Weathering, Erosion and Soil
removal and transport of weathered materials from one location to another by agents such as water, wind, glacier, and gravity
erosion
the downslope movement of soil and weathered rock resulting from the force of gravity
mass movement
the lowering of the land surface that results from the wind's removal of surface particles is called
deflation
large, moving mass of ice that forms near Earth's poles and in mountainous regions at high elevations
glacier
holes dug or drilled into the ground to reach an aquifer
Well
occurs when eroded materials are dropped in another location
deposition
the slow, steady, downhill flow of loose, weathered earth materials, especially soils
creep
a process of erosion that occurs when particles rub against the surface of rocks or other materials
abrasion
ridge or layer of mixed debris deposited by a melting glacier
moraine
The process by which surrounding watershed enriches bodies of water with nutrients that stimulate excessive plant growth is called
eutrophication
loose covering of weathered rock and decayed organic matter overlying Earth's bedrock that is characterized by texture, fertility, and color and whose composition is determined by its parent rock and environmental conditions
soil
a rapid, downslope movement of earth materials that occurs when a relatively thin block of soil, rock, and debris separates from the underlying bedrock
landslides
a pile of windblown sand that develops over time, whose shape depends on sand availability
dune
the area where the meltwater flows and deposits outwash
outwash plain
the measure of the volume of stream water that flows past a particular location within a given period of time is known as
discharge
a type of weathering in which rocks and minerals break down into smaller pieces
mechanical weathering
swiftly moving mixtures of mud and water
mudflows
thick, windblown, fertile deposit of silt that contains high levels of nutrients and minerals
loess
continental glaciers that move over older ground moraines form the material into elongated landforms called
drumlins
The ability of a material to let water pass through is known as
porosity
the freeze-thaw cycles of water in the cracks of rocks
frost wedging
mass movement that occurs when earth materials in a landslide rotate and slide along a curved surface, leaving a crescent-shaped scar on a slope
slump
rocks that have been shaped by windblown sediments
ventifacts
deep depressions scooped out by a valley glacier
cirque
Limestone regions that have sinkholes and disappearing streams are said to have what kind of topography?
karst topography