| Term | Definition |
|---|
| runoff | water that flows over the surface of the earth into rivers and lakes |
| condensation | changing of a gas to a liquid |
| precipitation | water released from clouds in the form of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, or hail |
| groundwater | water that is absorbed by the earth |
| transpiration | process by which plants that release water into the atmosphere from small pores on their leaves known as stomata |
| evaporation | changing of a liquid to a gas |
| infiltration | water that is absorbed by the soil and funneled down to groundwater |
| sublimation | changing of a solid to a gas |
| glacier | large mass of ice and snow that moves over land |
| weathering | process that breaks down rock into smaller pieces |
| erosion | process of transporting weathered material by natural agents |
| deposition | process of laying the weathered material down in a new location |
| waves | curving swells of water caused by wind, tides, and earthquakes |
| beach | place where eroded particles are deposited parallel to the shore |
| wind | moving air |
| mechanical weathering | process by which rock is split or broken into smaller pieces without changing its chemical composition, disintegration |
| chemical weathering | process by which rock's minerals are changed into different substances |
| soil | loose, weathered rock and organic material in which plants with roots can grow |
| A horizon | topsoil horizon that is generally gray to black |
| B horizon | subsoil horizon that is generally red or brown |
| C horizon | horizon made of rock fragments on top of unweatered bedrock |
| parent material | material from which a soil is formed, determines composition and properties of the soil |
| regolith | weathered rock fragments |
| soil profile | a cross-section in which layers of the soil and bedrock can be seen. |
| humus | dark soil that contains decaying remains of plants and animals |
| bedrock | solid rock that lies beneath the soil |
| abrasion | the collision of rocks with other rocks, resulting in the breaking and wearing away of the rocks. |
| carbonation | carbonic acid reacts with calcite to dissolve limestone |
| hydrolysis | Minerals are dissolved in water |
| oxidation | Oxygen in the atmosphere chemically reacts with minerals |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace