New Science Book Chapter 1+ 2 + 3

Front 1

erosion

Back 1

the process by which the surface of the earth is worn away by the action of water, glaciers, winds, waves, etc.

Front 2

weathering

Back 2

the various mechanical and chemical processes that cause exposed rock to decompose.

Front 3

mechanical weathering

Back 3

any of the various weathering processes that cause physical disintegration of exposed rock without any change in the chemical composition of the rock:

Front 4

chemical weathering

Back 4

any of the various weathering processes that cause exposed rock to undergo chemical decomposition, changing the chemical and mineralogical composition of the rock:

Front 5

abrasion

Back 5

the mechanical scraping of a rock surface by friction between rocks and moving particles during their transport by wind, glacier, waves, gravity, running water or erosion

Front 6

frost wedging

Back 6

the repeated freeze-thaw cycle of water in extreme climates.

Front 7

oxidation

Back 7

the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state by a molecule, atom, or ion.

Front 8

permeable

Back 8

allowing liquids or gases to pass through it.

Front 9

uniformitarianism

Back 9

that current geologic processes, occurring at the same rates observed today, in the same manner, account for all of Earth's geological features.

Front 10

soil

Back 10

the portion of the earth's surface consisting of disintegrated rock and humus.

Front 11

bedrock

Back 11

unbroken solid rock, overlaid in most places by soil or rockfragments.

Front 12

humus

Back 12

the dark organic material in soils, produced by the decomposition of vegetable or animal matter and essential to the fertility of the earth.

Front 13

fertility

Back 13

bearing, producing, or capable of producing vegetation, crops,

Front 14

loam

Back 14

a rich, friable soil containing a relatively equal mixture of sand and silt and a somewhat smaller proportion of clay.

Front 15

pH scale

Back 15

A measure of acidity or alkalinity of water soluble substances

Front 16

soil horizon

Back 16

a layer generally parallel to the soilcrust, whose physical characteristics differ from the layers above and beneath

Front 17

topsoil

Back 17

the fertile, upper part of the soil.

Front 18

subsoil

Back 18

the bed or stratum of earth or earthy material immediately under the surface soil.

Front 19

decomposer

Back 19

an organism, usually a bacterium or fungus, that breaks down the cells of dead plants and animals into simpler substances.

Front 20

natural resources

Back 20

the natural wealth of a country, consisting of land, forests, mineral deposits, water, etc.

Front 21

soil conservation

Back 21

any of various methods to achieve the maximum utilization of the land and preserve its resources through such controls as crop rotation, prevention of soil erosion, etc.

Front 22

crop rotation

Back 22

the system of varying successive crops in a definite order on the same ground, especially to avoid depleting the soil and to control weeds, diseases, and pests.

Front 23

contour plowing

Back 23

plowing along the contours of the land in order to minimize soil erosion.

Front 24

conservation plowing

Back 24

a soil conservationmethod in which the dead stalks from the previous year's crop are left in the ground to hold the soil in place.