weathering
what is the process of breaking down rocks into smaller pieces
weathering
What is the most powerful agent of erosion
water
The process by which sediments are laid down in a new place is called what
deposition
what is the topmost layer of soil, rich in organic material?
O horizon (O for organic)
what factor most greatly determines a soil's fertility
amount of organic matter
which type of weathering changes the chemical composition of rock
chemical weathering
What type of erosion is responsible for making deep channels in soil due to severe water flow?
gully erosion (think gully washer!)
what is transported soil
soil moved from its original location
what type of plant soil is best for plant growth
loamy
what factor primarily determines soil texture
amounts of sand, silt, and clay (particle size)
Rocks being broken apart by freeze and thaw cycles is an example of what?
mechanical weathering
what affect does increased rainfall have on erosion
it increases the rate
what human activity increases soil erosion the most
construction, including roads
which soil layer or horizon accumulates minerals leached from above
B horizon
which soil horizon is the bedrock
R
which type of climate promotes the fastest chemical weatheringq
warm and wet
the movement of soil and rock down a slope due to gravity is called
mass movement. Mass movements include rock slides and mud slides and creep
what is the name for a vertical section of soil
soil profile
what type of soil retains the most water
clay
what soil property is affected by iron oxides
color (think rust is orange)
what causes oxidation in rocks
water and oxygen
what is the main cause of gully erosion
water runoff
texture or particle size--the bigger the particles, the more space in between and the better the soil will drain
what process leads to the formation of soil
weathering
Red Clay Strays