Weathering, Soil, and Mass Wasting
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What are Earth’s external processes?
Weathering, mass wasting, and erosion
What is weathering?
The disintegration and decomposition of material at or near the surface
What is mass wasting?
The transfer of rock material downslope under the influence of gravity
What is erosion?
The incorporation and transportation of material by a mobile agent such as water, wind, or ice
What are the two kinds of weathering?
Mechanical (physical) weathering and chemical weathering
What is mechanical (physical) weathering?
The breaking of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition
Does mechanical weathering change a rock’s chemical composition?
No
What is chemical weathering?
The change in the internal structure of minerals by removing or adding elements
Does chemical weathering alter mineral composition?
Yes
What is soil?
A combination of mineral matter, organic matter, water, and air
What is regolith?
A layer of rock and mineral fragments that cover Earth’s surface
What is soil texture?
The proportions of different particle sizes in soil
What are the three main soil particle sizes?
Sand, silt, and clay
What is the size range of sand particles?
0.05 to 2 mm
How is sand’s drainage ability?
Good drainage ability
How is sand’s water holding capacity?
Poor water holding capacity
What is the size range of silt particles?
0.002 to 0.05 mm
How is silt’s drainage ability?
Medium drainage ability
How is silt’s water holding capacity?
Medium water holding capacity
What is the size of clay particles?
Less than 0.002 mm
How does clay interact with water?
It absorbs water
How is clay’s drainage?
Poor drainage
How is clay’s water holding capacity?
Good water holding capacity
What is loam?
Soil that is best suited for plant life