WASF Vocab Flashcards
Erosion
the removal of rock particles by wind, water, ice, or gravity.
Uniformitarianism
the same processes that operate today operated in the past.
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.
Oxidation
the process where iron combines with oxygen in the presence of water.
Permeable
a rock or material that is full of tiny, connected air spaces that allow water to seep through it.
Soil
the loose, weathered material on Earth’s surface in which plants can grow.
Humus
the dark-colored substance that forms as plant and animal remains decay.
Fertility
the measure of how well the soil supports plant growth.
Litter
the loose layer of dead plant leaves and stems on the surface of the soil.
Natural Resource
anything in the environment that humans use.
Dust Bowl
the area of the Great Plains where wind erosion caused soil loss during the 1939’s.
Soil Conservation
the management of soil to prevent its destruction.
Weathering
the process that breaks down rock and other substances on Earth’s surface.
