Chapter 8: Weathering and Erosion

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to weathering and erosion.

Weathering

The disintegration and decomposition of material at or near the surface.

Mass wasting

The movement of soil and rock down a slope due to gravity.

Erosion

The simultaneous weathering and transportation of sediment.

Agents of erosion

Natural forces that contribute to erosion, including water, wind, or ice.

Mechanical (Physical) weathering

The breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.

Frost wedging

Occurs when water enters cracks in rocks, freezes, and expands, causing the rock to break apart.

Joints (Unloading or expansion)

The process that occurs when the weight of overlying material is removed, allowing the rock to expand.

Thermal Expansion

The process by which rocks expand and crack under intense heat.

Biological activity

The process by which plants and burrowing animals break rocks apart and/or move them around.

Chemical weathering

The breakdown of bonds between elements, altering the internal structures of minerals by removing or adding elements.

Dissolution

The process where bonds between elements are broken to create ions in water, resulting in no solid particles remaining.

Oxidation

The process that breaks down bonds within elements containing oxygen to form new minerals, often resulting in rusting.