Earth Science
Weathering and Erosion
Topic 9
Vocabulary Flashcards
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Cut them out.
Match the term with the
correct definition
Turn them over. If the shapes match you
have the correct answers.
Sediments
Smaller particles broken down
from the Earth’s surface rocks that
are carried away by water or wind
http://www.water.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/7FCD755F-0B6C-4099-A54CF239A714D65E/0/Sedimentbar.JPG
Weathering
The chemical or physical
breakdown of rocks at or
near Earth’s surface
http://www.rosaliebischof.com/images/broken-rock2.jpg
Physical Weathering
http://ic2.pbase.com/o6/43/815143/1/95073988.vBqLR03n.mechanicalweathering.jpg
Abrasion
The breakdown of rock into
smaller pieces without chemical
change
(frost action, plant root growth or
abrupt temperature changes cause
rock to crack apart / quarrying,
mining, erosion - also abrasion)
The process in which rock
particles grind against rock
causing physical weathering
Characteristic rounded shape of rocks from river
beds and beaches is caused by this process
http://www.actewagl.org/education/_lib/images/Water/Runoff.jpg
Erosion
Weathering of rock produces
particles that are transported as
sediments through this process
http://www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/images2/erosion1a.jpg
Mass Movements
http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/rockfall.jpg
Also known as direct gravity
erosion. Gravity acting
largely on its own by pulling
rocks and sediment downhill.
The term landslide is
commonly used to refer to
this type of movement
Stream
Running water erosion confined to
a channel
http://www.freefoto.com/images/9907/05/9907_05_15---Stream_web.jpg
Tributary
A smaller stream that flows
into a larger stream
http://www.d.umn.edu/~pmorton/geol1041/photos/tributary.jpg
Stream Abrasion
The rolling, sliding, or bouncing
of larger solid sediments along the
bottom of streams resulting in
rounding sediments
http://www.edengardensupply.com/images/large/DecoRiverRock75In.jpg
V-shaped valley
http://cgz.e2bn.net/e2bn/leas/c99/schools/cgz/accounts/staff/rchambers/GeoBytes%
20GCSE%20Blog%20Resources/Images/Rivers/V-shapedvalley.jpg
Deeper channel carved by
streams over time. Results
from the combined actions of
stream downcutting, runoff,
and mass movement
Watershed
The area of land drained by any
one stream (drainage area)
http://www.recycleworks.org/images/watershed_800.jpg
Stream Channel Shape
The shape of the bed of rock
or loose materials that
confine the stream
www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/rca/images/wp06f6.jpg
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Finger Lake
Bodies of water in U-shaped
valleys carved by glaciers and
often partly dammed at one end
by a pile of glacially deposited
sediments
http://http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/5000/5097/
FingerLakes_ISS010E09366_lrg.jpg
Meanders
When a stream grows larger,
it begins to shift its course
with a series of bends or
turns called
http://www.stacey.peak-media.co.uk/Year7/7-7Rivers/7-7Meanders/341.jpg
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Delta
An fan shaped area at the end of a
stream that forms from sediments
deposited over time from the evershifting channel at the steam’s
mouth
http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/images/delta.gif
Sandblasting
Occurs when winds blow
sand or silt grains against
rocks and other objects
http://www.co.mendocino.ca.us/aqmd/images/Saltation.jpg
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Glacier
A naturally formed mass of ice
and snow that moves downhill on
land under the influence of gravity
http://www.travel-destination-pictures.com/data/media/43/sawyer-glacier-alaska_185.jpg
Glacial Grooves and Glacial
Produced by the gouging and
Parallel Scratches
sanding actions made by
rocks and loose sediments
frozen to the bottom of the
glacier
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/2d/e2/7d/glacier-grooves-on-kelleys.jpg
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U-Shaped Valley
Valley created by glacier erosion
http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1216/tz/images/ushapedvalley3.gif
Breaking Waves
http://www.islanddreamsvilla.com/images/breaking-waves.jpg
Also known as surf. As
waves enter shallow water
they become unstable and
water rushes towards shore in
the form of these types of
waves
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Sandbar
A series of mounds of deposited
sediments found in the zone of
breaking waves
http://www.wizards.com/magic/images/mtgcom/arcana300/cycl_LonelySandbar.jpg
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