Mrs. Giorgianni/Physical Setting Earth Science
UNIT #III:
SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDSCAPES
Main Concepts/Ideas:
 Weathering is the physical and/or chemical breakdown of rocks.
 Erosion is the transport of weathered materials. The main agents of erosion are: Streams/running water,
glaciers, wind, waves and mass movement.
 Deposition is the dropping off of weathered particles carried by erosion.
Sediments are either sorted (water, wind, waves) or unsorted (glaciers,
mass movement).
 Sorting is determined by the size, shape and density of the particles.
 Porosity and permeability determine how water passes through the soil.
 Landscape features result from the interaction of surface processes
(weathering, erosion and deposition) and tectonic forces.
Key Questions:
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What are the types of weathering?
How do each of the main agents of erosion transport sediment?
Explain how type of sorting can provide evidence of erosion and deposition.
Describe the processes involved in the formation of landscape features.
Integrate the processes of porosity and permeability into groundwater movement.
Vocabulary: ~ Due Friday, November 15, 2013
Abrasion
Deposition
Discharge
Erosion
Erratic
Infiltration
Landscape
Outwash
Permeability
Porosity
Stream Drainage Pattern
Striations
U-Shaped Valley
V-Shaped Valley
Velocity
Weathering
Lab Activities:
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Chemical Weathering
Deposition of Sediments
Landscapes of NYS
Porosity and Permeability
Stream Abrasion
Castle Learning Homework Assignments:
** ALL CASTLE LEARNING ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE ON MONDAY OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK!!! **
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Castle Learning Week #10:
Castle Learning Week #11:
Castle Learning Week #12:
Castle Learning Week #13:
Weathering/Erosion/Deposition ~ Due Monday, November 11
Surface Processes ~ Due Monday, November 18
Porosity/Permeability ~ Due Monday, November 25
NYS Landscapes ~ Due Monday, December 2
Quizzes/Unit Test:
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Topic Quizzes may be given after each sub-unit:
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Landscapes
Types of weathering
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Erosion
Deposition
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Water in the Ground
Porosity and Permeability
Surface Processes Unit Test ~ On or about Tuesday, December 3
o 25 Multiple choice questions – BRING A PENCIL
o 5 Short answer questions
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.
Abraham Lincoln
Giorgianni ~ Surface Processes Unit Outline 2013/2014
SURFACE PROCESSES
Main Concept Review
Weathering and Erosion
1. WEATHERING is BREAKDOWN of earth materials, and is either chemical or physical.
2. EROSION is when materials MOVE, by gravity, wind, water, or ice.
3. Abrasion and frost action are examples of physical weathering. Chemical weathering is more
dominant in warm, humid climates.
4. Glaciers leave a U-shaped valley, rivers a v-shaped valley.
5. Glaciers also leave unsorted sediments, striations, erratic boulders, and drumlins.
6. Stream deposition occurs because of water velocity differences, with the slowest water
depositing the smallest sediments. Deposition may be vertical or horizontal.
7. Most of NYS is made up of Sedimentary rock, with the Adirondacks being metamorphic and
Long Island being glacially deposited mixtures of loose sediments.
8. NYS landscapes are either high, mid (plateau) or low elevation.
9. Erosion is dominant on the outer curve of stream, deposition, inner. Meanders develop over
time. Flood plains are wide, flat areas in which streams flow.
10. Wind erosion leaves surfaces frosted and pitted.
Water in the Ground
11. Water flows through soils down into the zone of saturation. Wells must be drilled into this zone.
12. Capillary action draws water UP, against gravity.
13. ALL SOIL PARTICLE SIZES HAVE THE SAME POROSITY.
14. Smaller sized sediments have greater capillarity.
15. Porosity is the amount of water the soil can hold and is determined by sorting of particles, NOT
the size.
16. Permeability is the rate water passes through the soil and is determined by size, shape and
sorting.
17. When rainfall exceeds permeability, the ground is saturated and runoff occurs.
18. Infiltration is water flowing into the soil.
Giorgianni ~ Surface Processes Unit Outline 2013/2014