16 Questions
What is the process of breakdown of rocks at the Earth’s surface called?
Weathering
Which agent of weathering works as a wedge by freezing and expanding in cracks and crevices of rocks?
Water
What process involves saltwater getting into cracks and pores of rock, evaporating, and leaving behind salt crystals that grow and cause pressure on the rock?
Mechanical weathering
What process involves rock expanding with heat and contracting with low temperature, weakening the rock structure over time?
Thermal stress
Which agent of weathering is involved in the process called haloclasty?
Salt
What is the name for the process where plants contribute to the breakdown of rocks at the Earth's surface?
Biological weathering
What is the primary cause of physical weathering?
Expansion and contraction due to changing temperatures
How does freeze-thaw contribute to physical weathering?
By expanding and breaking rocks apart
Where does exfoliation typically occur?
In mountainous regions with exposure of uniform coarsely crystalline igneous rocks
What role do animals like moles and prairie dogs play in weathering?
Digging and trampling rock aboveground, causing it to crumble
How do trees contribute to rock weathering?
By breaking rocks into pieces as their roots widen cracks
What is a main type of physical weathering?
Expansion and contraction due to changing temperatures
In which regions does physical weathering occur especially?
Arctic tundra and hot deserts with little soil and few plants
What causes exfoliation to happen?
The reduction in pressure during uplift and erosion causing cracks parallel to the land surface
What process occurs when water freezes and expands in cracks in the rocks?
Freeze-thaw weathering
How do animals contribute to rock and soil fragmentation?
By digging, trampling, and causing rock to slowly crumble
Study Notes
Weathering Processes
- The breakdown of rocks at the Earth's surface is called weathering.
Types of Weathering
- Mechanical weathering, also known as physical weathering, occurs through freeze-thaw cycles, thermal expansion, and other physical forces.
- Chemical weathering occurs through chemical reactions, such as oxidation and hydrolysis.
Freeze-Thaw Cycle
- Water seeps into cracks and pores of rocks, freezes, and expands, causing the rock to break apart.
- This process is a main type of physical weathering.
Haloclasty
- Saltwater gets into cracks and pores of rock, evaporates, and leaves behind salt crystals that grow and cause pressure on the rock.
Thermal Expansion
- Rocks expand with heat and contract with low temperature, weakening the rock structure over time.
Biological Weathering
- Plants contribute to the breakdown of rocks at the Earth's surface through root growth and excretion of chemicals.
- Animals like moles and prairie dogs contribute to weathering by digging burrows and creating pathways for water to flow through.
- Tree roots can exert pressure on rocks and cause them to break apart.
Exfoliation
- Occurs when rocks are exposed to large temperature fluctuations, causing the outer layers to break off.
- Typically occurs in regions with high diurnal temperature ranges, such as deserts.
- Caused by the contraction and expansion of rocks due to temperature changes.
Regional Weathering
- Physical weathering occurs especially in regions with frequent freeze-thaw cycles, such as high-latitude and high-altitude regions.
Test your knowledge about the types and agents of weathering, the process by which rocks are broken down at the Earth's surface. Learn about physical, chemical, and biological weathering, as well as the effects of water, ice, acids, and other agents.
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