| Term | Definition |
|---|
| weathering | is the process that breaks down and other substances at earths surface |
| erosion | is the removal of rock particles by wind, water,ice, or gravity |
| fact | weathering and erosion work together continuolusly to wear down and carry away the ricks at the Earths surface |
| uniformitarianism | a principle that states that the same processes that operate today operated in the past. |
| mechanical weathering | rock physically broken down into smaller pieces |
| abrasion | the grinding away of rock by rock particles carried by ice wind water and gravity |
| ice wedging | when wedges of ice in rocks widen and deepen cracks. |
| chemical weathering | is the process that breaks down rocks through chemical changes |
| oxidation | when iron combines with oxegyn in the presnce of water |
| fact | the most important factors that determine the rate at which weathering occurs are the type of rock and the climat |
| permable | when the material is full of open spaces that allow water to seep through |
| soil | is loose weathered material on earths surface in wich plants grow |
| bedrock | is the solid layer of rock beneaht the soil |
| fact | soil is a mixture of rock particles, minerals, decayed organic material,water,and air |
| Humus | is the organic stuff in the soil also forms as plants and animals decay |
| fertility | how well the soil supportsteh plant growth |
| loam | made up of equal parts of clay, silt, sand, and gravel |
| soil horizon | is a layer of soil that differs in color and texture from teh layeres above and below it |
| topsoil | mixture of humus clay and other mierals |
| subsoil | is made of clay and other particles but little humus |
| litter | as plant shed leaves the form a loos layer |
| decomposers | break the remains of dead organisams into smaller pieces and digest them with chemicals |
| fact | worms do most of the soil mixing |
| sod | thick masss of tough roots at the surface of the soil. keeps the soil in place onto moisture |
| natural resource | anything in the enviorment that humans use |
| soil conservation | is the management of soil to prevent its destruction |
| contour plowing | farmers plow there fields on curves of a slope |
| conservation plowing | farmers disturb the soil and its plant cover as little as possible- dead weed and stalks |
| crop rotation | a farmer plants differnt crops each year |
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