Soil Formation, Composition, and Environmental Effects

A set of flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to soil formation, composition, weather patterns, and oceanography.

Soil Formation

The process where soils are formed through the weathering, transportation, and deposition of parent material.

Soil Horizons

The layers in soil that differ in composition and organic material, categorized into zones such as O, A, E, B, and C.

Weathering

The breakdown of rocks due to exposure to air, water, chemicals, or biological processes.

Physical Weathering

The mechanical breakdown of rocks through natural forces such as wind and water.

Chemical Weathering

The breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions, often resulting in the release of nutrients.

Erosion

The process of physically removing soil, rock, and other particles from one location to another.

Permeability

The rate at which soil can drain water; influenced by soil texture.

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)

The ability of soil to absorb and release cations; this affects nutrient availability for plants.

Soil Texture Triangle

A diagram used to classify soil types based on their proportions of sand, silt, and clay.

El Niño

A climatic event characterized by the warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, affecting global weather patterns.

La Niña

A climatic phenomenon marked by cooler ocean temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific, leading to different weather effects compared to El Niño.

O Horizon

The top layer of soil composed of organic matter in various stages of decomposition.

B Horizon (Subsoil)

The layer of soil that accumulates metals and nutrients, located beneath the A horizon.

Humus

The dark, organic material in soil formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter.

Fertility

The ability of soil to provide essential nutrients to plants.

Rain Shadow Effect

A phenomenon where one side of a mountain receives more rainfall than the other, affecting the ecosystem and climate.

Ocean Currents

Continuous, directed movements of seawater generated by forces such as wind and temperature differences.

Thermohaline Circulation

The global circulation of ocean water driven by differences in temperature and salinity, crucial for climate regulation.

Upwelling

The process where deep, cold ocean water rises to the surface, bringing nutrients and supporting marine life.