources.
Term
Plowing removed the grass from the Great Plains and exposed the soil. In times of drought,the topsoil quickly dried out,turned to dust,and blew away.
Definition
How settlers on the Great Plains helped create the Dust Bowl.
Term
Contour Plowing and Conservation Plowing.
Definition
Techniques that farmers use to conserve soil.
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