Weathering

Abrasion

The wearing away of rock by other rock or sand particles. Abrasion. Abrasion is when rocks or sand rub against each other, slowly breaking down surfaces over time.

Acid rain

When rain is acidic due to pollution. Acid rain. Acid rain is when rainwater becomes acidic because it absorbs pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from the atmosphere.

Alluvial fan

A fan-shaped deposit formed as water flows down a slope. Alluvial fan. An alluvial fan is a triangle-shaped area where sediments spread out as a river slows down and leaves a mountain.

Beach

An area of deposited sediment along a coast. Beach. A beach is where sand and small rocks are deposited by the ocean along the shoreline.

Bedrock

The solid layer of rock beneath the soil. Bedrock. Bedrock is the hard, solid rock that lies underneath soil and other loose materials on the Earth's surface.

Chemical weathering

The breakdown of rock through chemical processes, like acid rain. Chemical weathering. Chemical weathering is when rocks are dissolved or changed by chemical reactions, like when rainwater causes them to break down.

Continental glacier

A glacier that covers much of a continent. Continental glacier. A continental glacier is a massive ice sheet that spreads over a large part of a continent and can affect global climates.

Creep

The slow downhill movement of soil or rock. Creep. Creep is the gradual and continuous downward movement of soil or rock on a slope due to gravity.

Deflation

Wind erosion that removes fine soil particles. Deflation. Deflation is a process where wind blows away loose, small particles from the ground, changing the landscape.

Delta

A large mass of sediment deposited at the mouth of a river. Delta. In science, a delta is a landform where a river splits and spreads out into several branches before flowing into a larger body of water, creating a fan-shaped area.

Deposition

The process of dropping sediment by water or wind deposition. Deposition is when materials like soil or rocks are left behind in a new place by wind or water.

Drainage basin

An area of land where water drains into a stream. Drainage basin. A drainage basin is a region where all the water flows into a particular river or stream.

Erosion

The process in which rock is worn away and transported by water, wind, or ice is called erosion. Erosion is when natural forces like water, wind, or ice wear away and move pieces of rock from one place to another.

Exfoliation

The process by which layers of rock gradually break off. Exfoliation. Exfoliation is when outer layers of rock peel away due to pressure changes and weathering.

Flood plain

A wide valley through which a river flows and can overflow. Flood plain. A flood plain is a flat area near a river that can get covered with water when the river floods.

Glacier

A large mass of slow moving ice and snow. Glacier. A glacier is a big, slow-moving river of ice formed from compacted snow.

Gully

A large channel in soil created by water erosion. Gully. A gully is a deep ditch formed in soil when running water erodes and carries away the earth.

Humus

Decayed plant and animal matter in the soil. Humus. Humus is the organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves, plants, and animal material.

Ice wedge

When water seeps into a rock, then freezes and expands, cracking the rock. Ice wedge. An ice wedge is a crack in the ground formed by the expansion of ice, commonly found in cold climates.

Kettle

A lake formed by melted ice, left behind by a glacier. Kettle. A kettle is a shallow, water-filled depression created when ice chunks from a glacier melt away.

Landslide

The sudden movement of loose rock and soil down a slope. Landslide. A landslide occurs when gravity pulls rocks and soil downhill due to factors like rain, earthquakes, or erosion.

Loess

Wind-blown deposits of fine sediment. Loess. Loess is a type of soil made of very tiny particles that were carried and deposited by the wind.

Longshore current

A water current parallel to the shoreline. Longshore current. It is a movement of water that carries sand and sediment along the coast.

Mass movement

The downhill movement of rocks or soil. Mass movement. Mass movement is when gravity causes rocks or soil to slide down a slope.

Meander

A broad curve in a river. Meander. In Science, a meander is a winding curve or bend in a river formed by water erosion and deposition.

Mechanical weathering

The breaking of rocks without any chemical change, like by plant roots, is called mechanical weathering. Mechanical weathering is when rocks are broken down into smaller pieces by physical forces, such as wind, water, or plant roots, without changing their chemical structure.

Moraine

A ridge of rock debris deposited by a glacier. Moraine. Moraines are piles of rocks and soil left behind by moving glaciers.

Mudflow

A large flow of mud, rock, or soil mixed with water. Mudflow. In simple terms, mudflow is a fast-moving stream of liquid mud, often occurring after heavy rains, that travels down slopes or valleys.

Oxbow lake

A U-shaped lake that forms when a meander is cut off from a river. Oxbow lake. An oxbow lake is a curved lake formed when a river meander gets cut off from the main channel.

Oxidation

A chemical change in which a substance combines with oxygen, like when iron forms rust, is called oxidation. Oxidation is when a material reacts with oxygen and changes, like an apple turning brown.

Permeable

Describes rock or soil that allows water to seep through. Permeable. In science, permeable means that a material lets liquids or gases pass through it.

Plucking

The process by which a glacier picks up rocks as it flows over land is called plucking. Plucking occurs when a glacier moves over bedrock, freezing and lifting pieces of rock out as it advances.

Rill

A tiny groove in the soil made by flowing water. Rill. A rill is a small channel formed on the earth's surface by the erosion of soil due to running water.

Runoff

Water that flows on the ground instead of being soaked into it. Runoff. Runoff is the water that moves over the surface of the land, often after rain, instead of soaking into the ground.

Sand dune

A mound of sand deposited by the wind. Sand dune. A sand dune is a hill made of sand that's formed by the wind in deserts and coastal areas.

Shoreline

The boundary between the land and a body of water. Shoreline. In Science, the shoreline is where the land meets the ocean, lake, or river, constantly changing due to waves, tides, and weather.

Soil

The loose mixture of rock, minerals and organic matter that covers the Earth. Soil. Soil is the top layer of the Earth where plants grow, containing minerals, organic matter, and water.

Soil conservation

The management of soil to prevent erosion and nutrient loss. Soil conservation. It involves practices that protect soil from being washed or blown away and keep it healthy for growing plants.

Soil horizon

A soil layer different from the layers above and below it, in particle size or pH. Soil horizon. A soil horizon is a distinct layer within the soil that has unique characteristics like texture or acidity, compared to the layers above and below it.

Soil profile

A cross section of soil that shows the different layers horizons. Soil profile. A soil profile is a vertical slice through the ground that reveals the various layers of soil.

Till

The sediment left behind by a melting glacier. Till. Till is a mix of rocks, sand, and clay deposited directly by a glacier.

Valley glacier

A long, narrow glacier in a mountain valley. Valley glacier. A valley glacier is a river of ice that forms in a mountain valley.

Weathering

The processes which break down rocks. Weathering. Weathering is the natural breaking down of rocks and minerals by elements like water, wind, and temperature changes.