Geomorphic processes

Weathering

The process of breaking down rocks through mechanical, chemical, or biological means.

Mechanical Weathering

Weathering caused by temperature changes and physical forces, such as freezing and thawing.

Chemical Weathering

Weathering that involves the chemical alteration of minerals, often through reactions with acids.

Biological Weathering

Weathering caused by the actions of living organisms, such as plants or animals.

Carbonation

The process of dissolving rocks, particularly limestone, in carbonic acid from rainwater.

Erosion

The process by which surface material is worn away and removed from one location to another.

Fluvial Processes

Erosion and transportation processes associated with rivers and streams.

Hydraulic Action

The power of moving water to erode rock by creating pressure and undercutting banks.

Abrasion (Erosion)

The process of rocks and sediment wearing down by rubbing against one another.

Solution (Erosion)

The process of dissolving rocks in acidic water.

Attrition

The process of rocks breaking down into smaller and rounder pieces by colliding with each other.

Mass Movement

The movement of surface material down a slope due to gravity, often facilitated by erosion and weathering.

Sliding

The sudden movement of large volumes of rock and soil down a slope.

Slumping

The rapid downward movement of saturated rock and soil over impermeable material.

Rock Falls

The free-fall of rock fragments down a cliff due to gravity.

Landslides

Rapid movement of saturated permeable rock over underlying impermeable rock due to erosion.

Transportation (Erosion)

The movement of eroded material by water, wind, or ice.

Deposition

The accumulation of sediment when the transporting medium loses energy.

Weathering vs. Erosion

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks; erosion is the removal and transportation of those materials.

Factors Affecting Weathering

Climate, rock type, and vegetation are key factors affecting the rate of weathering.

Types of Erosion

Types include fluvial (water), aeolian (wind), glacial (ice), and coastal (wave action) erosion.

Soil Formation

The process through which weathered rock and organic matter combine to create soil.

Stream Velocity

The speed at which water flows in a river, influencing how much sediment it can transport.

Sediment Transport

The movement of solid particles, like sand and silt, by fluid flow.

LiDAR Technology

Light Detection and Ranging, a remote sensing method used to analyze terrain and study erosion.

Weathering Horizon

The layer of soil developed from the weathering of parent rocks, essential for soil formation.