unit 5: niagara falls

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Resistance to Weathering

ability for a rock or rock strata to not be affected by forces of nature

Mineral Hardness

measured on a logarithmic scale 1-10, mineral’s resistance to being scratched

Mineral Cleavage

the break pattern of a mineral into patterns and flat surfaces

Mineral Fracture

the break pattern of a mineral without pattern

Mineral Luster

the way a mineral reflects light into metallic or non-metallic

Gradient

the steepness of a slope

escarpment

steep slope separating lands of different heights

landscape

chief characteristics of an area determined by bedrock and climatic factors

radial drainage

drainage pattern where streams radiate or diverge outward from a central point

dendritic drainage

drainage pattern where streams resemble the branching pattern of roots or trees

chlorinated hydrocarbons

chemical compounds of chlorine, hydrogen, and carbon atoms only that form the building blocks of pharmaceuticals, plastics, and solvents

flyash

a toxic fine ash, typically a byproduct of combustion, used in manufacturing but can become airborne if not treated carefully

processed sludge

mixture of organic and inorganic toxins that is a byproduct of manufacturing or wastewater removal

superfund

program is designed to identify, investigate, fund and cleanup sites contaminated with hazardous substances under CERCLA law

landfill

a place where waste is buried in the ground in large amounts with an impermeable bottom

leachate

liquid produced by precipitation coming in contact with waste and infiltrating through landfills, seeps through the sides and bottoms of the landfill

floodplain

area around a river that can fill with water during a storm event

meander

bend or curve in the river that increases over time

sediment

pieces of other rocks characterized by size

watershed

area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas

delta

triangular or fan-shaped deposit at the end of flowing river

sustainability

avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance

RCRA

Congress establishes authority for controls over hazardous waste from generation to disposal

CERCLA

address the dangers of abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste dumps by developing a nationwide program for: emergency response; information gathering and analysis; liability for responsible parties; and site cleanup