weather erosion and deposition Flashcards
define weathering
the chemical and physical weathering of rocks near earth’s surface
Define chemical weathering
The breakdown of rock through a change in mineral or chemical composition
What are two examples of chemical weathering
- oxidation
- when water dissolves minerals
What forms caves
the chemical breakdown of underground limestone when rainwater picks up carbondioxide and become acid rain
Define acid rain
rainwater that picks up carrbon dioxid
define physical weathering
The breakdown of rock into smaller pieces without changing its chemical composition
what are the 4 causes of physical weathering and explain them
- Frost wedging - the repeated freezing and thawing of water within rocks -causes crack to become bigger and bigger
- plant root growth - root growth with in rock that breaks it apart
- abrupt temperature change - temperatur changes cause rocks stress which can result in change withing the rock like expansion and contraction
4.ABRASION - when sediments moved by ice, water, wind or gravity grind against other rocks
What are the factors that affect the rate and type of weathering and explain them
- Exposure to Air- rocks abrove ground weather faster than rocks buried underground
- Particle Size - with equal volumes of rock smaller particle weather fasster than larger particles (larger particle have a greater surface area)
- Mineral composition - Different minerals weather at different rates based on their properties
- Climate -
climates effects when chemical weathering works best and when physical weathering works best (chemical more effective in warm and moist and physical more effeictive in cold and moist)
define erosion
the movement of weathered rock
what are the 6. agents of erosion
Gravity, Running water and streams (most common transport agent of erosion), wind erosion, Glacial Erosion, Erosion due to waves and currents, erosion by humans
Define gravity agents of erosion -
The primary force behind most types of erosion
What creates mudslides
gravity aided by water creates mudslides
what is it called when gravity acts alone?
mass wasting or mass movement
How is sediment transported through streams?
- dissolved minerals flow in solution
- Small sediments (clay) are suspended in the water
- larger sediment (pebbles) burow allong the bottom and become rounded THIS IS STREAM ABRASION
how are valleys formed
from river/ stream erosion and mass movemnt of rock
What shape does a stream carve in a valley over time
a V
What are the three things that determine the velocity of a stream
Gradients- Slope of the stream (as gradient increases so does stream velocity)
Discharge - volume of water in the stream (as discharge increases so does stream velocity)
Stream channel Shape - straightest streams flow faster than meandering streams
What is the mouth of the stream
THE END OF A STREAM
How were the Finger lakes formed
beggining of a stream that was carved by glaciersd
meanders def -v
when a stream bends and turns downstream
What is a Channel-
a waterway (or stream) that connects to areas of water
What will happen as a stream flows through its channel?
its velocity will change due to the curvature of the stream
What is wind erosion
strong winds can pick up small particles (sand grains or smaller) and blown the about
Examples of wind erosion and explain them
Sandblasting - when winds blow sand or silt grains against rock causing abrasion
Deflation - when wind blows away loose sediment causing the land surface to lower
Whats Glacial erosion -
when glaciers move rock through movements, acts like sandpaper scratching away at earth’s surface
Define a glacier -
ice and snow that moves downhill under the influence of Gravity