Weathering and Erosion

the general terms for the movement of sediment by wind, water, glaciers

• weathering

• erosion

• deposition

the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces of the same rock without any change in its composition

• mechanical weathering
• chemical weathering
• erosion
• deposition

the process by which layers or sheets of rock gradually break off

• exfoliation
• abrasion
• erosion
• deposition

the process of wearing down by friction - like sand blasting

• exfoliation

• abrasion

• erosion

• deposition

the breakdown or decomposition of rock that takes place when minerals change through chemical processes

• chemical weathering
• mechanical weathering
• erosion
• deposition

decayed organic matter in soil

• abrasion
• exfoliation
• humus
• erosion

a soil layer with physical and chemical properties that differ from those soil layers above and below it

• soil profile
• soil horizon
• humus
• deposition

the soil horizon in a specific location; a cross section of soil layers that display all soil layers

• soil profile
• soil horizon
• humus
• deposition 

the expansion of desert conditions in areas where the natural plant cover has been destroyed

• desertification
• exfoliation
• abrasion
• erosion

the process in which sediment particles are picked up and moved from one place to another

• mechanical weathering
• chemical weathering
• erosion
• deposition