Escapes Unit 6 Vocab Flashcards
Resistance to Weathering
rock not affected by forces of nature
Mineral Hardness
measured on a logarithmic scale 1-10, mineral’s resistance to being scratched
Mineral Cleavage
the break pattern of a mineral into patterns and flat surfaces
Mineral Fracture
the break pattern of a mineral without pattern
Mineral Luster
how minerals reflect light onto mettalic or non-metallic
Gradient
the steepness of a slope
Escarpment
steep slope separating lands of different heights
Landscape
chief characteristics of an area determined by bedrock and climatic factors
Radial Drainage
drainage pattern where streams radiate or diverge outward from a central point
dendritic drainage
drainage pattern where streams resemble the branching pattern of roots or trees
chlorinated hydrocarbons
chlorine, hydrogen, and carbon atoms only that form pharmaceuticals, plastics, and solvents
Fly Ash
toxic ash, byproduct of combustion, used in manufacturing but can become airborne
Processed sludge
mixmixture of organic and inorganic toxins that come from manufacturing or wastewater removal
Superfund
programthat helps sites with hazardous substances
under CERCLA law
Landfill
a place where waste is buried in the ground with an impermeable bottom
Leachate
rainwater with waste going inlandfills, seeps through the
sides and bottoms of the landfill
Floodplain
area around a river that can fill with water during a storm event
Meander
bend or curve in the river that increases over time
Sediment
pieces of other rocks characterized by size
Watershed
area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers
Delta
Triangular deposit at the end of a river
Sustainability
avoiding loosing natural resources in order to maintain balance
RCRA
controls over hazardous waste from generation to disposal
CERCLA
address the dangers of abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste dumps by developing a nationwide program
for: emergency response; information gathering and analysis; liability for responsible parties; and site cleanup
