What Is Weathering? Meaning And The Three Types
WEATHERING – In this topic, we are now going to learn about weathering, its meaning and the three different types.
Meaning
According to Geological Society, it is the breakdown of rocks at the Earth’s surface via action of rainwater, extremes of temperature, and biological activity.
This is not to be confused with erosion, which is the process where soil and rock particles are worn away and moved elsewhere by wind, water or ice since weathering does not need ant moving agent or transport.
There are three types:
- Physical
- This type is caused by the effects of changing temperature on rocks, causing them to break apart. It happens especially in places where there is little soil and few plants grow. There are two types:
- Freeze-thaw – occurs when water continues to seep into cracks, freezes and expands. the rock then breaks apart
- Exfoliation – occurs as cracks develop parallel to the surface of the land. This is the result of the reduction in pressure during uplift and erosion
- This type is caused by the effects of changing temperature on rocks, causing them to break apart. It happens especially in places where there is little soil and few plants grow. There are two types:
- Chemical
- This is caused by rain water reacting with the mineral grains in rocks to form new minerals and soluble salts. This needs water and occurs more rapidly at higher temperature. There are three important types:
- Solution – the removal of rock in solution via rain water.
- Hydrolysis – refers to the breakdown of rock via acidic water
- Oxidation – refers to the breakdown of rock via oxygen and water.
- This is caused by rain water reacting with the mineral grains in rocks to form new minerals and soluble salts. This needs water and occurs more rapidly at higher temperature. There are three important types:
- Biological
- This involves the contribution of living organisms in many ways. For example:
- Trees put down roots through joints or cracks in the rock in order to find moisture, further cracking the rock apart.
- Piddock shells bore into rocks for protection, they do this via scraping away the grains or secreting acid to dissolve the rock.
- This involves the contribution of living organisms in many ways. For example:
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