Weather & Flowing Water (part one) Flashcards
Three important factors that influence weathering rates:
- Rock Characteristic
- Climate
- Differential Weathering
Three types of weathering are:
- Mechanical
- Chemical
- Biological
What is the first step in landscape evolution?
Weathering
Define Weathering:
the impact of the elements of
weathering on rocks
Define Mechanical Weathering:
A physical breakdown of rocks
Define Frost-wedging:
Repeated freezing and thawing of water over a period of time within a rock’s crack
Define Exfoliation:
uplifting & sheeting of the rock, takes place when igneous rock is exposed only.
Define Chemical Weathering:
Alterations of minerals, changing chemical composition/ structure.
Where is most chemical weathering found?
Chemical weathering requires water and the best climate conditions for this are humid areas such as the tropics.
Define Biological weathering:
contributes to the acidity of soils.
Example: tree roots can bread down rocks along fractures.
Where is frost wedging mostly found?
mostly in cold areas where water
freezes
Where can mechanical weathering be found?
Mechanical weathering can take place everywhere,
including mountains and gently sloping area.
What is the main force pulling materials(sediments) down-slope?
Gravity
Define Angle of Repose:
angle’s threshold of steepness
Define Mass Wasting:
Large mass of land that fails.
“Gravity is the main force here”
