Yosemite Vocabulary
VOCABULARY FOR YOSEMITE
IGNEOUS ROCK- rock formed by the solidification of hot lava
EXFOLIATION- breaking or peeling off of successive layers of rock
FROST WEDGING- separation of rock brought about by the action of freezing water in cracks of the rocks
MORAINE- a hill or ridge made of glacial till deposited by a glacier
V-SHAPED VALLEY- typical shape of a valley with evenlysloping sides, cut by a fast river
U-SHAPED VALLEY- a valley shaped by glacial erosion
SEDIMENTARY ROCK- rock formed by consolidation of deposits of loose sediment, such as sand, gravel or mud
GLACIER- mass of ice formed by compaction of snow which moves by slowly creeping down slope
LICHEN- a small, slow growing plant that lives on rock surfaces
EROSION- a process by which the earth¹s surface is worn away by wind, ice, or water
MINERAL- natural element or compound with specific structure and chemical composition
DECOMPOSE- break down of dead plants or animals that adds organic material to the soil
METAMORPHIC ROCK- rock that has been changed in composition or appearance by heat and or pressure without being completely melted
GRANITE- igneous rock with equal amounts of quartz and feldspars which crystallizeds benearth the surface of the earth,grey rock with black and white spots
ELEVATION- how high something is in relation to sea level
PRECIPITATION- rain
BROADLEAF- a tree that has broad leaves, not needles
CONIFEROUS- a cone bearing tree like a fir tree
IGNEOUS ROCK- rock formed by the solidification of hot lava
EXFOLIATION- breaking or peeling off of successive layers of rock
FROST WEDGING- separation of rock brought about by the action of freezing water in cracks of the rocks
MORAINE- a hill or ridge made of glacial till deposited by a glacier
V-SHAPED VALLEY- typical shape of a valley with evenlysloping sides, cut by a fast river
U-SHAPED VALLEY- a valley shaped by glacial erosion
SEDIMENTARY ROCK- rock formed by consolidation of deposits of loose sediment, such as sand, gravel or mud
GLACIER- mass of ice formed by compaction of snow which moves by slowly creeping down slope
LICHEN- a small, slow growing plant that lives on rock surfaces
EROSION- a process by which the earth¹s surface is worn away by wind, ice, or water
MINERAL- natural element or compound with specific structure and chemical composition
DECOMPOSE- break down of dead plants or animals that adds organic material to the soil
METAMORPHIC ROCK- rock that has been changed in composition or appearance by heat and or pressure without being completely melted
GRANITE- igneous rock with equal amounts of quartz and feldspars which crystallizeds benearth the surface of the earth,grey rock with black and white spots
ELEVATION- how high something is in relation to sea level
PRECIPITATION- rain
BROADLEAF- a tree that has broad leaves, not needles
CONIFEROUS- a cone bearing tree like a fir tree