Weathering and Erosion

Weather

The state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, characterized by factors such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and atmospheric pressure.

Climate

The average weather conditions in a particular area over a long period of time.

Weathering

The process that causes the breakdown of rocks through physical or chemical means.

Erosion

The process of transporting weathered rocks and sediments from one location to another.

Physical Weathering

The mechanical disintegration of rocks without changing their chemical composition.

Chemical Weathering

The process in which chemical reactions transform rocks and minerals into new chemical combinations.

Deposition

The laying down of sediment as a result of erosion when the transporting medium can no longer support the material.

Leaching

The process of removing soluble matter from bedrock or regolith by water.

Dissolution

The process of dissolving minerals or rocks in water.

Hydrolysis

A chemical weathering process that involves water breaking down minerals to form new compounds.

Oxidation

A chemical reaction where an ion loses an electron, often leading to the formation of rust in rocks.

Mass Wasting

The downward movement of rock and sediments due to the force of gravity.

Caliche

A layer of calcium carbonate that forms in arid soils due to the chemical precipitation of calcite.

Paleosol

An ancient soil preserved in the geologic record due to rapid burial.

Laterite

A soil type rich in iron and aluminum oxides, formed in humid tropical climates through intense weathering.

Bedload

Sediment that rolls, slides, or bounces along the bottom of a river or stream.

Suspended Load

Finer sediment particles that are carried within the water column.

Dissolved Load

Ions and minerals that are dissolved in the water.

Frost Wedging

The process by which water freezes in rock cracks, expands, and eventually causes the rock to break.

Glacial Erosion

The process by which glaciers move rock and sediment by abrasion and plucking.