Ch.13 vocab

an extremely thin, less dense solid covering over the mantle

a layer that makes up the majority of the earth and surrounds a small core of iron

made up of the crust and outer mantle

layer just below the outer mantle that is capable of flow

concept that the outer layer of the earth consists of large plates composed of outer portion of the mantle

the breakdown of parent material into smaller particles that will become soil

results from physical forces that reduce the size of rock particles, changes in temperature, wind, rain, snow, and moving water will cause this

chemical alteration of rocks causing them to oxidize and break down over time

process of loosening and redistributing particles of soil over the landscape

a thin covering over the land consisting of a mixture of minerals, organic material, air, water, and organisms

part of the world not covered by ocean

ancient layers of rock often from mountains and hills

organic material from the decay of dead plant and animal material

particles between .05 and 2.0 mm in size

particles less than .002 mm in diameter

ideal soil for agricultural use, a specific combination, of sand, silt, and clay

the various ways that soil particles clump together, how they stick to one another

soil structure determined by soil structure and moisture content, crumbles easily

series of horizontal layers in the soil that differ in chemical composition and physical properties

each recognizable layer of soil that differs in composition is identified

undecomposed or somewhat decomposed organic matter found on the ground of forests

water moving down through the soil and carrying with it organic materials and minerals

tilling the land at right angles to the slope in order to prevent erosion

the planting of different crops in strips to reduce erosion and produce a variety of crops