Lecture Exam Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is Denudation
The comprehensive process of disintegrating and transporting material away from its source. (Includes any process that wears away or rearranges landforms)
List of Internal Geomorphic Processes
Lithospheric Rearrangement
Volcanism
Extrusive
Intrusive
Tectonism
Folding
Faulting
List of External Geomorphic Processes (Denudation)
Weathering
Mass Wasting
Erosion/ Deposition
Fluvial (running water)
Aeolian (Wind)
Glacial (moving ice)
Solution (ground water)
Waves & Currents (Oceans/ Lakes)
Layers in soil are referred to as?
Soil Horizons
What are the three types of weathering
Physical (mechanical)
Chemical
Biological
What are the primary types of physical weathering
Frost Wedging
Salt Weathering
Exfoliation
Root Expansion
Sediment is?
Solid rock that has been broken down into smaller rock particles through weathering.
Biotic components of earths systems are?
Living
Abiotic components of earths systems?
Non Living
Why are soils significant to Earths system function?
Soils: Regulate water flow & nutrient delivery in the upper lithosphere.
Act as filters, buffers & catalysts for chemical reactions.
Significant storehouses for conserving and cycling nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium & carbon.
Supports the engineered structures we build on top of them such as houses roads, and bridges.
What are the three types of mass wasting movements?
Fall
Slide
Flow
What are 4 common drainage patterns
Dendritic
Parallel
Rectangular
Radial
What are the three fluvial systems based on topographic differences
Headwaters (High elevation)
Transfer Zone (lower elevation)
Depositional Zone (lowest elevation)
Landscape Equilibrium is?
When a landscape isn’t growing or shrinking much overall. It’s stable because the inputs and outputs of the system are basicaly equal.
What is Geomorphology
The science that analyzes and describes the origin, evolution, form and spatial distribution of landforms and landscape processes.
What is a Regolith
Broken up rock resulting from weathering. Parent material for soils.
True or False?
Darwin thought of the soil as a dynamic interface between rock and life… the biotic and abiotic.
True
Average % of air as a soil component?
20-30%
Average % of mineral in soil components.
45%
Average % of water in soil components.
20-30%
Average % of Organic material in soil components.
5%
Pore space AKA water and air make up how much of soil components?
40-60%
Soil solids AKA mineral and organic material make up how much of soil?
50%
What is Humus
Organic matter in soil formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter. Rich in nutrients and moisture retentive.
