Weathering Flashcards
Name types of chemical weathering
Carbonation, oxidation,
What rock is easily chemically weathered
Limestone
What substance makes rainwater acidic
Carbon dioxide
What is the key term for the wearing away and transportation of rocks
Erosion
What is the key term for the movement of loose material down a slope by gravity
Mass wasting
What is the key term for the breakdown and decay of rocks
Weathering
What is the key term what describes, erosion, mass wasting and weathering
Denudation
What is the difference between weathering and erosion
Erosion is the removing of sediments caused by rain of wind, and weathering is the break down of rocks from freeze thaw action or carbonation by acidic rain
Is freeze thaw action a type of chemical weathering or is carbonation
Carbonation
Does mechanical weathering involve the physical breakdown of rocks or does chemical weathering
Mechanical weathering
Is an area effected by carbonation the giants causeway or the burren
The burren co Clare because this is where most limestone is
How does chemical weathering happen
Chemical weathering happens when rock is broken down by chemical reactions
When does carbonation occur
Carbonation occurs when carbon dioxide (Co2) mixes with rainwater to create carbonic acid, this carbonic acid weathers rock and dissolves the calcium carbonate
What does the carbonic acid change
The carbonic acid changes calcium carbonate into soluble calcium BIcarbonate, this is a slow process but this is more effective in cold water which holds more Co2
What does carbonic acid dissolve into
Carbonic acid dissolves calcium carbonate into calcium bicarbonate
Exfoliation:
When does exfoliation occur
Exfoliation occurs when layers of rock peel off due to repeated heated and cooling causing expansion contraction and eventual cracking exfoliation occurs at areas where temperatures are extremely high during the daytime and temperatures are low at night
When do rocks expand during exfoliation
As the sun shines during the day it causes the rock to expand which means the rock contracts during the night when it gets cooler
What is another name for exfoliation
Onion skin weathering is another name for exfoliation
Where does freeze thaw action occur
Freeze thaw action occurs in areas where temperatures change, like height altitudes and night latitudes, in the winter and in mountain ranges
The water freezes at below ____ and melts above ____
0°C
- Name an economic advantage in the Burren
Many direct and indirect jobs are created (hotels, cafes, eco tourism) with 800,000+ visitors in 2024
Name an economic disadvantage in the Burren
Some jobs are seasonal running from April to September when mos tourists visit as the water is better.
- Name a social advantage in the Burren
Out migration for locals reduced as spin off jobs are created in arts, crafts and wellness industries
Name a social disadvantage in the Burren
House prices have increased as wealthy people buy holiday homes, making it too expensive for locals to buy, forcing them to move
Name an environmental advantage in the Burren
Strict planning laws within the Geo Park, prevent over development and protect the natural beauty of the area
- Name an environmental disadvantage in the Burren
Traffic jams from vehicles at peoples attractions like the cliffs of Moher with CO2 emissions lowering air quality.
Name a way the Burren might deal with sustainable tourism
Visitor Management: limits are placed on visitor numbers in sensitive areas to prevent environmental damage
What is Karst Landscape
-Karst landscape is an area of exposed limestone formed by glaciation. Its features are formed by carbonation
Name the formation of one sub-surface landform in a karst landscape
- A stalactite is a calcite structure that hangs from a cave ceiling, this weathering processes called carbonation from Calcium carbonate- comprising up to 95% of limestone, it dissolves into soluble calcium bicarbonate in water this water seeps through limestone to the cave ceiling. As the water evaporates, calcite is left behind forming a stalactite. Stalactites can be seen in Doolin cave, the Burren Co.Clare.
Name and describe the process of one type of mechanical weathering that you have studied
Freeze thaw action is common in cold and high altitude areas like the sugar loaf, Co.Wicklow, occurs when temperatures change above ad below freezing. water seeps into cracks, freezes below 0°C and expands by 9%, widening the cracks, until the rock breaks into fragments called scree
Explain how limestone rock is weathered by the process of carbonation
- Carbonation happens when rainwater (H2O) mixes with carbon dioxide (CO2) to form carbonic acid. This acid reacts with the calcium carbonate in limestone, which contains up to 95% calcium carbonate, changing it into calcium bicarbonate, which is soluble in water. Over time this process causes the calcium carbonate in the limestone to dissolve, leading to weathering.
What is biological weathering
Sometimes actions of plants, animals and people can add to the speed of chemical and mechanical weathering
What is limestone pavement
A natural karst landform is made up of a flat, marked surface of open limestone that resembles artificial pavements
Denudation meaning
Long term process of the wearing away of the earths surface leading to a lower elevation and relief of landforms and landscapes
Write and explanation for a stalactite
A stalactite is a calcite structure that hangs from a cave ceiling.This happens when rainwater (H20)mixes with carbon dioxide (C02) forming carbonic acid, this acid reacts with calcium carbonate. The carbonic acid reacts with the calcium carbonate in limestone. The carbonic acid dissolves the calcium carbonate forming calcium bicarbonate which is soluble in water. The waterthen seeps through the limestone into a cave. The water evaporates on the cave ceiling depositing calcite
Economic advantage
Many direct and indirect jobs are in the barre, from cafes, hotels and restaurants with over 800000 tourists visiting in 2024
Environmental disadvantage
Traffic congestion from cars and busses in popular attractions (the cliffs of mother) is a big issue with many C02 emissions being released lowering air quality
One way tourism is sustainable in the burren
Managing tourists- having a limit on tourist visits in sensitive areas
