Sentence examples for surficial from inspiring English sources

Less directly, but with considerable effect on infiltration and short-term runoff, the mechanical grade of bedrock or of surficial deposits can considerably affect the response to individual storms.

In some cases, only surficial stains have resulted; in others, masses large enough to constitute iron ore deposits have been formed.

The granite discussed above may display surficial cavities that are lined by several clay minerals and limonite (a hydrous iron oxide).

To the Earth scientist, the crust includes not only the top layer of solid material (soil and rocks to a depth of 6 to 70 km [4 to 44 miles], separated from the underlying mantle by differences in density and by susceptibility to surficial geologic processes) but also the hydrosphere (oceans, surface waters on land, and groundwater beneath the land surface) and the atmosphere.

It is, however, more nearly aimed at actual surficial changes that pertain to landforms than were Werner's notions.

Finally, the last major advance of the ice the Wisconsin glaciation began about 115,000 years ago and left behind most of the hills, valleys, and surficial glacial deposits in the upper Great Lakes region.

In places, bedrock has been scoured of most surficial debris.

Similarly, mobile tectonic patterns involving rock deformation may be brought to bear on any surficial geomorphic system, with resulting relief, elevation, and topographic changes.

Surficial geomorphic agents of denudation responsible for many, if not most, landforms include mass wasting, running water, glacial ice, and wind.

In addition to the usual climatic imprints, orogenic tectonism (including volcanism) adds its obvious dimensions of elevation and slope to any surficial environment it encounters.

The extent of rifting may be limited to mere surficial fracturing of the continental crust, or it may extend to actual rupturing of a lithospheric plate and renewal of seafloor spreading, as occurred along the Atlantic seaboard of North America at the end of the Jurassic.