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Earth's Surface Ch 2
Interactive Science Series
24
Science
6th Grade
02/23/2017

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Cards

Term
uniformitarianism
Definition
a principle that states that the geological processes that operate today also operated in the past
Term
erosion
Definition
the process of wearing down and carrying away rocks
Term
weathering
Definition
the process that breaks down rock and other substances
Term
mechanical weathering
Definition
a type of weathering in which rock is physically broken down into smaller pieces.
Term
chemical weathering
Definition
the process that breaks down rock through chemical changes
Term
abrasion
Definition
refers to the weathering away of rock by rock particles carried by water, ice, wind, or gravity
Term
frost wedging
Definition
the process of rock being forced apart by water seeping into cracks in rock, freezing, and expanding the rock
Term
oxidation
Definition
iron combining with oxygen in the presence of water
Term
permeable
Definition
when a material is full of tiny, connected air spaces that allow water to seep through it
Term
soil
Definition
loose, weathered material on Earth's surface in which plants can grow
Term
bedrock
Definition
the solid layer of rock beneath the soil
Term
humus
Definition
a dark-colored substance that forms as plants and animal remains decay
Term
fertility
Definition
a measure of how well soil supports plant growth
Term
loam
Definition
soil that is made up of about equal parts of clay, sand, and silt
Term
pH scale
Definition
measures the acidity of a substance
Term
soil horizon
Definition
a layer of soil that differs in color, texture, and composition from the layers above or below it.
Term
topsoil
Definition
a crumbly, dark brown soil that is a mixture of humus, clay, and other materials
Term
subsoil
Definition
usually consists of clay and other particles of rock, but little humus
Term
decomposer
Definition
organisms that break the remains of dead organisms into smaller pieces and digest them with chemicals
Term
natural resource
Definition
anything in the environment that humans use
Term
soil conservation
Definition
the management of soil to limit its destruction
Term
crop rotation
Definition
a farmer plants different crops in a field each year
Term
contour plowing
Definition
farmers plow their fields along the curves of a slope instead of in straight rows
Term
conservation plowing
Definition
dead weeds and stalks of the previous year's crop are plowed into the ground to help return soil nutrients, retain moisture, and hold soil in place.
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