Weathering Flashcards
what is weathering
the breaking down of particles
what is erosion
the movement of particles
what factors control weathering
properties of the rock, climate, presence of soil, length of exposure time
how many types of weathering are there and what are they
3, chemical, physical and biological
what climates suit what kind of weathering
physical weathering - arid/dry cold climates chemical weathering - wet/warm climate
what is the role of physical weathering
to break down the rock to smaller fragments that are easier to transport as well as increasing surface area
what does chemical weathering entail
it involves interactions between water, air and the rock mass. water often contains dissolved gasses that interact with the rock
chemical stability of minerals
reverse order of bowens reaction series
how does weathering relate to engineering
weathering can lead to strength decrease, lost of elasticity, density decrease, increase in porosity and therefore moisture absorption
what are the degrees of weathering
completely weathered, highly weathered, moderately weathered, slightly weathered and fresh rock
what are the effects of erosion
top soil is removed which provides the water and nutrients necessary for plant growth, causing a snowball effect with less vegetation leading to more erosion. severe erosion can lead to the formation of gullies
