Earths systems

What is weathering

The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces of rock called sediments

What is sediments

Weathered down rocks into small pieces

What are the difference types of weathering

Mechanical and chemical

What is Mechanical Weathering

The breaking up of rocks into smaller pieces without changing the original compostion

What is Chemical weathering

The breaking up of rocks that changes the chemical composition to create a new substance or rock type

What are the different types of mechanical weathering

1. frost wedging

2. abrasion

3. root action

4. exfoliation

What are the different types of chemical weathering

1. oxidation

2. carbonation

3. hydration

What are factors that affect the rate of weathering

1. climate

2. exposed surface area

3. mineral composition

What is erosion

THE MOVEMENT of weathered material by forces (like water, wind, ice, glaciers, or gravity)

What is the driving force behind almost all erosion

Gravity

What are things that increase mass movement

1. steeper slopes

2. warmer temperatures

3. more rain/ saturated soil

4. decreased vegetation

What is a streams discharge

the volume of water in a stream

What increases running water erosion

1. gradient or slope - the steeper the slope means faster and more erosion

2. discharge - more water = more discharge

3. channel shape - curving channels erode differently than straight ones

4. Season - greatest in the spring ( snow melting )

5. Climate - greatest in humid climates

6. Ground / soil - greatest when soil is full of water

7. Weather - greatest right after rain / snow

What is deposition

The dropping off of sediments that occurs whenever the agent of erodsion slows down or stops

True or false water is the most erosive force on earth

True

What is a tributary

A stream that flows into a larger stream

What is a watershed

A area drained by a particular river or steam

How are sediments transported in a stream

1. solution : sediments are dissolved

2. suspension : sediments remained mixed in with Water fro a long time

3. Floatation : sediments float on water

4. Traction: sediments roll on the steam bottom

As velocity increases…

The size of the particle transported increases

What affects the rate of sediment deposition in water

1. velocity

2. shape

3. size

4. density

What is horizontal sorting

When a stream enters a large body of water and slows down so the large particles settle at the mouth of the stream

What in infiltration

The downward movement of water through soil

What is Runoff

Excess water that cannot infiltrate the ground

What is ground water and what can we use it for?

What is it - when water infiltrates into the ground and fills an empty space

Purpose - for drinking and farming

What is permeability

The ability of soil or sediment to allow water to flow down though it

What can affect a grounds permeability

The sizes of sediments

As soils size increases…

The permeability rate increases

What is porosity

The amount of space between sediments

What changes a grounds porosity

shape, packing, and sorting of the particles

True or false, Size affects porosity

False, it doesn’t change the empty spaces between particles

What is a watershed

A area drained by a river or steam

What are some things that could be in surface runoff that could pollute the water?

• road salt

• oil and gas

• heavy metals

• sediment

• nutrient (can cause algae growth)

What are rain gardens used for?

They are used for capturing runoff water

When deposition enters a body of water what is the size order of sediments

Big to small sediments

Whats a tributary

A Stream that flows into another larger stream

What is a levee

A ridge of sediment that naturally builds up on the sides of a river

What is a meander

A stream that curves over flat land

How does climate affect soil formation

Climate controls weathering which can break down matter before it becomes soil

How does soil form?

By weathering and biological activity

Why Is analyzing geoscience data important

To understand earths processes

to identify patterns and changes

predict the future conditions

What are feedback loops

A process of change that either amplifies or reduces the change

What are the effects of deforestaion

• habitait loss

• reduced biodiversity

• altered water cycles

• climate change

How does the loss of ground vegetation cause changes to earths system

• increases erosion

• decreased water infiltration

• increases runoff and flooding

• loss of soil nutrients

• changes to local ecosystems

Where can carbon be stored

• atmosphere

• oceans

• forests

• plants

• soils

• fossil fuels

• living organisms

What are some examples of human activity that changes earths systems

• deforestation

• burning fossil fuels

• agriculture

• mining

• urbanization

• pollution

• overuse of natural resources

What can humans do to reduce the impact on earths systems

• reducing emissions

• conserving resources

• restoring ecosystems

• protecting habitats

What is thermal convection

The transfer of heat though movement of material caused by differences in temperature and density

How are rocks and minerals identified and classified

physical and chemical properties

• color

• streak

• Luster (shine)

• Hardness

• Cleavage ( smooth breakage )

• Fracture ( uneven breakage )

• composition

• texture

What are the 3 main groups of rock

Metaphoric

Sedimentary

Igneous

What is the coevolution of earths systems and life on earth

earths systems and living organisms influence and change each other over time

How do Earths systems influence the evolution of life

It alters soil formation

weathering

oxygen production

etc

What are banded iron formations and how do they provide evidence of early oxygen

Banded iron formations are layered sedimentary rocks rich in iron oxides

How are igneous rocks formed?

from hot molten material deep in the earth

What does intrusive and extrusive mean

Intrusive- underground

Extrusive- on the surface