Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
on the Earth
Soil Composition
Soil forms in layers during the process of its development.
The parent rock is the solid bedrock from which weathered
pieces of rock first break off.
The smallest pieces of weathered rock, along with living and
dead organisms, remain in the very top layer.
Rainwater seeps through this top layer of materials,
dissolves soluble minerals, and carries them into the lower
layers of the soil.
Residual soil
parent bedrock.
is
soil
located
above
its
STAGE 1
STAGE 2
STAGE 3
STAGE 4
Definitions
Weathering, erosion, mass-wasting, and depositional processes occur at
or near the Earths surface and produce changes to the landscape that
influence surface and subsurface topography and landform development.
Weathering is the physical disintegration or chemical alteration of
rocks at or near the Earths surface.
Erosion is the physical removal and transportation of weathered
material by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
Mass wasting is the transfer or movement of rock or soil down slope
primarily by gravity.
Deposition is the process by which weathered and eroded materials
are laid down or placed in a location that is different from their source.
These processes are all very important to the rock cycle because over
geologic time weathering, erosion, and mass wasting transform solid rock
into sediments and soil that result in the redeposition of material forming
new sedimentary rocks.
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Rock Cycle
Types of Weathering
1)
2)
3)
I. Mechanical Weathering
Mechanical weathering is the process by which rocks are
broken into smaller and smaller pieces by physical forces.
These physical forces may be running water, wind, ocean
waves, glacier ice, frost action and expansion and contraction
caused by gain and loss of heat.
Hydration -Absorption of water molecules into the mineral structure. This normally
results in expansion of material (some clay expand as much as 60%). By admitting
water accelerates the processes of solution, oxidation, reduction and hydrolysis).
Hydrolysis -Hydrogen ions in percolating water replace mineral cations (no
oxidation-reduction occurs)
Leaching -The migration of ions produced by the above processes. Ca, Mg, Na, K
are easily leached by moving water. Fe is more resistant, Si is difficult to leach and
Al is almost immobile.
Cation Exchange -Absorption onto the surface of negatively charged clay of
positively charged cations in solution (especially Ca, H, K, Mg).
Limestone weathered by
carbonation processes
3. Biological Weathering
Biological weathering is the disintegration or decay of rocks and
minerals caused by chemical or physical agents of organisms.
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Plant Roots
The most common form of biological weathering is when plant roots penetrate into
cracks and crevices of rocks and cause the rock to split or break into smaller particles
through mechanical weathering.
Although, this process is gradual, it can be fairly effective at breaking apart rocks that
may already have a pre-existing weaknesses such as fractures, faults, or joints.
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Organism Activity
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Erosion
Erosion
Process by which weathered rock and soil particles are
moved form one place to another
Carries away products of weathering
Deposition
Process by which sediments are laid down in new
locations
Final stage in the erosion process
Agents of Erosion
Gravity
Wind
Running water
Glaciers
Waves
Running Water
Water has more power than wind to move particles (exceptions are
hurricane and tornado winds)
When water moves faster, erosion is greater
Erosion by running water in small channels on side of slope is rill
erosion
When channels become deep it evolves into gully erosion
Gravity
Pulls rocks and soil down slopes
Agent of mass movements
Landslides
Mudflows
Avalanches
Wind
Major agent of erosion in hot, dry climate or places with little or no
vegetation
When wind erodes soil to depth that water is present,
shrubs/grasses can growcalled oasis (happens in desert)
Wind barriers (windbreaks) are used to reduce effects of wind erosion
Trees, plants planted perpendicular to winds direction
Reduces soil erosion, can trap blowing snow, protect crops, etc.
Deposition
When the sediment being carried is dropped (or
deposited) in a new area, it is called deposition.
Depositions can create new landforms like
beaches and sand dunes.
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97.08 %
1.99 %
0.62 %
0.29 %
0.01%
0.005%
0.004%
0.001%
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Unconfined Aquifers
Ground water occurring in aquifers: water fills
partly an aquifer: upper surface free to rise and decline:
Confined Aquifer
Artesian condition
Permeable material overlain by relatively
impermeable material
Piezometric or potentiometric surface
Water level in the piezometer is a measure of
water pressure in the aquifer
Water Storing
Capability
Water Transmitting
Capability
Aquifer
Good
Good
Aquiclude
Fair
None-Very Poor
Aquifuge
None
None
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36
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Recharge
Natural
Precipitation
Melting snow
Infiltration by streams and
lakes
Artificial
Recharge wells
Water spread over land in
pits, furrows, ditches
Small dams in stream
channels to detain and
deflect water
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Wet season
Dry Season