Science Flashcards
weathering
the chemical and physical processes that break down rock at Earth’s surface
erosion
the process by which water, ice, wind, or gravity moves weathered rock and soil
mechanical weathering
The type of weathering in which rock is physically broken into smaller pieces
chemical weathering
The process that breaks down rock through chemical changes
sediment
earth materials deposited by erosion
gravity
the force that moves rock and other materials downhill
deposition
process in which sediment is laid down in new locations
mass movement
any one of several processes by which gravity moves sediment downhill
runoff
water that flows over the ground surface rather than soaking into the ground
stream
a channel through which water is continually flowing downhill
tributary
a stream that flows into a larger stream
flood plain
wide valley through which a river flows
meander
a loop-like bend in the course of a river
oxbow lake
a meander cut off from a river
alluvial fan
a wide, sloping deposit of sediment formed where a stream leaves a mountain range
delta
a landform made of sediment that is deposited where a river flows into an ocean or lake
load
the amount of sediment that a river or stream carries
glacier
Any large mass of ice that moves slowly over land (continental or valley)
ice age
any period of time during which glaciers covered a large part of the earth’s surface
plucking
The process by which a glacier picks up rocks as it flows over the land
till
the mixture of sediments that a glacier deposits directly on the surface
moraine
A ridge formed by the till is deposited at the edge of a glacier.
kettle
A small depression that forms when a chunk of ice is left in glacial till. Eventually forms a pond or lake.
