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21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Weathering
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The process by which natural forces break down rocks
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Mechanical weathering
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The breakdown of rock into smaller pieces of the same material without any change in its composition
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Exfoliation
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process in which layers or sheets of rock gradually break off
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Abrasion
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Process of weathering down by friction
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Chemical Weathering
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Breakdown or decomposition of rock that takes place when minerals change through chemical processes
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Humus
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Decayed organic matter in soil
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Soil Horizon
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Soil layer with physical and chemical properties that differ from those of layers above or below it
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Soil Profile
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Soil horizons in a specific location, a cross a section of soil layers that displays all soil horizons
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Porosity
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amount of empty space b/w particles of a substance
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Desertification
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expansion of desert conditions in areas where the natural plant cover has been destroyed
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Mass Wasting
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Downhill movement of rock or soil
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Drainage Basin
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Area of land in which water drains into a stream system
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Floodplain/Alluvial Plane
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Flat area of land that becomes flooded when a river overflows its banks
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Delta
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area of land at end, or mouth of river that is formed by the buildup of sediment
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Sinkhole
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open basin that forms when the roof of a cavern becomes so thin that it fall in
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Longshore Drift
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Zigzag movement of sand along a beach, caused by the movement of waves
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Longshore Current
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overall direction of movement of water as waves strike the shore at an angle
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Sandbar
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ridge of sand built up by action of waves and currents
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Barrier Island
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long narrow island that develops parallel to a coast as a sandbar builds up above the water's surface
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Dune
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mound of sand built up by wind
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Loess
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deposits of fine-grained, wind blown sediment
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