Studied by 59 people
Tornado
A rapidly whirling, funnel-shaped cloud that reaches down to touch Earth's surface.
Flood
An overflowing of water in a normally dry area
Hurricane
A severe storm that develops over tropical oceans and whose strong winds spiral in toward the eye
Earthquake
The shaking that results from the movement of tectonic plates beneath Earth's surface
Tsunami
a long high sea wave caused by an earthquake, submarine landslide, or other disturbance
Volcano
A vent or crack in the Earth's surface through which magma and gases are expelled
Pineywoods
Heavy rainfall, lots of plants and trees, flat land, little erosion by water and wind
Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes
Along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, humid and warm with much rainfall, high erosion by wind and water
Edwards Plateau
Erosion has left most of the region lined with limestone rock layers. Chemical weathering has formed many caves and caverns
Trans Pecos
Rain does not fall evenly over the area and creates the "Desert portion" of Texas
Rolling Plains
Soils in this area are most fertile and sought after for crop production. Periods of drought create large amounts of wind erosion
Llano Uplift
Considered the oldest land in Texas. Soil is not prone to flooding because it allows water to infiltrate very easily.
Enchanted Rock
Hard granite dome formed underground, exposed as softer rock above weathered & eroded away
South Texas Brush Country
Rocky, dry soil cannot support grasses, but short trees can thrive because of their deeper root system.
Coastal Sand Plain
Catastrophic events such as hurricanes can increase wave erosion and deposition here and in the Gulf Coastal Plain.
Stalagmite
a conical mineral deposit formed on the floor of a cave by the deposition of mineral-rich water
Stalactite
a conical mineral deposit formed on the roof of a cave by the deposition of mineral-rich water
Cavern
A large cave
Cave
A deep, hollowed-out area under the earth's surface caused by chemical weathering
Chemical Weathering
The process that breaks down rock through chemical changes
Carbonic Acid
A very weak acid formed in when carbon dioxide dissolves in water. Can chemically dissolve limestone to form caves
Watershed
An area where all groundwater and surface water drains into the same body of water.
Surface Water
Water that collects above the surface of the ground
Groundwater
The water that is beneath Earth's surface
Aquifer
A permeable rock layer that can hold or transport groundwater
Water Table
The highest level of groundwater in an area, beneath the Earth's surface
Permeability
Ability of rock or soil to allow water to flow through it
Runoff
Water that flows over the ground surface rather than soaking into the ground
Ecoregion
A relatively large area that is characterized by distinctive plant and animal communities, climate, and ecological features.
Weathering
The breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface.
Erosion
The movement of sediment from one place to another
Deposition
The placement of sediment after being carried from place of origin
Storm Surge
A swell of water that sweeps across the coast where a hurricane lands and causes the most damage.
Oil, Fertilizer, Sewage, Pesticides, Chemicals
Types of groundwater contamination
Ogallala Aquifer
Largest aquifer in North America.
Groundwater Contamination
When toxic materials are introduced into groundwater
