Chapter 6.- Weathering Flashcards
What is Mechanical weathering
Its when rocks are broken from physical force applied by frost and plants. Does not involve any chemical change in rocks. freeze thaw action is an e.g of mechanical weathering.
What is freeze that action
It is where water enters cracks in rock. At night water turns to ice and expands the cracks. During the day the ice melts back to ice and the rock contracts. This continues and outs oressure on rock, which eventually breaks off.
It occurs in colder climates or high up in mountains.
It occurs when the - temp drops below 0 and rises above 0.
- where there is precipitation (rainfall, snow)
The broken rock has sharp edge and falls down slope as result of gravity. It forms scree (broken rock pieces) at end of slopes.
What is a karst landscape
Its a landscape where the bare rock (e.g limestone) is exposed.
What are the surface features of a karst landscape
They are:
- clints: they are the blocks of limestone that form the limestone pavement
- grikes: they are the gaps between the blocks. Joints in rock opened wider when limestone dissolved in rainwater through process of carbonation.
- swallow holes: they are openings in the surface of the limestone through which the rivers disappear underground. Created by carbonation.
Tell me about the case study on: The Burren National Park.
Tourism-
It attracts may tourists because of its unusual landscape, its flora and historical monuments. Archeologists and historians are some of the people attracted to studying the Burren.
Mullaghmore visitor centre - conflict ~
In the 1990’s there was proposal to build visitor centre with a restaurant and car park, at Mullaghmore in centre of Burren. There was strong opposition to and support for building the centre. Eventually it was not built.
What were 2 advantages of building the centre?
2 advantages of building the centre were that there would be jobs for people in building the centre and being tour guides in the centre and that it would make Burren more interesting place to visit and attract more tourists.
What were two disadvantages of building the centre?
2 disadvantages of building the centre were pollution from tourist traffic would harm plant life and wider roads would destroy unique landscape and that historical sites could also be damaged
What is denudation
Denudation is the wearing away of the surface of the earth. It is done by weathering and erosion.
Weathering - breakdown of rock by weather. Broken rock lies where has been broken. 2 types of weathering - mechanical+chemical.
Erosion- wearing away of rock, transportation of that rock and its deposition. Carried out by rivers,the sea,glaciers and wind.
