Constructive and Destructive Forces

weathering

Chemical or physical process that breaks down rocks into smaller pieces

erosion

Process through which weathered rock and soil are moved from one place to another

deposition

Process in which sediment is laid down in new locations

delta

A landform made of sediment that is deposited where a river flows into an ocean or lake

floodplain

The flat area that extends out from stream's banks and can covered by excess water

sediment

Small articles of rock, sand and other debris

discharge rate

The amount of water a river carries a given amount of time

gradient

An incline or slope; the rate of incline (how steep or flat)

velocity

A variable that tells you both speed and direction

flood

A very heavy flow of water, which is greater than the normal flow of water

landslide

The sudden movement of rock, soil and debris down a slope

mass wasting

The downhill movements of matter (ex: rock and soil)

debris

Bits and pieces of rubbish; "stuff"

coastline

Where the land meets the sea

beach erosion

The removal of beach materials into the sea or lakes by the action of waves, tides, or wind

sandbar

A mound of sand deposited by waves as they slow down near shore

desert

An extremely dry area with little water

glacier

A large mass of moving ice and snow on land

erratics

Large boulders that do not match the bedrock left behind by glaciers

moraines

A mound of material that is left on the ground by a receding glacier

outwash

Material deposited by water (which could come from a melting glacier)

tills

A mixture of particles and rocks of all sizes (could come from what was once frozen in a glacier)

kettles

Lakes that form as large blocks of ice melt

eskers

Long, winding mounds of sediment deposited by melting glaciers

runoff

Water that flows over the ground surface rather than soaking into the ground

tributary

A stream or river that flows into a larger river

oxbow lake

A meander that has been cut off from the river

alluvial fan

A wide, sloping deposit of sediment formed where a stream leaves a mountain range

sand dune

A mound of sand piled up by the wind