Unit 5 HW V. Flashcards
Fine-grained sediment formed by the accumulation of windblown dust
loess
Deep bay with steep walls
fjord
sand ridge that forms at a right angle to wind direction
transverse dune
region of shallow water between a barrier island and the shoreline
lagoon
form of erosion in which fine, dry soil particles are blown away
deflation
resistant rock formation that projects out from the shore
headland
process by which wind moves sand along the ground
saltation
area of shoreline made up of deposited sedimetn
beach
bay in which salt water and fresh water mix
estuary
rock smoothed by wind erosion
ventifact
The process by which rocks break down as a result of chemical reactions
chemical weathering
a process in which the materials of earth’s surface are loosened, dissolved, or worn away and transported from one place to another by a natural agent such as wind, water, ice, or gravity
erosion
a vertical section of soil that shows the layers or horizons
soil profiles
the process by which a metallic element combines with oxygen
oxidation
the process by which softer, less weather-resistant rocks wear away at a faster rate than harder, more weather-resistant rocks do
differential weathering
the elevation or slope of the land surface; influences the rate of weathering
topography
the process by which rocks break down into smaller pieces by physical means
mechanical weathering
the grinding and wearing away of rock surfaces through the mechanical action of other rock or sand particles
abrasion
the slow, downslope flow of soil saturated with water in areas surrounding glaciers at high elevations
solifluction
a horizontal layer of soil that can be distinguished from the layers above and below it
horizon
water with high concentrations of dissolved minerals
hard water
a large cave consisting of many smaller connecting chambers
cavern
a circular depression that forms at the surface when rock dissolves, sediment is removed, or caves collapse
sinkhole
topography formed on limestone characterized by caverns, sinkholes, and underground drainage
karst topography
water beneath Earth’s surface
groundwater
a body of rock that stores and allows the flow of underground water
aquifer
the percentage of the total volume of rock consisting of open spaces
porosity
the upper surface of underground water
water table
the sloping layer of permeable rock between two layers of impermeable rock that is exposed at the surface
artesian formation
the ability of rock to let water flow through its open spaces
permeability
a narrow glacier formed in a mountainous region
alpine glacier
part of an ice sheet that moves over the ocean
ice shelf
the circular motion of earth’s axis over thousands of years
precession
a large rock transported by a glacier from a distant source
erratic
the process by which glaciers flow as ice gains deform under pressure and slide over each other
internal plastic flow
a bowl-shaped depression formed by glacial erosion
cirque
a long, winding ride of stratified drift deposited by meltwater flowing within a glacier
esker
a large mass of moving ice
glacier
an almost motionless mass of permanent sow and ice
snowfield
a period of warmer climate during which glaciers retreat
interglacial period
any form of water that falls to Earth’s surface from the clouds, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail
precipitation
change of state from a gas to a liquid
condensation
the process of removing salt from ocean water
desalination
an area along a river formed by sediments deposited when the river overflows its banks
floodplain
the fan-shaped mass of rock material deposited by a stream on land where the slope decreases sharply
alluvial fan
an area of land drained by a river system
watershed
a fan-shaped mass of rock material deposited at the mouth of a stream
delta
the volume of water moved by a stream in a given time period
discharge
the total water loss from an area by evaporation and transpiration
evapotranspiration
a stream that flows into a lake or into a larger stream
tributary
