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720 Flashcards > Unit 8 ESS Weathering & Soil > Flashcards

Unit 8 ESS Weathering & Soil Flashcards

(90 cards)

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1
Q

What is weathering?

A

The process by which rocks, minerals, and soil are broken down into smaller particles by physical, chemical, or biological means.

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2
Q

What is physical weathering?

A

The breakdown of rocks without changing their chemical composition.

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3
Q

What is chemical weathering?

A

The breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions that alter mineral composition.

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4
Q

What is biological weathering?

A

The breakdown of rocks by living organisms like plant roots

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5
Q

What is freeze-thaw weathering?

A

Water enters cracks

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6
Q

What is abrasion in physical weathering?

A

Rocks are worn down by friction from wind

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7
Q

What is root wedging?

A

Plant roots grow into cracks and force rocks apart.

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8
Q

What is thermal expansion?

A

Rocks expand when heated and contract when cooled

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9
Q

What is exfoliation in weathering?

A

Rock layers peel off due to pressure release or temperature changes.

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10
Q

What is pressure release weathering?

A

Rocks crack and peel when overburden (pressure) is removed.

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11
Q

What is oxidation in weathering?

A

Oxygen reacts with minerals

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12
Q

What is carbonation in weathering?

A

CO₂ dissolves in water to form carbonic acid

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13
Q

What is hydrolysis in weathering?

A

Water reacts with minerals to form new

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14
Q

What is acid rain?

A

Rain mixed with pollutants that chemically breaks down rock.

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15
Q

What is dissolution?

A

The process where minerals dissolve in water

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16
Q

How does climate affect weathering?

A

More moisture and higher temperatures increase chemical weathering.

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17
Q

How does mineral hardness affect weathering?

A

Softer minerals weather faster than harder ones.

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18
Q

How does surface area affect weathering?

A

More exposed surface means faster weathering.

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19
Q

How does rock exposure affect weathering?

A

Rocks on the surface weather faster than buried rocks.

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20
Q

What is the spatial scale of frost wedging or thermal expansion?

A

Microscopic to small scale.

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21
Q

What is a medium-scale physical weathering process?

A

Tree root growth.

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22
Q

What is a large-scale physical weathering process?

A

Mountain range fracturing

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23
Q

What climates favor freeze-thaw weathering?

A

Cold and dry climates.

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24
Q

What climates favor chemical weathering like hydrolysis or oxidation?

A

Warm and humid climates.

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25
What are rocks made of?
One or more minerals.
26
Do weak or strong minerals weather faster?
Weak minerals.
27
What scale is used to determine mineral hardness?
Mohs Scale of Hardness.
28
How does breaking a rock affect its surface area?
Increases surface area
29
Do smaller or larger rocks weather faster?
Smaller
30
Why do exposed rocks weather faster than buried rocks?
They are more in contact with wind
31
What is soil composed of?
A mix of minerals
32
What percentage of soil is air and water?
0.5
33
How long does it take for soil to form?
Hundreds to thousands of years.
34
Where does soil come from?
From weathered rock and decomposed organic matter.
35
What is the O horizon?
The organic layer of decomposing material.
36
What is the A horizon?
Topsoil
37
What is the B horizon?
Subsoil that accumulates minerals leached from above.
38
What is the C horizon?
Weathered parent rock material.
39
What is the R horizon?
Solid bedrock beneath the soil.
40
What do soil microbes do?
Decompose matter and cycle nutrients.
41
What is humus?
Decomposed organic material that retains moisture and stores nutrients.
42
Where is humus found in soil?
In the O and A horizons.
43
List sediment sizes from largest to smallest.
Boulders > Cobbles > Pebbles > Sand > Silt > Clay.
44
What type of soil is best for fertility?
Loam.
45
What type of soil has poor fertility and drains quickly?
Sandy soil.
46
Which soil retains the most water?
Clay-rich soil.
47
What is porosity?
The amount of empty space in a material.
48
What is permeability?
How easily fluids pass through a material.
49
Which type of soil is permeable?
Sand.
50
Which type of soil has high retention?
Clay.
51
What affects soil porosity?
Shape
52
How do roots help soil health?
Improve infiltration and prevent erosion.
53
How do plants protect soil?
They shield it from wind and water erosion.
54
What causes soil erosion?
Wind
55
What is a positive feedback loop in erosion?
Loss of topsoil → Less plant growth → More erosion.
56
What was the Dust Bowl?
A 1930s event where drought and poor land use led to massive soil loss.
57
What is no-till farming?
Farming without disturbing the soil.
58
What is terracing?
Cutting steps into slopes to reduce erosion.
59
What is contour plowing?
Plowing along land curves to reduce erosion.
60
What is windbreak farming?
Planting trees to block wind and prevent erosion.
61
What is agroforestry?
Integrating trees with crops or livestock.
62
What is crop rotation?
Changing crops seasonally to prevent soil exhaustion.
63
What is soil contamination?
Presence of harmful substances like chemicals or waste in soil.
64
What causes soil contamination?
Pesticides
65
What is desertification?
When fertile land becomes desert due to poor land use.
66
What is salinization?
The build-up of salt in soil
67
What improves soil water retention?
Organic matter and good soil structure.
68
How does temperature affect water retention?
Warmer soils increase evaporation
69
Is soil renewable or nonrenewable?
Nonrenewable—it forms very slowly.
70
Why is soil important to civilization?
Fertile soil enabled agriculture and settlement.
71
Physical weathering increases chemical weathering by
increasing the rock’s surface area
72
The presence of pore space in soil is essential because
it allows roots to absorb nutrients
73
What is the most direct effect of intensive farming on soil structure
increases soil compaction and reduces organic matter
74
Which situation demonstrates both physical and chemical weathering occurring at the same time
water seeping into cracks
75
Why is fertile soil considered limited on human timescales
it takes hundreds to thousands of years to develop.
76
What process causes cracks to form in granite when overlying rock is removed
exfoliation due to pressure release
77
Which farming method helps to prevent soil erosion and improve water retention
terracing
78
What occurs to the mineral calcite during chemical weathering
it dissolves in water
79
How does deforestation contribute to increased soil erosion in a positive feedback loop
it reduces plant cover
80
Which type of weathering is primarily responsible for the breakdown of rock due to changes in temperature
physical (mechanical) weathering
81
Why is organic matter essential for maintaining soil fertility
it improves soil aeration and water retention
82
How do soil microbes contribute to soil fertility
by decomposing organic matter and releasing essential nutrients
83
Which of the following factors would cause a statue to weather more quickly in a coastal city compared to an inland area
increased exposure to saltwater and air moisture
84
Which soil horizon contains the highest concentration of minerals washed down from above
and how does its role differ from the horizons above it
85
How does overgrazing impact soil structure and its ability to retain water
it compacts the soil
86
Why is deforestation considered a form of environmental degradation
it leads to soil erosion
87
What benefit does rotating crop fields offer in terms of soil health and nutrient balance
it reduces soil erosion and promotes the buildup of organic matter
88
What is frost wedging
and how does it contribute to rock breakdown
89
Why are loamy soils considered ideal for plant growth
they have a balanced mix of particle sizes
90
How does abrasion contribute to the breakdown of rocks and the formation of soil
it occurs when rock surfaces are scraped by wind

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