s e s s roce S P e c urfa s e s s e c o r P e s c d r a a f C r Su iew Note v e R
Water Cycle Evaporation Transpiration Condenstation Precipitation Infiltration Runoff
Runoff The moving of water along the Earth s surface (the ground).
Infiltration Water seeping into the ground.
Permeable The ability to allow water to move through a substance. particle size, permeability
Impermeable Material that does not allow water to pass through. Increases runoff.
Soil Profile O Horizon-(Organic, Humus) A Horizon B-Horizon C-Horizon-(Impermeable Rock)
Topsoil Top layer of regolith containing the most organic material, the most weathered rock & the most biological activity.
Subsoil The layer of soil below topsoil, rich in clay sized sediments and minerals but little organics. Just below is partly weathered bedrock.
Bedrock Impermeable, solid, unweathered rock layer, generally below the Earth s surface.
Groundwater Zones
Zone of Aeration Zone above the water water table that has air in its pore (empty) spaces.
Water Table The interface (boundary) between the Zone of Aeration and the Zone of Saturation.
Zone of Saturation Zone below the water water table that has water in its pore spaces (the groundwater).
Porosity The amount of open space between particles. Rounded Particles, Porosity Tightly packed, Porosity Sorted, Porosity Particle Size is NOT a factor
Permeability The ability for water to pass through. Rounded Particles, Permeability Tightly packed, Permeability Sorted, Permeatility
Capillarity The ability of water to rise upward against gravity. Particle Size, Capillarity
Weathering The chemical & physical breaking of rock into smaller pieces. Physical (cool climates) & Chemical (warm + humid)
Resistance to Weathering Some minerals are more resistant to weathering than others resulting in different amounts of loss of rock material. most resistant least
Physical Weathering The breaking of rock into smaller pieces without changing anything but its size.
Frost Action or Ice Wedging Physical weathering caused by freezing (expanding)/thawing (& adding more liquid) of water.
Abrasion Physical weathering caused by rocks rubbing, bouncing or hitting each other. Can be either Wind or Water
Exfoliation Physical weathering of large sheets of rock due to heating (expanding) and cooling (contracting) by Sunlight.
Other Physical Weathering Plant Roots - expand openings and push rock apart. Gravity - falling cause breakage.
Chemical Weathering The breaking of rock by changing the substances that make up the rock. Heat increases the rate of chemical weathering
Oxidation Chemical weathering when oxygen reacts with a material (ex. iron rusting)
Hydration Chemical weathering where water causes changing the the substances that make up the rock.
Carbonation Chemical weathering where carbon dioxide (carbonic acid) causes changing the substances that make up the rock (especially limestone).
Erosion The transporting or moving weathered material from one place to another. Water is the main agent (cause) of erosion.
Transported Sediment Sediments (rock particles) eroded or moved to another location. NYS has mostly transported sediment (from glaciers).
Residual Sediment Sediment that remains where it was weathered.
Deposition The depositing or placing of material in a particular place. Deposition is caused by gravity.
Sorted Sediments Sediments that are deposited according to their size, shape and density. Water & Wind Sort Glaciers & Gravity do not (Unsorted)
Horizontal Sorting When sediments are deposited along the bottom the largest first and the smallest last. Due to decrease in water velocity.
Vertical Sorting When sediments are deposited in layers with the largest at the bottom and the smallest at the top.
Graded Bedding Vertical sorting caused by a repetitive or reoccurring event.
Factors of Deposition Settling Rate (Inverse of time) Particle Size, Deposition Rounded, Deposition Density, Deposition Stream Velocity, Deposition
Age a River Young River-Fast moving, V shape valley, Rapids Old River- Slow moving, meanders
Meander S-shaped curve in a river.
Meander Deposition on the inside of turn (slow velocity, low carrying power) Erosion on outside of turn (fast velocity, high carrying power)
Cause of River Meanders Dent fastes slow est t Elbow
Stream Profile Fastest slowest
Oxbow Lakes Cutoff meanders leave crescent shaped lakes. Oxbow Lake
Delta Sediment deposited at the mouth (end) of a river where it enters calm (quiet) water-triangle Shape river flow
Alluvial fan Sediment deposited at the mouth (end) of a river where it flows out of the Mts. into the flatlands-triangle Shape
Rocks Shaped by Erosion Rounded - Eroded in Water(abraded) Angular - Eroded without water
Stream Carrying Power Gradient, Velocity Discharge (volume), Velocity Velocity, Carrying Power (see ESRT p. 6)
Eroded Valley Shapes V shaped valley Glacier - U shaped valley River -