Weathering & Erosion

1. A community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a functional unit.
4. Weathering The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.
6. Topography A landscape characterized by caves, sinkholes, and underground drainage systems, formed by the dissolution of limestone.
7. The process of scraping or wearing away by friction, often caused by wind or water carrying sediment.
9. Erosion The uneven erosion of different rock layers due to variations in their resistance.
12. The process of breaking down rocks and minerals on Earth's surface through physical or chemical means.

2. Weathering The decomposition of rocks through chemical reactions that alter their composition.
3. The process by which sediment is laid down or accumulated.
5. A natural depression in the Earth's surface, often filled with water or sediment.
8. Solid material, such as rock fragments, mineral grains, and organic matter, that has been transported and deposited by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
10. Wedging A form of physical weathering that occurs when water freezes in cracks of rocks, expands, and breaks the rock apart.
11. The loose, weathered material on Earth's surface in which plants can grow.
13. The process by which soil and rock are worn away and transported by natural forces such as wind, water, or ice.