4.2 Soil Formation and Erosion

Last updated 12 months ago

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Library

4.2 Soil Formation and Erosion

Last updated 12 months ago

28 questions

Go HERE for questions 1-7

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Go HERE for questions 8-12

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Fill in the table with the correct soil horizons: A, B, C, E, O, R

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Step 1: Horizon R (Bedrock) – Oreo cookie in the bottom of the cup.

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Step 2: Horizon C – Crumbled cookies as the next layer.

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Step 3: Horizon B – Applesauce as the next layer.

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Step 4: Horizon A – Pudding as the next layer. Add a gummy to the pudding.

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Step 5: Litter – Sprinkles on the top.
The sprinkles represent the organic matter. This layer is usually less than an inch thick. Litter decomposes into nutrients that enrich the soil. In areas where the temperature is lower, the composition of organic matter is slower.

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In the cup below draw what you see in your cup. Label both the actual soil layer or part and the edible representation of the part.

What's different about these landscapes?
Both of these rivers run through Yellowstone National Park. The Firehole River is a tributary of the Madison. In this photo, it's flowing over flat ground. The Yellowstone River on the right is cascading over Yellowstone Falls. Which river is doing more erosion? In what direction is the stream eroding? 

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Go HERE for questions 1-7

What factors make up ClORPT?
(Select 5 correct answers)

How does climate affect soil formation?

High temperature speeds up decomposition and speeds up chemical reactions that break down or weather rocks

Climate does not affect soil formation

High temperature slows down decomposition and speeds up chemical reactions that break down or weather rocks

How do organisms affect soil formation?

Organisms use their breath to cause wind erosion

Burrowing animals, plant roots, and bacteria/fungi chemical alter and physically mix soils

Organisms like dogs dig up the soil and mix up the minerals

What is relief?

The altitude of the highest point of the rock

The topography or slope and direction a landscape faces

The latitude of the location of the rock

How does relief affect soil formation?

It influences the sunlight hours, temperature, water runoff, erosion, and organic matter build up

The height of the location impacts the amount of rain and wind erosion that occur

The location impacts how the sunlight breaks down the rock

Where can the parent material for a soil come from?

All comes from underground

All comes from living organisms

All comes from wind or air

Can be the underlying bedrock or carried in through erosion

How can time affect soils?

All soil is the same age so it is weather the same amount

Younger soils are more weathered than older soils

Older soils are more weathered than younger soils

Go HERE for questions 8-12

Fill in the table with the correct soil horizons: A, B, C, E, O, R

What types of material makes up the O Horizon?

It contains clay and mineral deposits (like iron, aluminum oxides, and calcium carbonate) that it receives from layers above it when mineralized water drips from the soil above.

It consists of slightly broken-up bedrock. Plant roots do not penetrate into this layer; very little organic material is found in this layer

It is made up of humus (decomposed organic matter) mixed with mineral particles.

Made up mostly of leaf litter and humus (decomposed organic matter)

How is the A Horizon different from the O?

It consists of slightly broken-up bedrock

It is a mix of both humus (decomposed organic matter) and mineral particles

It is a mix of both clay and mineral deposits

It is unweathered rock (bedrock)

What is the common process occurring in the B Horizon?

Leaching of minerals from above layers as water percolates through the soil

Breaking up of rock from earthquakes

Erosion of exposed soil from wind and rain

How are the C & R Horizons related?

They are both primarily humus (decomposed organic matter)

They are both primarily bedrock, although C is broken up and R is solid

They are both primarily minerals that leached from above layers

Step 1: Horizon R (Bedrock) – Oreo cookie in the bottom of the cup.

Why do you think we are using an Oreo to represent horizon R?

It is easily broken up to represent the crubled parent material

It represents humus (decomposed organic matter)

It is a solid piece like bedrock

Bedrock is solid rock. Parent material is formed from the bedrock after a long weathering process. There are two basic ways that weathering can happen.

What are the two main types of weathering? (Select 2 correct answers)

Partial

Chemical

Physical

Step 2: Horizon C – Crumbled cookies as the next layer.

How do the crumbled cookies represent horizon C?

It is a solid piece like bedrock

It represents humus (decomposed organic matter)

It is easily broken up to represent the crumbled parent material

Step 3: Horizon B – Applesauce as the next layer.

Horizon B is also known as

Topsoil

Humus (decomposed organic matter)

Parent material

Subsoil

Step 4: Horizon A – Pudding as the next layer. Add a gummy to the pudding.

Horizon A is also known as

Topsoil

Parent material

Subsoil

Humus (decomposed organic matter)

What does the gummy worm represent?

Humus (decomposed organic matter)

Subsoil

Parent material

Living organisms

Step 5: Litter – Sprinkles on the top.
The sprinkles represent the organic matter. This layer is usually less than an inch thick. Litter decomposes into nutrients that enrich the soil. In areas where the temperature is lower, the composition of organic matter is slower.

The decomposed litter will become

Topsoil

Humus (decomposed organic matter)

Subsoil

Parent material

In the cup below draw what you see in your cup. Label both the actual soil layer or part and the edible representation of the part.

What's different about these landscapes?
Both of these rivers run through Yellowstone National Park. The Firehole River is a tributary of the Madison. In this photo, it's flowing over flat ground. The Yellowstone River on the right is cascading over Yellowstone Falls. Which river is doing more erosion? In what direction is the stream eroding? 

Which river is doing more erosion?

Erosion by Runoff
When a lot of rain falls in a short period of time, much of the water is unable to soak into the ground. Instead, it runs over the land. Gravity causes the water to flow from higher to lower ground. As the runoff flows, it may pick up loose bits of soil and sand.

Runoff causes more erosion if the land is bare. Plants help hold the soil in place. The runoff water pictured below is brown because it eroded soil from a bare, sloping field.
What would stop erosion from an open field where soil is exposed?

Vegetation

Concrete

More soil

Erosion by Streams
Streams erode sediment from their banks. They pick up and transport sediments.

What would stop erosion from the banks of a stream where soil is exposed?

More soil

Concrete

Vegetation

Erosion and Water Speed
Erosion by a stream depends on the velocity of the water. Fast water erodes more material than slow water. Eventually, the water deposits the materials. As water slows, larger particles are deposited first. As the water slows even more, smaller particles are deposited.

Erosion in the Mountains
Streams often start in mountains, where the land is very steep. A mountain stream flows very quickly because of the steep slope. This causes a lot of erosion and very little deposition. The rapidly falling water digs down into the stream bed and makes it deeper. It carves a narrow, V-shaped channel.
Which of the following is more likely to occur?

More erosion by slow flowing rivers

Erosion is the same for all water

More erosion by fast flowing rivers

Erosion by Slow-Flowing Rivers
Streams eventually run onto flatter ground. Rivers flowing over gentle slopes erode the sides of their channels more than the bottom. Large curves, called meanders, form because of erosion and deposition by the moving water. The curves are called meanders because they slowly “wander,” or meander, over the land. Below, you can see how this happens.

Which of the following is true about slow-flowing rivers?

They erode soil unevenly as they meander along the surface

They erode soil evenly

The flow speeds up as the water meets level ground

Turbidity is a measure of the degree to which the water loses its transparency due to the presence of suspended particulates. The more total suspended solids in the water, the murkier it seems, and the higher the turbidity. Turbidity is considered as a good measure of the quality of water.
Which of the following causes higher turbidity (more particles in the water (cloudy))?

Turbity is not a good measure of water quality

Less erosion from growing agricultural fields and reforestation

More erosion from runoff of clear-cut forests, agricultural fields, or construction

Turbidity (the increase of suspended solids (clarity)) of water has large impacts on the plants and animals that live in the body of water. Less sunlight can reach the organisms in the water if there is high turbidity.

What is the relationship between turbidity and sunlight reaching the bottom of a body of water?

Low Turbidity = Low Sunlight

High Turbidity = High Sunlight

High Turbidity = Low Sunlight

Turbidity is measured with a Secchi Disc. The further down the scientist can read the disc, the lower the turbidity.

A scientist uses a Secchi Disc to determine the turbidity of several locations along a river. She takes water samples along a river upstream (before) a new construction site (A), just downstream (after) a new construction site (B), and several miles downstream from a new construction site (C).

What is the likely outcome of the water samples for their turbidity?

A - High Turbitity B - High Turbidity C - High Turbidity

A - High Turbitity B - Low Turbidity C - High Turbidity

A - Low Turbitity B - High Turbidity C - Low Turbidity

A - High Turbitity B - Low Turbidity C - Low Turbidity

What factors make up ClORPT? 
(Select 5 correct answers)

Time

Relief

Atmosphere

Parent material

Solar Radiation

Climate

Organisms

How does climate affect soil formation?

High temperature speeds up decomposition and speeds up chemical reactions that break down or weather rocks

Climate does not affect soil formation

High temperature slows down decomposition and speeds up chemical reactions that break down or weather rocks

How do organisms affect soil formation?

Organisms use their breath to cause wind erosion

Burrowing animals, plant roots, and bacteria/fungi chemical alter and physically mix soils

Organisms like dogs dig up the soil and mix up the minerals

What is relief?

The altitude of the highest point of the rock

The topography or slope and direction a landscape faces

The latitude of the location of the rock

How does relief affect soil formation?

It influences the sunlight hours, temperature, water runoff, erosion, and organic matter build up

The height of the location impacts the amount of rain and wind erosion that occur

The location impacts how the sunlight breaks down the rock

Where can the parent material for a soil come from?

All comes from underground

All comes from living organisms

All comes from wind or air

Can be the underlying bedrock or carried in through erosion

How can time affect soils?

All soil is the same age so it is weather the same amount

Younger soils are more weathered than older soils

Older soils are more weathered than younger soils

What types of material makes up the O Horizon?

It contains clay and mineral deposits (like iron, aluminum oxides, and calcium carbonate) that it receives from layers above it when mineralized water drips from the soil above.

It consists of slightly broken-up bedrock. Plant roots do not penetrate into this layer; very little organic material is found in this layer

It is made up of humus (decomposed organic matter) mixed with mineral particles.

Made up mostly of leaf litter and humus (decomposed organic matter)

How is the A Horizon different from the O?

It consists of slightly broken-up bedrock

It is a mix of both humus (decomposed organic matter) and mineral particles

It is a mix of both clay and mineral deposits

It is unweathered rock (bedrock)

What is the common process occurring in the B Horizon?

Leaching of minerals from above layers as water percolates through the soil

Breaking up of rock from earthquakes

Erosion of exposed soil from wind and rain

How are the C & R Horizons related?

They are both primarily humus (decomposed organic matter)

They are both primarily bedrock, although C is broken up and R is solid

They are both primarily minerals that leached from above layers

Why do you think we are using an Oreo to represent horizon R?

It is easily broken up to represent the crubled parent material

It represents humus (decomposed organic matter)

It is a solid piece like bedrock

Bedrock is solid rock. Parent material is formed from the bedrock after a long weathering process. There are two basic ways that weathering can happen.

What are the two main types of weathering? (Select 2 correct answers)

Partial

Chemical

Physical

How do the crumbled cookies represent horizon C?

It is a solid piece like bedrock

It represents humus (decomposed organic matter)

It is easily broken up to represent the crumbled parent material

Horizon B is also known as

Topsoil

Humus (decomposed organic matter)

Parent material

Subsoil

Horizon A is also known as

Topsoil

Parent material

Subsoil

Humus (decomposed organic matter)

What does the gummy worm represent?

Humus (decomposed organic matter)

Subsoil

Parent material

Living organisms

The decomposed litter will become

Topsoil

Humus (decomposed organic matter)

Subsoil

Parent material

Which river is doing more erosion?

Erosion by Runoff
When a lot of rain falls in a short period of time, much of the water is unable to soak into the ground. Instead, it runs over the land. Gravity causes the water to flow from higher to lower ground. As the runoff flows, it may pick up loose bits of soil and sand.

Runoff causes more erosion if the land is bare. Plants help hold the soil in place. The runoff water pictured below is brown because it eroded soil from a bare, sloping field.
What would stop erosion from an open field where soil is exposed?

Vegetation

Concrete

More soil

Erosion by Streams
Streams erode sediment from their banks. They pick up and transport sediments.


What would stop erosion from the banks of a stream where soil is exposed?

More soil

Concrete

Vegetation

Erosion and Water Speed
Erosion by a stream depends on the velocity of the water. Fast water erodes more material than slow water. Eventually, the water deposits the materials. As water slows, larger particles are deposited first. As the water slows even more, smaller particles are deposited.

Erosion in the Mountains
Streams often start in mountains, where the land is very steep. A mountain stream flows very quickly because of the steep slope. This causes a lot of erosion and very little deposition. The rapidly falling water digs down into the stream bed and makes it deeper. It carves a narrow, V-shaped channel.
Which of the following is more likely to occur?

More erosion by slow flowing rivers

Erosion is the same for all water

More erosion by fast flowing rivers

Erosion by Slow-Flowing Rivers
Streams eventually run onto flatter ground. Rivers flowing over gentle slopes erode the sides of their channels more than the bottom. Large curves, called meanders, form because of erosion and deposition by the moving water. The curves are called meanders because they slowly “wander,” or meander, over the land. Below, you can see how this happens.

Which of the following is true about slow-flowing rivers?

They erode soil unevenly as they meander along the surface

They erode soil evenly

The flow speeds up as the water meets level ground

Turbidity is a measure of the degree to which the water loses its transparency due to the presence of suspended particulates. The more total suspended solids in the water, the murkier it seems, and the higher the turbidity. Turbidity is considered as a good measure of the quality of water.
Which of the following causes higher turbidity (more particles in the water (cloudy))?

Turbity is not a good measure of water quality

Less erosion from growing agricultural fields and reforestation

More erosion from runoff of clear-cut forests, agricultural fields, or construction

Turbidity (the increase of suspended solids (clarity)) of water has large impacts on the plants and animals that live in the body of water. Less sunlight can reach the organisms in the water if there is high turbidity.

What is the relationship between turbidity and sunlight reaching the bottom of a body of water?

Low Turbidity = Low Sunlight

High Turbidity = High Sunlight

High Turbidity = Low Sunlight

Turbidity is measured with a Secchi Disc. The further down the scientist can read the disc, the lower the turbidity.

A scientist uses a Secchi Disc to determine the turbidity of several locations along a river. She takes water samples along a river upstream (before) a new construction site (A), just downstream (after) a new construction site (B), and several miles downstream from a new construction site (C). 

What is the likely outcome of the water samples for their turbidity?

A - High Turbitity B - High Turbidity C - High Turbidity

A - High Turbitity B - Low Turbidity C - High Turbidity

A - Low Turbitity B - High Turbidity C - Low Turbidity

A - High Turbitity B - Low Turbidity C - Low Turbidity

4.2 Soil Formation and Erosion

4.2 Soil Formation and Erosion

Go HERE for questions 1-7

Go HERE for questions 8-12

Fill in the table with the correct soil horizons: A, B, C, E, O, R

Step 1: Horizon R (Bedrock) – Oreo cookie in the bottom of the cup.

Step 2: Horizon C – Crumbled cookies as the next layer.

Step 3: Horizon B – Applesauce as the next layer.

Step 4: Horizon A – Pudding as the next layer. Add a gummy to the pudding.

Step 5: Litter – Sprinkles on the top.

In the cup below draw what you see in your cup. Label both the actual soil layer or part and the edible representation of the part.

What's different about these landscapes?

Go HERE for questions 1-7

What factors make up ClORPT? (Select 5 correct answers)

(Select 5 correct answers)

How does climate affect soil formation?

How do organisms affect soil formation?

What is relief?

How does relief affect soil formation?

Where can the parent material for a soil come from?

How can time affect soils?

Go HERE for questions 8-12

Fill in the table with the correct soil horizons: A, B, C, E, O, R

What types of material makes up the O Horizon?

How is the A Horizon different from the O?

What is the common process occurring in the B Horizon?

How are the C & R Horizons related?

Step 1: Horizon R (Bedrock) – Oreo cookie in the bottom of the cup.

Why do you think we are using an Oreo to represent horizon R?

Bedrock is solid rock. Parent material is formed from the bedrock after a long weathering process. There are two basic ways that weathering can happen.What are the two main types of weathering? (Select 2 correct answers)

Step 2: Horizon C – Crumbled cookies as the next layer.

How do the crumbled cookies represent horizon C?

Step 3: Horizon B – Applesauce as the next layer.

Horizon B is also known as

Step 4: Horizon A – Pudding as the next layer. Add a gummy to the pudding.

Horizon A is also known as

What does the gummy worm represent?

Step 5: Litter – Sprinkles on the top.

The decomposed litter will become

In the cup below draw what you see in your cup. Label both the actual soil layer or part and the edible representation of the part.

What's different about these landscapes?

Which river is doing more erosion?

Erosion by Runoff

Erosion by StreamsStreams erode sediment from their banks. They pick up and transport sediments.What would stop erosion from the banks of a stream where soil is exposed?

Erosion by Streams

Erosion and Water Speed

Erosion in the Mountains

Erosion by Slow-Flowing Rivers

(Select 5 correct answers)

Erosion by Runoff

Erosion by Streams

Erosion and Water Speed

Erosion in the Mountains

Erosion by Slow-Flowing Rivers

What factors make up ClORPT?
(Select 5 correct answers)

Bedrock is solid rock. Parent material is formed from the bedrock after a long weathering process. There are two basic ways that weathering can happen.

What are the two main types of weathering? (Select 2 correct answers)

Erosion by Streams
Streams erode sediment from their banks. They pick up and transport sediments.

What would stop erosion from the banks of a stream where soil is exposed?