Erosion 101

Types of Physical Weathering

100

also known as physical weathering, is the breaking down of rocks by physical processes.

▪Mechanical weathering –

200

 is the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces by mechanical or chemical processes.

▪weathering

300

the removal and transport of materials by wind, water, or ice.

▪Erosion-

400

▪Weathering water, and chemical action, continuously shape the

Earth’s surface

500

What is the most influential sculptor of dry landscapes?

▪wind

Environment of weathering

100

is probably the greatest factor in weathering.

▪climate

200

 the mechanical weathering process in which water freezes and expands in the cracks of rocks, widening them

▪Ice wedging –

300

▪the greater the exposed ______________, the greater the potential for weathering.

surface area

400

the surface features of a place or region, also affects the rate of weather.

▪Topography –

500

When wind briefly lift grains of sand before they fall and bounce along the ground.

▪Saltation-

Random

100

the breaking down of rocks by chemical processes

▪Chemical weathering –

200

 can also contribute to chemical weathering, at some plants can break up rock on their own.

▪biological weathering,

300

the movement of wet soil down a slope.

▪Earthflow –

400

can occur in Arctic regions where the lower layer of soil is permanently frozen in the upper layer thaws

▪Solifluction-

500

when wind carries away sand and soil particles.

▪Deflation

Types of Chemical Weathering

100

 the breaking down of a substance by a chemical reaction with water

▪Hydrolysis –

200

 the process of a rock absorbing water.

▪hydration –

300

the process where carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or soil dissolves in water to form carbonic acid

▪Carbonation –

400

▪water from the atmosphere can create sulfuric, and nitric acid called

acid rain

500

a chemical change in which a substance combines with oxygen.

▪Oxidation –

Erosion

100

the downhill movement of rocks and soil caused by gravity.

▪Mass wasting

200

a loose layer of rock and soil that moves during mass wasting

▪Regolith–

300

 a rapid downhill movement of a large amount of rock and soil that separates from the bed rock beneath it.

▪Landslide –

400

a rapid downhill, movement of a large mass of mud and debris.

▪Mudflow –

500

the extremely slow down hill slide of soil

▪Soil creep –