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Definition
| process that breaks down rock and other substances at Earth's surface |
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| movement of rock particles by wind, water, ice, or gravity |
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| type of weathering in which rock is physically broken into smaller pieces |
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| the grinding away of rock by rock particles carried by water, ice, wind, or gravity |
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| wedges of ice in rocks widen and deepen cracks when water seeps through and expands |
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| process that breaks down rock through chemical changes |
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| a material that is full of tiny, connected air spaces that allow water to seep through it |
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| loose, weathered material on Earth's surface in which plants can grow |
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| solid layer of rock beneath the soil |
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| a dark-colored substance that forms as plant and animal remains decay |
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| soil that is made up of about equal parts of clay, sand, and silt |
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| layer of soil that differs in color and texture from the layers above or below it |
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| crumbly, dark brown soil that is a mixture of humus, clay, and other minerals; horizon A |
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| usually constists of clay and other particles washed down from the A horizon, but little humus; B horizon |
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| the loose layer created when plants shed leaves |
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| organisms that break the remains of dead organisms into smaller pieces and digest them with chemicals |
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| the thick mass of tough roots at the surface of the soil |
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| a resource that is naturally replaced in a relatively short time |
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| an area where wind erosion caused severe loss of topsoil during the 1930s |
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| management of soil to prevent its destruction |
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| the practice of plowing fields along the curves of a slope; this helps slow the runoff of excess rainfall and prevents it from washing the soil away |
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| plowing that disturbs the soil and its plant cover as little as possible |
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Term
| What factors cause mechanical weathering? |
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Definition
| Freezing and thawing, release of pressure, growth of plants, and actions of animals are all factors of mechanical weathering. |
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| Describe the causes of chemical weathering. |
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Definition
| The causes of chemical weathering are water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, acid rain, and even the actions of living organisms. |
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| What factors affect the rate of weathering? |
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Definition
| The type of rock and the climate both affect the rate of weathering. |
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| Explain why chemical weathering occurs faster in hot, wet climates than in cool, dry climates. |
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Definition
| Chemical reations occur faster at highter temperatures. The same is for chemical weathering. |
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| What role does weathering play in the formation of soil? |
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Definition
| Soil forms as rock is broken down by weathering and mixes with other materials on the surface. |
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| What are the different materials that make up soil? |
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Definition
| Rock particles, minerals, decayed organic material, air, and water are all parts of soil. |
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| How do plants and animals affect the formation and composition of soil? |
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Definition
| When plants and animals die and decay, they form a dark-colored substance called humus which helps soil by creating pockets for air and water. Soil organisms also mix soil and make spaces for air and water. |
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| How do forest soils differ from prairie soils? |
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Definition
| Prairie soils form in cool, dry climates while forest soils form in warm to cool, wet climates. Most prairie soils are very rich but some forest soils lack humus. |
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