| A | B |
| weathering | the process by which rocks on or near Earth's surface break down and change |
| erosion | the removal and transport of weathered material from one location to another |
| mechanical weathering | the process by which rocks and minerals breack down into smaller pieces |
| frost wedging | the repeated thawing and freezing of water in the cracks of rocks |
| exfoliation | the process by which outer rock layers are stripped away |
| chemical weathering | the process by which rocks and minerals undergo changes in their composition as a result of chemical reactions |
| hydrolysis | the reaction of water with other substances |
| oxidation | the chemical reaction of oxygen with other substances |
| deposition | when materials are dropped in another location |
| rill erosion | erosion by running water in small channels on the side of a slope |
| gully erosion | a rill channel that becomes deep and wide |
| soil | the loose covering of broken rock particles and decaying organic matter, called humus, overlying the bedrock of Earth's surface |
| residual soil | soil located above its parent material |
| transported soil | soil that has been moved to a location away from its parent bedrock |
| soil profile | the vertical sequence of soil layers |
| soil horizon | a distinct layer, or zone, within a soil profile |