Weathering and Erosion Flashcards
What is weathering?
the breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces. (sediments)
What is erosion?
the removal or transport of sediments via wind and water.
What is deposition?
the placing of sediments in a new location.
What are the types of weathering?
- physical or mechanical
- chemical
- biological
What is physical/mechanical weathering?
Physical forces such as frost and differences in temperature break the rock into smaller pieces.
What is chemical weathering?
Chemical changes make the rock weaker.
What is biological weathering?
Plants growing into cracks of a rock or animal burrowing into the ground weakens the rocks.
What is a type of physical weathering?
Exfoliation is when the rock looses layers.
What is a type of chemical weathering?
Carbonation is when carbon dioxide in the air mixes with water droplets in the clouds forming a weak carbonic acid. when it rains the acidic water seeps into the ground. leaving a whole underground.
What is another type of chemical weathering?
oxidation is when oxygen reacts with iron present in the rock. this creates an iron-oxide causing the rock to turn a reddish brown.
What is Hydrolysis?
A type f chemical weathering . if the rock is rich in minerals they absorb water and turn into clay making rock crumble.
What can a human do to impact weathering?
Construction, mining, deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
What is a silt?
Very fine sediment carried by a river.
What is a Tributary?
Smaller river that flows into a bigger river.
What is a load?
All the sediments that a river transports.
What is a Gorge?
Gorges: Backwards (headward erosion) causes the position of the waterfall to retreat upstream, forming a steep-sided valley in the process
What is a canyon?
Canyons: Fast flowing rivers have increased energy and erode downwards (vertical erosion), creating a deep, steep-sided valley
What is a meander?
Outer bend: water flows faster and erodes more sediment, forming a steep river cliff
What is a inner bend?
Inner bend: water flows slower and deposits more sediment, forming a slip-off slope
What is a Levee?
Levees: numerous floods cause deposits of sediment to collect on the sides of the river, building up the embankments
What is a delta?
Deltas: the sediment in the river channel causes the river to break into smaller channels called distributaries
What is a glacier?
Glaciers are masses of ice that move slowly downhill under the influence of gravity.
What is abrasion?
rocks and pebbles inside the glacier scrape along the ground as the glacier slides over the surface
What is plucking?
fragments are lifted and removed from the bedrock by moving ice
What is a cirque?
bowl-shaped hollows formed as the weight of the glacier and its sediment weather and erode into the hollow
what is a Arête?
a ridge on a mountain which was eroded on two sides by glaciers
What is a horn?
the pointed peak of a mountain left after erosion by glaciers has occurred on all surrounding sides
What a U-Shaped valley?
U-shaped valleys: glaciers that erode cirques and arêtes often join up to form even bigger glaciers in lower areas
What is a Truncated Spur?
as glaciers erode further down into the valleys, they often cut off the spurs (hills) that protrude into the valley.
What is Moraine?
rock that is left on the sides and end of a glacier as it melts.
What is a terminal moraine?
rock that is left on the end of a glacier once the ice melts.
What is Lateral Moraine?
rock that is left on the sides of a glacier once the ice melts
What are Eskers?
ridges of sand and rock formed by rivers flowing under a glacier.
What is a Drumlin?
ridges of sand and rock formed by rivers flowing under a glacier
