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Definition
| the process that breaks down rock and other substances at Earth's surface |
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Definition
| the movement of rock particles by wind, water, ice, or gravity |
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| mechanical (physical) weathering |
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Definition
| rock is physically broken into smaller pieces |
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Definition
| the grinding away of rock by rock particles carried by water, ice, wind, or gravity |
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Definition
| wedges of ice in rocks widen and deepen cracks |
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Definition
| the process that breaks down rock through chemical changes |
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Definition
| a material is full of tiny, connected air spaces that allow water to seep through it |
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Definition
| loose, weathered material on Earth's surface where plants can grow |
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Definition
| the solid layer of rock beneath the soil |
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Definition
| disturbs the soil and plant cover as little as possible |
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Definition
| the practice of plowing the fields along the curves of a slope |
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Definition
| the management of soil to prevent its destruction |
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Definition
| an area where wind erosion caused severe loss of topsoil during the 1930's |
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Definition
| dark-colored substance that forms as plant and animal remains decay |
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Definition
| soil that is made of equal parts of clay, sand and silt |
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Definition
| a layer of soil that differs in color and texture from the layers above or below it |
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| thick mass of tough roots at the surface of the soil that keeps the soil in place and holds onto moisture |
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Definition
| the A horizon; dark brown soil that is a mixture of humus, clay and other materials |
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| the B horizon; usually consists of clay and other particles washed down from the A horizon, but little humus |
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Definition
| the loose layer as plants shed leaves |
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Definition
| one that is replaced in a relatively short time |
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| organisms that break down the remains of dead organisms into smaller pieces and digest them with chemicals |
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