the alps Flashcards
what is a hillslope?
a channel without water
what is chemical and physical weathering?
chemical =changes in the atomic structure of minerals
physical = rock is broken apart without chemical change
describe carbonation
CO2 in the atmoshpere dissolves in water to make a weak acid. Acid reacts with some rocks e.g. limestone to make CaCO2, which is soluble, causing the rock to split
describe acidification
other acids may form in rain or groundwater. Emmisions can create sulfuric acid and nitric acid in rain.
volcano emmisions
weak acids can naturally form e.g. in soil
describe hydrolysis
water itself reacting chemically with rocks. acids dont have to be involved. e.g. the breakdown of olivine
describe hydration
water reacting with minerals in rocks without breaking bonds. water is fitted into the mineral structure. the properties of new minerals may be different
describe oxidation
minerals containing iron can react with oxygen, weaking the bonds. oxygen can be from the air or water e.g. rusting
groundwater
recatants permeate rocks
flows slowly through pores, craks and joints
is refreshed by rain
most reactions go fastest nearer the surface
describe expansion and wedging
root growth, burrowing (animals can dig directly down, or perpendicular to a slope), clays becoming wet (expand, then dry slightly down the slope), thermal weathering (expansion of rock when it gets hot, weakens material), frost wedging (expansion of rock when it freezes, shatters off)
other examples of physical weathering?
plucking and abrasion
where are the alps located?
ranges from southern france to switzerland, germany and to southern europe
how were the alps formed?
the slow closure of the Med. Italy moving into the rest of europe 100s of millions of years ago
what is the crysosphere?
where water is in its solid form - glaciers, snow, sea ice, river and lake ice, permafrost and seasonal snow cover
