Weathering
The process of breaking down rocks into smaller pieces.
Weathering
The process by which water, wind, or ice carries away rock and soil.
Erosion
The process of dropping off eroded material.
Deposition
What type of glacier forms in mountain valleys?
Valley Glacier
The top layer of soil that is rich in organic material.
A-horizon (topsoil)
The type of weathering caused by freezing and thawing of water.
Frost Wedging
What is the main agent of erosion that shapes Earth's surface?
Water
What landform forms when sediment is deposited at the mouth of a river?
Delta
What is a moraine and how is it formed?
A moraine is a pile of rocks and dirt left behind by a moving glacier.
What type of soil is made of equal parts sand, silt, and clay?
Loam
What type of weathering occurs when acid rain dissolves limestone?
Chemical Weathering
What is the process where wind removes loose surface material, leaving pebbles behind?
Deflation
What type of glacial deposit forms long, winding ridges left by meltwater streams?
Esker
What type of glacial feature forms when ice melts and deposits sand and gravel in a long ridge?
Esker
What is the slow, downhill movement of soil and rock caused by gravity called?
Creep
What is the difference between chemical and mechanical weathering?
Chemical weathering changes the rock's composition; mechanical weathering breaks the rock into pieces without changing its composition.
What type of erosion creates V-shaped valleys over time?
Water erosion
How do sand dunes form in desert environments?
Wind deposits sand behind obstacles, forming mounds.
What is a narrow ridge between two glacial valleys called?
Arête
What type of mass movement involves a rapid downhill flow of mud and water?
Mudflow
What type of weathering creates a rusty appearance on rocks due to oxidation?
Chemical Weathering
How do glaciers cause erosion as they move?
They scrape and carve the land as they slide over it.
How do glaciers cause deposition?
When glaciers melt, they drop the rocks and sediment they carried.
A large mass of moving ice.
Glacier
How does terracing help prevent soil erosion on steep slopes?
Step-like fields reduce runoff and soil loss.