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soil and weathering > weathering and soil vocab > Flashcards

weathering and soil vocab Flashcards

1
Q

chemical weathering

A

changes materials that are part of a rock into new materials

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2
Q

environment

A

the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, and plant lives or operates

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3
Q

Mechanical weathering

A

when physical processes naturally break rocks into smaller pieces

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4
Q

oxidation

A

combines oxygen with other elements or molecules

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5
Q

weathering

A

the mechanical and chemical processes that change objects on Earth’s surface over time

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6
Q

biota

A

all of the organisms that live in a region

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7
Q

climate

A

the average weather of an area

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8
Q

decomposition

A

the process of changing once-living material into dark colored organic matter

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9
Q

horizon

A

layers of soil formed from movement of the products of weathering

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10
Q

organic matter

A

the remains of something that was once alive

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11
Q

parent material

A

the starting material of soil

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12
Q

pore

A

small holes and spaces

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13
Q

sediment

A

rock material that forms where rocks are broken down into smaller pieces or dissolved in water as rocks erode

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14
Q

soil

A

a mixture of weathered rock, rock fragments, decayed organic matter, water, and air

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15
Q

topography

A

the shape and steepness of the landscape

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16
Q

What are the 4 causes of mechanical weathering

A

Ice wedging, abrasion, plants, animals

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17
Q

How does ice wedging cause mechanical weathering?

A

When the temperature reaches 0 degrees celcius, the water freezes and expands and makes the cracks bigger. This is one of the most effective weathering processes. Also called Frost wedging

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18
Q

How does abrasion cause mechanical weathering?

A

The grinding away of rock by friction or impact

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19
Q

How do plants cause mechanical weathering

A

plants grow in cracks, roots absorb minerals from rocks making it weather. Growing roots push on the crack making it wider

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20
Q

how do animals cause mechanical weathering

A

they create holes in the soil where water enters and burrow in loose rock and break them as they dig

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21
Q

What are the 3 agents of chemical weathering?

A

Water, Acid, Oxidation

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22
Q

How does water cause chemical weathering?

A

minerals that make up most rocks dissolve very slowly in water

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23
Q

how does acid cause chemical weathering

A

it increases the rate of chemical weathering more than rain or water does

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24
Q

How does oxidation cause chemical weathering

A

oxidation combines the element of oxygen with the other elements or molecules. Oxides break away from the rock

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25
Q

What is the pH range for an acid?

A

0 to 7

26
Q

what is an oxide and why are they useful

A

oxides are the product of oxidation. It produces useful ores such as bauxite (aluminum) and hematite (iron)

27
Q

what are 3 things that affect the rate of weathering

A

the environment, temperature/moisture, and the type of rock

28
Q

Where does mechanical weathering occur fastest

A

mechanical weathering happens fastest in locations that have frequent weather changes.

29
Q

Where does chemical weathering occur the fastest?

A

chemical weathering happens the fastest in warm wet places

30
Q

where on the planet does weathering occur fastest overall?

A

in regions near the equator (rain forests)

31
Q

Where on the planet does weathering occur the slowest overall?

A

Cold dry places (deserts, the poles)

32
Q

What is soil

A

soil is a mixture of weathered rock, rock fragments, decayed organic matter, water, and gases. silt, sand, clay is the inorganic matter

33
Q

How does water and air get into soil?

A

water and air get into soil by small holes called pores

34
Q

what is porosity

A

the movement of water through holes in soil

35
Q

what is organic matter?

A

Organic matter is the remains of something that was once alive - dead leaves, dead insects, waste products from animals are examples

36
Q

why is organic matter important?

A

organic matter is important because it holds water and nutrients in the soil

37
Q

What are the 5 factors of soil formation?

A

Parent Material, climate, topography, biota, time

38
Q

in regards to soil formation, what is parent material

A

starting material; rock or sediment that weathers and forms soil

39
Q

in regards to soil formation, what does climate mean?

A

soil forms quickly in warm wet climates

40
Q

in regards to soil formation, what is topography?

A

The topography is the shape and steepness of a landscape. it determines what happens to water that reaches soil surface

41
Q

in regards to soil formation, how is biota involved?

A

animals form passages for water to move through

42
Q

How does time affect soild formation?

A

as time passes, weathering is constantly acting on rocks and sediment. 1000 year old soil is young

43
Q

Describe A horizon

A

contains the most organic matter, darkest

44
Q

Describe D horizon

A

When water from rain or snow seeps through pores in the A horizon, it carries clay particles to form the D horizon

45
Q

Describe C horizon

A

the layer of weathered parent material

46
Q

Describe O horizon

A

the top organic layer

47
Q

Describe R Horizon

A

Unweathered bedrock

48
Q

arrange these particles of soil from largest to smalles: Sand, Silt, Clay

A
  1. Sand
  2. Silt
  3. Clay
49
Q

What type of soil does water flow through most easily and why?

A

Water flows through sand the easiest due to the large pores that occur between the large particles

50
Q

Describe this property of soil: Color

A

determined by composition (how light or dark)

51
Q

Describe this property of soil: Texture

A

large sized pieces (boulder) to very fine pieces (clay)

52
Q

Describe this property of soil: Structure

A

shape of clumps, how it is held together, grainy, blocky, prism

53
Q

Describe this property of soil: Consistency

A

hardness or softness of soil varies with moisture

54
Q

Describe this property of soil: infiltration

A

how fast water enters soil

55
Q

Describe this property of soil: moisture

A

amount of water in soil pores

56
Q

Describe this property of soil: pH

A

How acidic - more acidic is in higher humidity locations

57
Q

Describe this property of soil: Fertility

A

ability to support plant growth including amount of certain elements necessary for plants

58
Q

Describe this property of soil: temperature

A

on the surface temp changes frequently in lower layers temp changes less often

59
Q

how many types of soil are there?

A

12

60
Q

Which soil type is typical for us?

A

our soil has subsoil clay accumulation

soil and weathering (1 decks)

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