Epsc 221: Weathering & Soil

Front 1

The general process by which rocks on the earth's surface are broken down is called ________________.

Back 1

weathering

Front 2

The physical weathering of rocks is called ________________.

Back 2

disintegration

Front 3

The chemical weathering of rocks is called _________________.

Back 3

decomposition

Front 4

_________________ (physical) weathering is the breakdown of rocks by physical forces. It _______ change rock chemistry.

Back 4

1. Mechanical

2. does not

Front 5

There are five ways to cause physical weathering. _________________, __________________, _________________, ________________and _____________________.

Back 5

Unloading, biological activity, frost wedging, thermal expansion/contraction and differential weathering.

Front 6

_______________ is the removal of great weights of rock or ice through erosion, causing underlying igneous rocks to expand and form an exfoliation dome.

Back 6

Unloading

Front 7

Through ___________ ______________, roots and plants grow into and expand fractures, allowing water and chemicals to physical weather rocks.

Back 7

biological activity

Front 8

In __________ ______________, repeated thawing and freezing causes fractures called frost wedging. Talus slopes, which are piles of broken rock, form from this.

Back 8

Frost wedging

Front 9

In __________ _________________, rocks of different strength are weathering at different rates.

Back 9

differential weathering

Front 10

Chemical weathering requires ___________, and is accelerated by warmer temperatures.

Back 10

water

Front 11

The three types of chemical weathering are ________________, _______________ and __________________.

Back 11

Dissolution, oxidation and hydrolysis.

Front 12

__________________ is a type of chemical weathering. It is the dissolving of minerals by water.

Back 12

Dissolution

Front 13

_______________ is a type of chemical weathering where one electron is lost from one element to another.

Back 13

Oxidation

Front 14

_________________ is a type of chemical weathering, and involves the reaction of any substance with water. Many silicates decompose to clays due to this process.

Back 14

Hydrolysis

Front 15

Are rocks containing silicates more or less resistant?

Back 15

More

Front 16

Rocks containing ___________, such as marble and limestone, readily dissolve in weakly acidic solutions.

Back 16

calcite

Front 17

Soil is composed of three may parts: __________________, ______________ and _______________.

Back 17

Regolith, soil and humus.

Front 18

______________ is the layer of rock and minerals produced by weathering which covers the earth's surface.

Back 18

Regolith

Front 19

____________ is a combination of mineral and organic matter which supports plant life.

Back 19

Soil

Front 20

____________ is the organic component of soil.

Back 20

Humus

Front 21

Factors that influence soil formation are: ______________, _______________, _______________, ________________ and _______________.

Back 21

Organisms, climate, topography, time and parent material.

Front 22

Since soil formation occurs from the surface downwards, layers of soil form called __________.

Back 22

horizons

Front 23

The __ horizon is loose and decaying material, humus.

Back 23

O

Front 24

The __ horizon is organic and mineral matter with high biological activity.

Back 24

A

Front 25

The ___ and ____ horizons make up the topsoil.

Back 25

O and A

Front 26

The ____ horizon has little organic matter and is a zone of eluviation and leaching.

Back 26

E

Front 27

The ___ horizon, also known as subsoil, is mineral soil with inorganic parts.

Back 27

B

Front 28

The ____ horizon is unmodified parent material.

Back 28

C

Front 29

____________ is a natural process that can be accelerated by humans, and is the processes that loosen and move rock fragments.

Back 29

Erosion

Front 30

Erosion has agents of agents of removal. These are: ___________, ______________ and _____________. Erosion removes weathered material, exposing new surfaces.

Back 30

water, wind and glaciers.

Front 31

____________ deposits are formed by lakes, while ___________ deposits are formed by streams.

Back 31

Lacustrine, and Fluvial

Front 32

___________ deposits form along coastlines, while _________ deposits come from glaciers.

Back 32

Littoral, and glacial.

Front 33

____________ deposits are due to mass wasting.

Back 33

Colluvium

Front 34

_____________ deposits are due to the wind.

Back 34

Eolian

Front 35

Soil is ____% pore space, _____% humus and _____% rock and mineral fragments.

Back 35

50%, 5%, 45%.

Front 36

The three generic soil types are ______________, ______________ and __________________.

Back 36

Pedalfer, pedocal and laterite.

Front 37

The three main reasons for sinkhole formation are _________________, ________________ and _______________.

Back 37

Erosion, surface loading and water withdrawal.

Front 38

_____________ soil is associated with hot, wet and tropical climates with intense chemical weathering.

Back 38

Laterite

Front 39

_____________ soil is associated with accumulation of iron oxides and aluminium clays in the B horizon. Best developed in forest environments, temperate climates.

Back 39

Pedalfer

Front 40

______________ soil is associated with high accumulation of calcium carbonate. Found in grassland environments.

Back 40

Pedocal