Chap 2 Vocab

Front 1

the chemical and physical processes that break down rock at Earth's surface

Back 1

weathering

Front 2

the process by which water, ice or gravity moves weathered rock and soil

Back 2

erosion

Front 3

the type of weathering in which rocks are physically broken into smaller pieces by freezing, thawing, release of pressure, growth of plants, actions of animals and abrasion

Back 3

mechanical weathering

Front 4

the grinding away of rock by other rock particles carried in water, ice or wind

Back 4

abrasion

Front 5

process that splits rock when water seeps into cracks, then freezes and expands

Back 5

ice wedging

Front 6

the process that breaks down rock through chemical changes

Back 6

chemical weathering

Front 7

characteristic of a material that is full of tony, connected air spaces that water can seep through

Back 7

permeable

Front 8

the loose, weathered material on Earth's surface in which plants grow

Back 8

soil

Front 9

the solid layer of rock beneath the soil

Back 9

bedrock

Front 10

dark colored organic material in soil

Back 10

humus

Front 11

rich, fertile soil that is made up of about equal parts of clay, sand and silt

Back 11

loam

Front 12

a layer of soil that differs in color and texture from th layers above or below

Back 12

soil horizon

Front 13

mixture of humus, clay and other minerals that form the crumbly, topmost layer of soil

Back 13

top soil

Front 14

the layer of soil beneath the topsoil that contains mostly clay and minerals

Back 14

subsoil

Front 15

the loose layer of dead plant leaves and stems on the surface of the soil

Back 15

litter

Front 16

soil organism that breaks down the remains of organisms and digest them

Back 16

decomposer

Hint 16

decomposer

Front 17

a thick mass of grass roots and soil

Back 17

sod

Front 18

the area of the great plains where wind erosion caused soil loss during the 1930's

Back 18

Dust bowl

Front 19

the management of soil to prevent its destruction

Back 19

soil conservation

Front 20

plowing fields along the curves of a slope to prevent soil loss

Back 20

contour plowing

Front 21

soil conservation method in which the dead stalks from the previous year's crop are left in the ground to hold the soil in place

Back 21

conservation plowing