Weathering and Erosion Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to weathering, erosion, denudation processes, and factors affecting them.

Weathering

The breakdown and decomposition of rocks and minerals at or near Earth’s surface.

Erosion

The removal of weathered material from one location to another.

Denudation

Processes that cause degradation of the landscape, including weathering, mass movement, erosion, and transport.

Deflation

A process of wind erosion that removes and lifts individual particles, blowing away unconsolidated sediments.

Physical Weathering

The physical disintegration of Earth materials without changing their chemical composition.

Chemical Weathering

The decomposition of rocks where mineral components separate by chemical reactions.

Frost Wedging

A form of physical weathering caused by the expansion of water as it freezes in rock fractures.

Crystallization

A weathering process where salt crystals grow in rock, breaking it into smaller pieces.

Unloading

Process where overburden is removed from rock, causing expansion and sheeting.

Acid Rain

Rain that has been contaminated by air pollution, leading to a lower pH and potential harm to the environment.

Oxidation

A chemical reaction causing the loss of electrons, often resulting in rusting of metals.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction in which water splits chemical bonds in rocks, creating different compounds.

Differential Weathering

Weathering that occurs at different rates due to variations in resistance of different rock types.

Spheroidal Weathering

A type of weathering that attacks sharp edges of rocks, rounding them off.

Bioturbation

The disturbance of sediment by living organisms, impacting weathering processes.

Mass Movement

The downslope movement of material due to gravity, contributing to landform changes.

Erosional Landscapes

Landforms created by the processes of erosion where material is worn away and transported.