GEOGRAPHY

What are the forces of nature that continually wear away Earth's surface?

Wind, rain, frost, and waves.

What is weathering?

The wearing away of rocks and soil by the action of weather.

What are the three main types of weathering?

Physical weathering, chemical weathering, and biological weathering.

What is physical weathering?

The breaking up of rocks by physical forces such as frost and temperature changes.

What is an example of physical weathering?

Freeze-thaw action.

What is chemical weathering?

Changes in the chemical composition of rocks that weaken them.

What is carbonation in chemical weathering?

When rainwater, a weak acid, reacts with calcium carbonate in rocks, converting it into calcium bicarbonate.

What is oxidation in chemical weathering?

A chemical process where oxygen from water mixes with iron in rocks to form iron oxide.

What is hydrolysis in chemical weathering?

A chemical reaction involving water that changes silicate minerals into clay.

What is biological weathering?

Weathering caused by the action of plants, animals, and people.

What is erosion?

The movement of weathered materials from one place to another.

What is deposition?

The process of adding material to a new location after it has been eroded.

What are meanders?

Large bends in rivers formed by erosion on the outside and deposition on the inside.

What are ox-bow lakes?

Lakes that form when a meander is cut off from the river.

What are levees?

Natural mounds on river banks formed by sediment deposits during floods.

What are deltas?

Landforms created where a river flows into a body of water and deposits sediment.

How do waves affect coastal features?

Waves can erode cliffs and form beaches.

What is wind erosion?

Erosion caused by the movement of sand and soil by wind.

What is abrasion in wind erosion?

Erosion caused by loose particles blowing against rocks and soil.

What are sand dunes?

Depositional features formed by the accumulation of sand moved by wind.