Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Geography Exam > Weathering > Flashcards

Weathering Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
U.S. Geography flashcards World Geography flashcards
1
Q

Erosion

A

Break down of rocks by moving agents that transport material away

(Sea/river/wind)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Freeze thaw (physical)

A
  1. Water enters cracks
  2. Temp falls (night) water freezes + expands (9% in volume)
  3. Pressure on rock
  4. Temp rises (day) melts + takes up less room
  5. More water enters, repeated, weakens, rock breaks into pieces

High rain, fluctuating temp +/- freezing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Exfoliation

A
  1. Hot (day) surface expands
  2. Cool (night) surface contracts
  3. Repeated, stress, weakens rock
  4. Outer layer breaks off, process again on layers underneath

High day temp, low night temp

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Carbonation

A
  1. Rainwater combines with CO2 to form carbonic acid
  2. Attacks surface + soaks in joints
  3. Reacts with alkaline limestone to form calcium bicarbonate
  4. Carried away in solution (soluble)

High rain, high temp (doubles with 10°C rise)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Oxidation

A
  1. Oxygen (air) reacts with minerals (metal) in rock - iron
  2. Changes structure: expands + weakens rock
  3. Breaks down easily - rust
  4. Red brown colour, rock crumbles easily

High rain, high temp (doubles with 10°C rise)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Plants

A
  1. Roots move along crack + force apart rock
  2. Widen, weaken + disintegrate (mechanical)
  3. Release chemicals: carbonic acid (chemical)

High temps (summer) for growth and chemicals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Animals

A
  1. Burrow in rock, weakens + breaks down (mechanical)

2. Die, decompose, release chemicals (chemical)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Factors influencing type + rate of weathering

A

Many minerals, oxygen and water - CHEMICAL
Lines of weakness (bedding planes and cracks) - MORE LIKELY
Coarse grain (sandstone) - QUICKER than fine
Climatic conditions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Weathering rapid in humid tropical areas

A 
Higher temp/rain (chemical) 
More trees/roots (biological) 
More animals (biological) 
More cracks (physical) 
Rapid decay (chemical) 
CO2 from decay - acidic rain (chemical) 
Rate doubles with 10°C rise (chemical)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Opportunities of natural environment (weathering)

A 
Agriculture 
Tourism (rock climbing) 
Building (limestone, cement) 
Education 
Forestry
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Weather and climate

A

Weather: day to day changes of earth’s atmosphere

Climate: average weather over period of time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Features of Stevenson screen

A

1.25m above ground - air temp
White - reflect sunlight
Downwards slats - air passes freely, wind doesn’t affect readings
Away from buildings - no effect of local relief
Grass - concrete absorbs heat

Max min thermometer, wet dry bulb thermometer + barometer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Rain gauge (precipitation)

A

Grass - avoid splashback
No trees/buildings - avoid shelter/water dripping

Remove bottle, empty into measuring cylinder, read at eye level
Every 2 hours/same time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Max min thermometer (highest/lowest temp)

A

Alcohol expands/contracts, affects mercury, pushes steel markers

Read lower end of index, work out difference, eye level
Reset with magnet

Diurnal temp range: highest - lowest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Wet + dry bulb thermometer (relative humidity)

A

Greater difference, less water vapour in air, drier air, lower relative humidity

Records air AND air as if 100% saturated (damp)
Read relative humidity off table

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Barometer (air pressure, mb)

A

Pressure moves pointer around dial
High pressure on glass moves dial to high
Low pressure, moves to low

17
Q

Wind vane (direction)

A

Record once an hour (changes frequently)

Arrow points in direction wind blows from

18
Q

Anemometer (wind speed)

A

Cups rotate by air movement
Number of revolutions recorded on meter + automatically converted to km/h

Or Beaufont scale

19
Q

Wind rose

A

Shows direction, frequency + strength (in month)

Strength = length of arm to centre 
Frequency = width of arm
20
Q

Clouds and types

A

Visible mass of water droplets suspended in atmosphere
Air cools, condenses + can’t absorb any more water

Cumulus: heaped, bubbly, high tops
Stratus: sheet/layer
Cirrus: wispy, high altitude
Nimbus: rain bearer, grey/low

Estimate eights of cover by eye, less precise, shade circle segments

21
Q

Convectional rainfall (cumulonimbus)

A
  1. Shortwave radiation from sun heats ground
  2. Long wavelength heats air above
  3. Transpiration + evaporation
  4. Air rises (humid)
  5. Cools + condenses (clouds)
  6. Water particles collide and get heavier, saturated, fall as rain
  7. Repeats
22
Q

Weathering

A

Breakdown of rock by mechanical/physical/biological forces insitu (not removed)

Geography Exam (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions