Unit 4: Weathering and erosion-Earth's external processes

What is Weathering?

The disintegration and decomposition of material at or near the surface

What is Erosion?

The incorporation and transportation of material by a mobile agent, usually water, wind, or ice

What is Mass wasting?

The transfer of rock material downslope under the influence of gravity

What are the two types of weathering?

Mechanical

Chemical

Mechanical weathering breaks rocks into smaller pieces through what processes?

Frost wedging (expansion and contraction)

Unloading (results in sheeting or exfoliation)

Organisms

Jointing (fractures made by heating/cooling)

Chemical weathering is the destruction of rocks through chemical altering through what processes?

Hydrolysis

Oxidation

Rates of weathering can be accelerated when what characteristics are present?

• Mineral composition and solubility (high temp/high dense mineral are more vulnerable to chemical weathering

• Physical features such as joints or fractures

• Climate (high heat/humidity)

• Organisms

  • Ice and snow

True or False: Increase in surface area mean higher rate of weathering

True