Weathering Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Denudation

A

The Earth’s surface being worn down by weathering + erosion

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2
Q

Weathering

A

The process that physically breaks down rocks into sediment

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3
Q

Erosion

A

The process that breaks down + moves the sediment

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4
Q

Mechanical weathering

A

The physical breaking down of rock

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5
Q

Chemical weathering

A

when the rock decays/dissolves

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6
Q

Freeze-thaw action

A

Water collects in the cracks in the rock
At night the water freezes + expands
Repeated freeze-thaw action makes the rock shatter + fall to the bottom of the slope as scree

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7
Q

Carbonation

A

Carbon dioxide mixes with rainwater to form a weak carbonic acid
Limestone contains calcium carbonate. When the carbonic acid in the rainwater falls into the limestone, a chemical reaction takes place.
The calcium carbonate in the limestone starts to dissolve. This is carbonation
Limestone is a permeable rock, so water can easily pass through

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8
Q

Vertical cracks in limestone are known as…

A

Joints

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9
Q

Horizontal cracks in limestone are known as…

A

Bedding planes

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10
Q

Karst landscapes

A

Landscapes made of exposed limestone

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11
Q

Karst landscape - clints

A

Slabs of rock on the surface that separate the grikes

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12
Q

Karst landscape - grikes

A

Deep grooves in the pavement. They are weathered, widened + deepened by carbonation

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13
Q

Limestone cave

A

Seeping rainwater + rivers flow underground + dissolve the limestone due to carbonation
Gradually, large open areas called passages + caves are formed
When the water with carbonic acid seeps into the cave roof, it starts dripping + some droplets hang from the roof. As they hang, water evaporates + leaves a deposit of calcite. These deposits build up + form stalactites
If droplets fall to the floor, they leave calcite deposits, that build up + form stalagmites
If a stalactite + stalagmite join, they form a pillar

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