Weatherig and Erosion
What Are The Agents Of Erosion?
-agents of erosion are the source of movement that cause the transportation. -ice, water, wind, gravity Ice glaciers- create u-shaped valleys -leave behind unsorted sediments -cause striations in the rock left behind -leave behind features such as moraines, kettle lake, and drumlins Water -create v-shaped valleys -leave behind sorted, rounded sediments -form features like meanders, deltas, floodplains and oxbow lakes. -streams are not the only type of water erosion. Oceans can significantly erode rock formations as well Longshore currents, waves, and tides. -the main type of erosion due to oceans is called longshore drift |
Wind
-wind erosion occurs mainly in places with very little vegetation such as deserts and beaches. -Plant roots hold soil together and prevent erosion -One common feature of Winderoded landscapes is Dunes Gravity -Landslides are also known as Mass wasting or Mass movement. They occur when the force of Gravity is stronger than the Friction keeping the sediments in place -Talus refers to the Sediments found at the base of a landslide -There are different types of Mass wasting dependent on the speed and conditions of the movement Soil Creep-Gradual downhill movement of soil Slump-slow movement, bedrock breaks off and slides down. Debris Flow- rapid downhill flow of debris Mud Flow-downward flow of of fine particles and large amounts of water Rock Fall-rapid falling of pieces of rock from a cliff or steep slope |
Dirt On Soils
How Does Soil form?
-soil is a loose mixture of rock fragments, organic matter, water, and air that can support the growth of vegetation. 1-soil begins when bedrock, aka parent material is weathered. 2-over time, organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and insects begin to live among the weathered pieces. They create organic waste and form soil. -soil is both biotic an abiotic How Is Soil Biotic? -some living things break down, or decompose, the remains of dead organisms. This process forms humus, a substance that contains nutrients that plants need to grow. -larger animals, such as earthworms and moles, live in soil. They loosen and mix the soil as the burrow, increasing the air and drainage of the soil. -some soils have a greater organic content than others ex: forest vs. deserts |
What Is A Soil Horizon?
-a vertical section of soil layers from the top layers from the top layer down is a soil profile. What Are Some Soil Characteristics?
-soil texture describes the soil based on the relative amounts of soil particles. Soil particles can be classified as sand (the largest particle) silt, clay the smallest. -soil color depends on the minerals and organic matter that make up soil. -soil pH is a measure of how acidic or basic the soil is. Soil pH depends on the minerals, sediment, and organic matter found in the soil. -pore space describes the spaces between soil particles. Water and air are found in the pore spaces of soils. -soil fertility describes how well a soil can support plant growth. Soil fertility depends on climate, the amount of humus, minerals, and nutrients, and the topography of the area. |
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