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Study Guide: Chapter 12 – Weathering & Erosion
North American Soils Matching
______ shallow soil, high elevations
A. tropical grassland
______ experience wet & dry seasons
B. tropical forest
______ sandy, little rain
C. desert
______ fertile, heavy tree growth
D. arctic
______ warm, moist climate; deep soils
E. temperate grassland
______ No trees, fertile soil, moderate climate
F. temperate forest
Label each term as either a Chemical (C) or Mechanical (M) Weathering process
_____ Cold, Dry Climate
_____ Decomposition
_____ Exfoliation
_____ Warm, Moist Climate
_____ Disintegration
_____ Ice Heaving
_____ Physical weathering
_____ Frost Wedging
_____ Hydrolysis
_____ No chemical reaction
_____ Oxidation
_____ Acidification
True or False?
T or F Water or water vapor is always involved in chemical weathering.
T or F Ice heaving is the cause of potholes.
T or F Weathering proceeds faster on rocks that have more exposed surface area.
T or F In transported soil, the composition of the soil matches the parent material.
T or F Decaying plants and animals contribute to mechanical weathering.
Soil Conservation Methods
______ No-till farming
A. tree lines used to disrupt wind erosion
______ Shelterbelts
B. creating flat planting areas on a hillside
______ Strip Cropping
C. seeding & fertilizing in a single turn of soil
______ Contour farming
D. crop rotation
Soil Horizon Matching
______ Medium-sized particles
A. Horizon A
______ Humus
______ finest particles
B. Horizon B
______ topsoil
______ clay
C. Horizon C
______ parent material
______ dark color
D. Bedrock
______ slightly weathered bedrock
Circle or Underline the correct choice
What process is responsible for the formation of rust? – acidification, hydrolysis or
oxidation
Which mineral is the most resistant to weathering? – halite, quartz, or calcite
What is the transportation of the earth’s surface materials by wind or water? deposition,
erosion, or weathering
What gas mixes with condensing water vapor to produce acid rain? – helium, oxygen, or
sulfur dioxide
What is the slow, imperceptible downhill movement of weathered material? – creep,
earthflow, or slump
What is dark organic material found in topsoil? – humus, tephra, or talus
What is primarily responsible for dissolving limestone & forming large caverns? –
abrasion, carbonic acid or hydrolysis
What is the break up of rock due to processes at the earth’s surface? – erosion or
weathering
What is the most common cause of landslides? – rain, volcanoes or wind
Oxidation affects minerals containing __________. – calcite, iron, or steel
Which mass movement occurs in drier regions that experience infrequent, heavy rainfall?
Lahar is an example. – creep, mudflow, or slump
What is a cross section of earth exposed by digging? – bedrock, soil profile, or strata
Fill in the Blank: abrasion, exfoliation, frost wedging, hydrolysis, oxidation
____________________ occurs when uplifted rock peels away in sheets.
Chemical reactions involving water are called ___________________.
____________________ breaks rock as water freezes in the cracks.
A chemical reaction involving oxygen is called ____________________.
___________________ occurs as moving rocks scrape against each other.
Define soil (2-parts).
What are the two main forces of erosion?
What is the difference between mechanical and chemical weathering?
Compare a residual soil with a transported soil?
Describe the four layers of a mature soil profile. Include as much detail as possible.