| A | B |
|---|
| weathering | breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces; sediments |
| erosion | transportation of sediments by wind, water, or ice |
| deposition | dropping/settling of sediments |
| mechanical weathering | break up of rocks by changing the shape |
| chemical weathering | break up of rocks by changing chemical composition |
| soil | loose rock fragments and clay, mixed with organic material |
| bedrock | parent material for soil |
| humus | organic material found in soil |
| topsoil | the A horizon; contains organic material |
| oxidation | oxygen reacting with other substances; rust |
| ice wedging | water freezing and expanding to break apart rocks |
| aquifer | layer of permeable rock that allows water to flow |
| porosity | amount of pore space in a material |
| permeability | rate at which liquids flow through a material |
| water table | top level of saturated zone in groundwater |
| cone of depression | created when water is pumped from a well |
| hydrolosis | the chemical reaction of water with other substances |
| carbonic acid | dissolved carbon dioxide in water |
| oxidation | the reaction of oxygen that is sometimes called rust |
| acid rain | carbon dioxide and sulfur from pollution combine with water in the atmosphere |
| root action | roots make their way into cracks and split the rock as they grow |
| mud cracks | form when clay materials expand and contract |
| ice wedging | water enters cracks and freezes, causing the rock to crack |
| exfoliation | rocks from below rise to the surface and are exposed to less pressure, causing them to peel off in layers |
| A-horizon | topsoil |
| B-horizon | subsoil |
| C-horizon | partially weathered rock, above the bedrock |
