Name: Date: Period: Surface Processes The Physical Setting: Earth Science Class Notes: Surface Processes I. Weathering and Soils Weathering -! Sediments -! Weathering occurs when rocks are exposed to: Chemical Weathering -! The rate of chemical weathering increases in and climates Oxidation -! Effects of Water on Rock Sometimes called the, because given enough time water can dissolve nearly everything Water can combine with to form carbonic acid Carbonic acid can dissolve most rock --- especially! Sinkhole -! Leigh-Manuell - "1
Physical Weathering -! Abrasion -! Characteristics:! Occurs as sediment are moved by ice, running water, gravity, or air Frost Action -! Water cracks in the bed rock and when it freezes it expands causing the rock to split apart Infiltration -! Plant Root Growth -! Abrupt Temperature Changes -! Physical and chemical weathering processes are important in the formation of soil Soil is a mixture of weathered rock particles and that supports rooted plants Humus -! Soil Layers Leigh-Manuell - "2
II. Erosion and Deposition After rocks are broken up from weathering they need to be moved Erosion -! Over time erosion helps and all surface features Agents of Erosion -! Examples of Agents of Erosion: Gravity --- Force behind most agents of erosion Causes rivers to flow, ice to move, and rocks to slide The Sun --- Drives the water cycle which produces rain and ice Fuels winds and drives ocean currents Leigh-Manuell - "3
Deposition -! Sediments are deposited in locations where they form layers of sedimentary rock The sediment determines how fast they are deposited Size -!! Shape -!! Density -!! Sorted Sediment -! Example: deposition from a stream Unsorted Sediment -! Example: deposition from a glacier Sorted Sediment Unsorted Sediment Leigh-Manuell - "4
Horizontal Sorting -! Vertical Sorting -! Example: as a stream slows down throughout the year it can no longer transport larger material and begins to deposit the sediments according to size order Leigh-Manuell - "5
III. Running Water Running water is the most common agent of erosion Stream -! Tributary -! Flood Plain -! Levee - Stream carry sediment in various ways: Larger particles are usually carried by,! along the stream bottom Stream Velocity -! Gradient -! Discharge -! Channel Shape -! Variations in Stream Velocity: When a stream channel is straight the greatest velocity is in the! When a stream channel curves the greatest velocity is on the! of the curve Leigh-Manuell - "6
Stream Characteristics: V-Shaped Valley -! Meanders -! V-Shaped Valley Meandering Stream Leigh-Manuell - "7
IV. Glaciers Glacier -! Glacier Movement: As snow and ice the glacier moves! under its own mass and the pull of gravity Sometimes called a glaciers act like fluids and flow in a motion Types of Glaciers: Continental Glacier -! Valley Glacier -! Glacial Features: U-Shaped Valleys -! Erratics -! Drumlins -! Eskers -! Terminal Moraines -! Till -! Leigh-Manuell - "8
Glacial Grooves -! The grooves indicate the direction the glacier has traveled Kettle Lake -! Example: Lake Ronkonkoma Outwash Plain -! Example: Southern Long Island Leigh-Manuell - "9
V. Mass Movement, Waves, & Wind Mass Movement -! Characteristics: unsorted sediment Mass Movement Examples: The sediment determines how fast they are deposited Gravity -!! Friction -!! When rain weakens the force of friction gravity then pulls rock and sediment down a slope Wind - Wind picks up loose sediment such as sand and silts and carries them to a new location Deflation -! Leigh-Manuell - "10
Abrasion -! Sand Dune -! Windward Side: Leeward Side: Windward Side Leeward Side Waves - As pushes a wave toward the shore, it drags along the bottom of the ocean floor The dragging slows the bottom of the wave, but the top continues at the same speed Eventually the wave becomes unstable and Waves approach the shore at an angle, but retreat parallel to the shore, creating a zigzag pattern Long Shore Current -! Leigh-Manuell - "11