Vocab
This is defined as mixture of weathered rock, rock fragments, decayed organic matter, water, and air
What is soil?
This is defined as the mechanical and chemical processes that change objects on Earth’s surface over time
What is weathering?
This thin dark brown horizon of soil contains the remains of living things such as twigs, leaves, and other organic matter. When the organic matter in this layer starts to decompose it is called humus.
What is the O-Horizon?
This is defined as shape and steepness of the landscape
What is Topography?
These are the two classifications of weathering
What is mechanical and chemical weathering?
This is defined as the average weather in an area over a long period of time
What is climate?
This is a type of chemical weathering where the element oxygen reacts with other elements or molecules in rocks creating oxides
What is oxidation?
This is the bottom layer of soil is comprised of bedrock unaffected by weathering
What is the R-Horizon
These lines can be found on a topographic map and show the areas of the same elevation throughout a landscape
What are contour lines?
This is defined as all the living organisms in an area
This is what layers of soil are called
What are horizons?
This is a type of weathering where rocks are broken into smaller pieces without the rocks composition changing
What is Mechanical Weathering?
This soil horizon is also known as the zone of accumulation as minerals, pollutants, and nutrients from the A and E horizons leach into this layer
What is the B - Horizon
On a topographic map this is the change in elevation between contour lines
What is the contour interval?
These are the three main size sediment that are found in soil
(you need to list all three for credit)
What are sand, silt, and clay
This is the process of taking the remains of once living things and turning them into organic matter
What is decomposition?
These can form when carbon dioxide and other pollutants combine with water in the atmosphere
What are Acids?
This soil Horizon is also known as top soil. In this layer there are a lot of minerals and organic matter making this layer essential for farming
What is the A-Horizon
This is the distance between the highest and lowest elevation of a landscape
What is relief?
This is a type of mechanical weathering where the repeated freezing and thawing of water helps to break down rocks
What is Ice Wedging?
This is the process where water soluble substances (things that dissolve in water) like minerals or pollutants are dissolved and washed away.
What is leaching?
This is a type of mechanical weathering where wind, water, or glaciers, cause things to bang into rocks and break the rock apart with friction
What is abrasion?
This is the profession that studies soil as natural resource, researches how soil forms, and classifies soil, and researches the best management practices for farmers to grow more food.
What is a soil scientists?
Sometimes shortened to the acronym USGS, this government agency studies landscapes and creates topographic maps of landscapes.
What is the United States Geographical Survey?
Sometimes called rust or hematite this is formed when the element oxygen in the air reacts with the metal iron
What is iron oxide?