Surface Processes & Landscapes Flashcards
What is occurring in Chemical Weathering?
The process where rocks & minerals break down through chemical reactions. It forms new materials and weakens rock structures. (rust, acid rain)
Where is the best place for chemical weathering?
warm, humid climates
What is occurring in physical weathering?
when rocks break down without changing their chemical composition (
Where is the best place for physical weathering?
climates where temperature varies
What is the force behind most erosional agents?
gravity
What is the number one agent of erosion into V shaped alleys?
Streams
What does stream velocity depend on?
slope (gradient) and discharge (volume)
True or False: Water is faster on the outside of a curve.
TRUE! this is where most erosion happens. Most deposition happens on the inside of a curve where it is moving slowest.
What is meant by horizontal sorting?
the process where sediment particles of different sizes settle out in a horizontal layer
big, dense, round fall out first (think of a stream)
What is meant by vertical sorting?
the process where sediment particles of different sizes settle and deposit in layers within a river channel or other sedimentary environment, with larger particles settling first at the bottom and smaller particles settling on top, creating a distinct vertical layering based on their size and density due to varying water flow velocities
(Think of a pond)
How does a glacier make the landscape look?
leave sediments unsorted and scratched (striated_ and care out a U-shaped valley
How does an arid (dry) climate affect the shape of the land?
steep slopes, no vegetation, thin soil
How does a moist (wet) climate affect the shape of the land?
rounded hills, vegetation, thicker soil
True or False- Physical Weathering decreases surface area to decrease chemical weathering
FALSE
Physical weathering INCREASES surface area to INCREASE chemical weathering
Which layer (or horizon) has the most organic material?
Horizon A (TOP Layer)
How do mountains form?
by uplifting, folding and faulting
What does dynamic equalibrium mean?
a balance between 2 forces
What are some agents of physical weathering?
frost action, plant roots, burrowing animals, abrasion (streams), wind
What is the difference between transported soil and residual soil?
transported soil is soil that has been moved from its original location by natural agents like wind, water, or glaciers, while residual soil is formed directly from the weathering of bedrock at its original location, remaining on top of the parent rock.
How do glaciers and running water shape the land?
Glaciers shape the land primarily through erosion by “plucking” and “abrasion,” where they scrape and pull rocks from the bedrock as they move, carving out features like U-shaped valleys, while running water shapes the land by eroding material through its flow, creating V-shaped valleys, canyons, and other features depending on the water’s force and the terrain it encounters;
