Unit 8 Soil Vocabulary

weathering

• The breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface.

• Any process that breaks rock down into smaller pieces without changing the chemistry of the rock; typically wind and water.

• the process by which rocks break down as a result of chemical reactions

• A solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence.

chemical weathering

• The breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface.

• Any process that breaks rock down into smaller pieces without changing the chemistry of the rock; typically wind and water.

• the process by which rocks break down as a result of chemical reactions

• A solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence.

physical weathering

• The breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface.

• Any process that breaks rock down into smaller pieces without changing the chemistry of the rock; typically wind and water.

• the process by which rocks break down as a result of chemical reactions

• A solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence.

minerals

• The breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface.

• Any process that breaks rock down into smaller pieces without changing the chemistry of the rock; typically wind and water.

• the process by which rocks break down as a result of chemical reactions

• A solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence.

soil profile

• vertical sequence of soil layers

• distinct layers of soil

• remains of something that was once alive (O horizon)

• the top layer of soil (A Horizon)

soil horizon

• vertical sequence of soil layers

• distinct layers of soil

• remains of something that was once alive (O horizon)

• the top layer of soil (A Horizon)

organic matter

• vertical sequence of soil layers

• distinct layers of soil

• remains of something that was once alive (O horizon)

• the top layer of soil (A Horizon)

top soil

• vertical sequence of soil layers

• distinct layers of soil

• remains of something that was once alive (O horizon)

• the top layer of soil (A Horizon)

eluviated horizon

• dry, barren layer of insoluble particles have been washed from the organic horizon (E horizon)

• Layer of soil with higher levels minerals & nutrients (B Horizon)

• layers of slightly weathered bedrock in the soil (C horizon)

• The solid layer of rock beneath the soil (R horizon)

subsoil

• dry, barren layer of insoluble particles have been washed from the organic horizon (E horizon)

• Layer of soil with higher levels minerals & nutrients (B Horizon)

• layers of slightly weathered bedrock in the soil (C horizon)

• The solid layer of rock beneath the soil (R horizon)