surface processes

gradient

the steeper the slope, the more runoff and less infiltration

degree of saturation

the more saturated the soil the more runoff and less infiltration

amount of vegetation

the more vegetation, the less runoff and more infiltration

land use

the more paved roads and buildings, the more runoff and less infiltration

rock type

water can only infiltrate into ground that is porous and permeable

climate

the more frozen the ground, the more runoff and less infiltration

zone of aeration

air in pore spaces between particles

zone of saturation

water in pore spaces in between particles

capillary action

occurs at the water table in a region known as the capillary fringe, this fringe helps bring water upward

aquifer

a rock that is able to hold and store ground water

artesian well

extends into an aquifer that is under pressure because it is sandwiched between two impermeable layers

porosity

the amount of open pore spaces between particles

factors that affect porosity

rounder particles have a greater porosity, particles that are loosely packed have a greater porosity than tightly packed, particles that are sorted (same size) have greater porosity. size does not affect porosity

permeability

the ability of the ground to allow water to pass through

factors that affect permeability

larger particles have greater permeability, if the pore spaces are saturated, then permeability will be less, if the pores are connected then the permeability will be greater

capillarity

the ability of soil to pull water upward into tiny pore space between the sediment. water molecules are able to move upward against gravity because of the adhesion of water molecules to the surface of particles.

water retention

the amount of water held in by a sample after water has drained from the sample, the smaller the particles, the more water will be retained

weathering

the break down of rock at or near the earth’s surface. occurs when rocks are exposed to air, water, and actions of living things

sediments

smaller pieces of rock that have undergone weathering

chemical weathering

the breakdown of a rock through a change in the minerals or chemical composition. rate increases in warm and moist climates.

oxidation

when iron combines with oxygen to make rust

effects of water on rock (chemical weathering)

called universal solvent because can dissolve nearly anything. can combine with carbon dioxide to form carbonic acid which can dissolve most rock

sinkhole

a natural depression in a land surface formed by the collapse of a cavern roof

physical weathering

the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces without chemical changes.

abrasion

occurs when rock particles grind against rock

frost action

weathering process caused by cycles of freezing and thawing of water in rock openings. water infiltrates cracks in the rock and when it freezes it expands to split the rock apart

plant root growth

as plants grow they can also spread cracks apart even farther

humus

part of the soil that serves as a source of plant nutrients

erosion

process where particles are transported as sediment

agents of erosion

streams, waves, glaciers, wind, mass movement

gravity

direct role and force behind most agents of erosion

sun

indirect role that drives the water cycle

deposition

the process by which sediments are released from an erosional system. larger sediments and rounder sediments and denser sediments settle faster

horizontal sorting

when the velocity of a wind or water erosional system gradually decreases, the size, roundness, and density gradually decrease as you move further out

vertical sorting

larger or more dense sediments settle to the bottom first, followed by decreasing size and density

tributary

smaller streams that flow into a larger one

stream

running water that is confined to a channel

flood plain

nearly level plain that borders the river

levee

mound of sediment that parallels the course of the river that prevents flooding

delta

landform that forms from deposition of sediment at the mouth of a river due to slower moving water

way streams carry sediment

dissolved minerals in solution, solid particles are suspended in water, larger particles roll, bounce, or slide along the bottom

discharge

amount of water that flows past a given point for a given period of time

channel shape

shape of the stream bed where the running water is confined. solid particles are suspended in water

curved vs straight stream

when straight, fastest in middle. when curved, fastest on outside of the curves

v-shaped valley

downcutting of a stream

meanders

as a stream gets older it begins to shift its course in a series of bends

oxbow lake

a curved lake formed from a cutoff bend of the river

glacier

naturally formed mass of ice and snow that moves downhill under the force of gravity

glacier movement

as snow and ice accumulate the glacier moves forward under its own mass and the pull of gravity. flows like a fluid

continental glacier

huge sheets of ice that cover entire land masses

valley glacier

glaciers that form in high elevations in mountain valleys

u-shaped valley

shape of the valley walls from glacial erosion

till

unsorted sediments deposited by a glacier

erratics

large deposited fragments that can be transported hundreds of miles in or on top of the glacier

drumlins

stream lined oval shaped mounds of the till

eskers

a long winding ridge of till

terminal moraines

a mound of till deposited along the leading edge of a glacier

glacial grooves

long parallel scratches formed by sediment embedded in a glacier that has passed over the surface and indicate directions of travel

kettle lake

depression left in ground that is filled with glacial melt water

outwash plain

broad feature of a smaller sediment carried from the melting water of a retreating glacier

mass movement

the pulling of rock and sediment downhill by the force of gravity. unsorted sediment. involves two forces. gravity and friction

deflation

wind blows away loose sediment lowering the land surface until there is no more loose sediment to erode

abrasion

wind picks up and blows smaller sediment against another surface wearing it down

sand dune

depositional feature when sand is deposited in layers or mounds. windward side- gentle. leeward side, steep

waves

the up and down motion of water in the ocean or lake, usually caused by wind. approach shore at an angle but retreat parallel to the shore, creating zigzag pattern.

wave formation

as wind pushed a wave towards the shore, it drags along the ocean floor. the dragging slows the bottom of the wave, but the top continues at the same speed- water becomes unstable and breaks

long shore current

ocean current that flows parallel and close to the shore