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24 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
erosion |
the process by which the surface of the earth is worn away by the action of water, glaciers, winds, waves, etc. |
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weathering |
the various mechanical and chemical processes that cause exposed rock to decompose. |
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mechanical weathering |
any of the various weathering processes that cause physical disintegration of exposed rock without any change in the chemical composition of the rock: |
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chemical weathering |
any of the various weathering processes that cause exposed rock to undergo chemical decomposition, changing the chemical and mineralogical composition of the rock: |
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abrasion |
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 |
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frost wedging |
the repeated freeze-thaw cycle of water in extreme climates. |
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oxidation |
the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state by a molecule, atom, or ion. |
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permeable |
allowing liquids or gases to pass through it.
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uniformitarianism |
that current geologic processes, occurring at the same rates observed today, in the same manner, account for all of Earth's geological features. |
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soil |
the portion of the earth's surface consisting of disintegrated rock and humus. |
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bedrock |
unbroken solid rock, overlaid in most places by soil or rockfragments. |
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humus |
the dark organic material in soils, produced by the decomposition of vegetable or animal matter and essential to the fertility of the earth. |
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fertility |
bearing, producing, or capable of producing vegetation, crops, |
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loam |
a rich, friable soil containing a relatively equal mixture of sand and silt and a somewhat smaller proportion of clay. |
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pH scale |
A measure of acidity or alkalinity of water soluble substances |
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soil horizon |
a layer generally parallel to the soilcrust, whose physical characteristics differ from the layers above and beneath |
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topsoil |
the fertile, upper part of the soil. |
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subsoil |
the bed or stratum of earth or earthy material immediately under the surface soil. |
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decomposer |
an organism, usually a bacterium or fungus, that breaks down the cells of dead plants and animals into simpler substances. |
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natural resources |
the natural wealth of a country, consisting of land, forests, mineral deposits, water, etc. |
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soil conservation |
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. |
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crop rotation |
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. |
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contour plowing |
plowing along the contours of the land in order to minimize soil erosion. |
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conservation plowing |
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. |