Weathering and

Erosion test notes &

preparation
19/04/2021 | BRACKETS OPTIONAL TO LEARN
Weathering Weathering refers to the general process whereby rocks
and rate of disintegrate and decompose at or near the Earth’s surface.

weathering Nature of rocks is what the rocks are made up of for example,
rocks made by ‘soft’ mineral are broken easily.

Granite is made up of quartz mineral which is harder than

gypsum, gypsum’s hardness is 2 and quartz is 7.

Fine-grained rocks are weathered rapidly in contrast to rocks

which are coarse-gained, because the combined surface area of
small grains is larger.
Natural Agents

Temperature and rainfall have important influences in weathering. (Temperature

refers to heat, rainfall refers to precipitation)

Weathering is higher in areas where both influences are strong, if the temperature is
high and rainfall is low the rocks break down physically.

Animals and plants also have an important influence in breaking down the rocks.

Plants roots help them break down rocks, while animal dig tunnels allowing water to
reach rocks.
 Types of weathering

The main types of weathering are:

 Physical weathering, this is the process where rocks are broken down by physical forces. It is also
known as mechanical weathering. In this weathering form, the chemical composition doesn’t
change, instead the rocks break down because of the extreme temperate.
 Chemical Weathering, is when the rocks are broken down by decomposition, when mineral
changes in rocks chemically to form new materials. (Chemical changes cause rocks to weaken
and break down over time)
 Biological Weathering, is when the rocks are broken down by animals or plants. The rocks slowly
break down in this process.
 Physical Weathering
Types
PHYSICAL WEATHERING REFERS TO THE PROCESS WHEREBY ROCKS
ARE BROKEN DOWN THROUGH PHYSICAL FORCES.
 This type occurs in places that experience temperatures which
have a wide range of temperature. A desert is an example with
high temperatures of 40 while low temperatures of -10.
 The rocks gain heat during the day while cooling during the
Alternate
night, the same applies to the minerals inside the rock. The
cooling and contracting eventually builds stress and the rocks
Expansion and
break down and disintegrate.
contraction of
 Rocks in arid regions sometimes disintegrate in a different way.
The heat in the day causes the outer layer of rock to expand faster rocks
than the inner layer which results in stress and the outer layers
starts to break down faster than the inner layer. The rocks peel in
a process known as exfoliation
Freeze-thaw In mountainous areas, the temperature drops below
freezing point occasionally, resulting in the water
Action of to become ice.
Ice or Frost
shattering
Water’s volume increases by 10% when it is ice,
this helps causing the cracks or joints to become
larger. During the day, the ice melts and eventually
this process causes rocks to weaken down and
break down.
Release of pressure within rocks

The process begins with the rocks under the great pressure of rock layers above
them in Earth’s surface.

Erosion gradually removes the rock layer above them, this exposes the elements
of the rock beneath the Earth’s surface.

This releases the pressure of the rocks and causes stress to build up which results
in peeling off or disintegrating.
 Chemical Weathering
Types

OXIDATION AND CARBONATION ARE THE TWO TYPES OF

CHEMICAL WEATHERING.
Oxidation When minerals of rocks react with
rainwater or oxygen, they become
oxidized.

In the oxidation process, the minerals

expand in volume and change their
chemical composition.

Oxidized rocks are usually reddish-brown

as the ferrous oxide in them reacts with
the in the atmosphere to form ferric oxide.
Carbonation

 Carbonation occurs mostly in Limestone areas.

 In this process the rainwater mixes with carbon dioxide to form carbonic acid.
The acid resides in the rock, for example limestone. Then, the calcium carbonate
in limestone meets the weak carbonic acid in rainwater.
 Thus, the limestone’s chemical composition changes to become calcium
bicarbonate, which is very easily removed and soluble. This results in the
limestone breaking down.
Biological weathering
BIOLOGICAL WEATHERING REFERS TO THE PROCESS WHEREBY ROCKS ARE
BROKEN DOWN THROUGH THE ACTIONS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN A SITU.
Biological Weathering

 The rocks slowly break down through decomposition or disintegration in this

process.
 Plants exert forces on rock as they become bigger, this causes the rocks to slowly
disintegrate.
 Animals, for example rabbits, burrow into the ground and help oxygen or water
get in the ground. When they come in contact with the minerals the rocks weaken
slowly.
 Biological weathering can only be caused by plants or animals..
 A ‘situ’ means where the event takes place.
Erosion
EROSION HAS THREE AGENTS, FLOWING WATER, WINDS AND SEA
WAVES.
 Erosion refers to the removal of the weathered
Erosion materials from the areas where weathering had
taken place.

Natural agents such as flowing water, winds and

sea waves do this.

Erosion worns the Earth surface away.

Erosion has three different agents: Flowing Water,

Winds, Sea Waves.
Agents of Flowing water is an agent of erosion. In this
process, flowing water in rivers or streams causes
erosion.
Erosion –
Flowing
The flowing water forces weathered rock
Water materials out of the riverbed and the channel
sides. The flowing water scrapes and abrade the
riverbed and channel sides.

The erosive action of these rocks particles causes

landforms such as waterfalls to form.
Agents of Erosion – Winds

Wind erosion is dominant in desert areas.

In this erosion the rock particles are carried by strong winds in desert or arid
region.

This helps shape land to form various physical features. An arch is an example
of a physical feature created through wind erosion.
 Erosion – Sea Waves
 Erosion caused by sea waves dominates coastal lines.
 The waves continuous pounding cause rocks to break down along the
coast.
 The rock particles which are carried by the waves gradually form
coastal features, cliffs, stacks and arches are example of this.
Impacts of weathering and erosion on
human activites
Positive Impacts
 The weathering of rocks help form the
basic component of soil, they are together
with dead plants and animals. Soil is very
essential to human for livestock and
farming.
 Weathered rock materials are used to
construct homes in urban areas or bridges
or roads in rural areas.
 Weathering and erosion create beautiful
areas, such as arches. This increases
tourism and employment.
Negative Impacts
 The erosion of flowing water causes
damage to human properties and lives, it
causes livestock and crops destruction.
Lives are lost and farmers are devastated.
 Erosion by wind causes damage to
farmland in arid regions. Moving sand
destroys the farm gradually.
 Acidic rainwater damages building,
especially limestone which is used in
building construction. This often causes
damages to buildings which is
unrecoverable.