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Questions and Answers
What is the primary process involved in mechanical weathering?
What is the primary process involved in mechanical weathering?
Which weathering process involves the freezing of water in rock cracks?
Which weathering process involves the freezing of water in rock cracks?
What environmental condition commonly facilitates salt wedging?
What environmental condition commonly facilitates salt wedging?
Which process is involved in biological weathering?
Which process is involved in biological weathering?
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What effect does temperature change have on rocks?
What effect does temperature change have on rocks?
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Which type of weathering results from the chemical reaction of water with minerals?
Which type of weathering results from the chemical reaction of water with minerals?
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What is a common result of oxidation in weathered rocks?
What is a common result of oxidation in weathered rocks?
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Which type of weathering is primarily associated with the process of abrasion?
Which type of weathering is primarily associated with the process of abrasion?
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What term describes the maximum amount of moisture the air can hold at a specific temperature and pressure?
What term describes the maximum amount of moisture the air can hold at a specific temperature and pressure?
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Which process is primarily responsible for water vapor transforming into a solid or liquid form depending on temperature?
Which process is primarily responsible for water vapor transforming into a solid or liquid form depending on temperature?
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What is the dominant form of precipitation expected in tropical regions?
What is the dominant form of precipitation expected in tropical regions?
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Which factor does NOT directly influence the process of transpiration?
Which factor does NOT directly influence the process of transpiration?
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What process involves both the evaporation of water from surfaces and transpiration from plants?
What process involves both the evaporation of water from surfaces and transpiration from plants?
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Infiltration is best defined as?
Infiltration is best defined as?
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What is the term for water that flows over the land surface after rainfall or snowmelt?
What is the term for water that flows over the land surface after rainfall or snowmelt?
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Which of the following processes describes the evaporation of snow directly into water vapor?
Which of the following processes describes the evaporation of snow directly into water vapor?
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What is identified as the primary source of baseflow in groundwater systems?
What is identified as the primary source of baseflow in groundwater systems?
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What term describes the water retained on the leaves of vegetation that has not yet reached the ground?
What term describes the water retained on the leaves of vegetation that has not yet reached the ground?
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What is the primary method of biological weathering caused by plant roots?
What is the primary method of biological weathering caused by plant roots?
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Which process involves the downslope movement of material under the influence of gravity?
Which process involves the downslope movement of material under the influence of gravity?
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How does burrowing by animals contribute to the weathering of rocks?
How does burrowing by animals contribute to the weathering of rocks?
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Which type of mass wasting is characterized by the rapid movement of earth, rock, and debris?
Which type of mass wasting is characterized by the rapid movement of earth, rock, and debris?
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What kind of erosion is caused by ice moving and plucking materials?
What kind of erosion is caused by ice moving and plucking materials?
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What provides the primary driving force for mass wasting events?
What provides the primary driving force for mass wasting events?
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What term describes soil, debris, and broken rock that has been loosened and prepared for movement?
What term describes soil, debris, and broken rock that has been loosened and prepared for movement?
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What is mass wasting primarily influenced by?
What is mass wasting primarily influenced by?
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Which type of mountain is formed by the collision of tectonic plates?
Which type of mountain is formed by the collision of tectonic plates?
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Which phenomenon occurs when the top layer of frozen ground melts and slides over the still-frozen ground below?
Which phenomenon occurs when the top layer of frozen ground melts and slides over the still-frozen ground below?
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What does the term 'denudation' refer to in the context of external processes?
What does the term 'denudation' refer to in the context of external processes?
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Which type of landslide occurs when material moves downward along a curved surface?
Which type of landslide occurs when material moves downward along a curved surface?
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What term describes the flow of water over the ground during heavy rainfall that leads to erosion?
What term describes the flow of water over the ground during heavy rainfall that leads to erosion?
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Which landform is characterized by an elevated flat surface?
Which landform is characterized by an elevated flat surface?
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What primarily shapes a U-shaped valley?
What primarily shapes a U-shaped valley?
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Which of the following is NOT a cause of mass wasting?
Which of the following is NOT a cause of mass wasting?
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What is a characteristic feature of an oceanic island?
What is a characteristic feature of an oceanic island?
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Which type of movement is characterized as very slow and often undetectable but can cause significant changes over time?
Which type of movement is characterized as very slow and often undetectable but can cause significant changes over time?
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What is the main driving force behind the hydrologic cycle?
What is the main driving force behind the hydrologic cycle?
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What defines a landslide in terms of mass wasting?
What defines a landslide in terms of mass wasting?
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What process involves water changing from a vapor to a liquid or solid state?
What process involves water changing from a vapor to a liquid or solid state?
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Which component is NOT a part of the hydrologic cycle?
Which component is NOT a part of the hydrologic cycle?
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What type of landform is formed by the deposition of sediments in river valleys?
What type of landform is formed by the deposition of sediments in river valleys?
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What process is responsible for the transformation of liquid water into vapor?
What process is responsible for the transformation of liquid water into vapor?
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Which term refers to the processes operating within the Earth?
Which term refers to the processes operating within the Earth?
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What feature describes a valley formed by river erosion?
What feature describes a valley formed by river erosion?
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What kind of mountain is formed from the upward push of magma without actually breaking the Earth's surface?
What kind of mountain is formed from the upward push of magma without actually breaking the Earth's surface?
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Study Notes
Weathering
- Weathering is the breakdown of rocks, soil, and minerals by natural forces like wind, water, plants, and animals.
- Types of weathering:
- Mechanical (physical) weathering: breaks down rocks without changing their chemical makeup.
- Exfoliation: pressure changes cause rock layers to crack and peel away.
- Frost wedging: water freezes in cracks, expanding and breaking the rock.
- Salt wedging: water evaporates leaving salt crystals that grow and break the surrounding rock. Common in deserts.
- Temperature changes: repeated heating and cooling expands and contracts minerals causing cracking.
- Abrasion: rocks rub against each other, wearing them down and smoothing out their surfaces.
- Chemical weathering: changes the composition and structure of rocks through chemical reactions.
- Carbonation: carbon dioxide dissolves in water forming carbonic acid, which reacts with rocks.
- Oxidation: oxygen breaks down rocks, often leaving iron-rich rocks rusty.
- Hydrolysis: water reacts with minerals, causing them to break down and change.
- Biological weathering: breakdown of rocks by organisms.
- Organic activity from lichens and algae: lichens and algae release acids weakening and breaking down rocks. Decaying plants also create acids.
- Plant growth: roots penetrate cracks causing rocks to split.
- Burrowing animals: dig into rocks, causing cracks and weakening them. Some animals secrete acids that dissolve rock too.
- Mechanical (physical) weathering: breaks down rocks without changing their chemical makeup.
Erosion
- Erosion is the removal and transportation of weathered material by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
- Agents of erosion:
- Water: transports weathered materials from their source to a new location for deposition.
- Wind: picks up and transports materials, eventually depositing them elsewhere.
- Ice: plucks up and transports particles. Friction between ice and bedrock erodes and transports material.
- Gravity: moves loosened, weathered materials downhill.
Mass Wasting
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Mass wasting, also called mass movement, is the downslope movement of rock, soil, and debris due to gravity.
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Regolith: the name for soil, debris, sediment and broken rock.
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Mass wasting is driven by gravity; erosion is driven by natural agents like wind, water and ice.
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Classification of mass wasting:
- Very rapid movement (no water needed):
- Landslide: rapid movement of rock, earth, or debris down a slope.
- Slow movement (little water needed):
- Rock creep: slow movement of rock fragments down a slope.
- Soil creep: slow downhill movement of soil.
- Solifluction: in cold regions, melted, wet soil slowly slides over frozen ground.
- Rapid movement (enough water is required):
- Earthflow: saturated soil and rock flow down a slope, common after heavy rain.
- Mudflow: fast-moving flow of water, soil, and debris, often after heavy rain or volcanic activity.
- Sheetwash: water flowing over the ground during heavy rain, eroding topsoil.
- Very rapid movement (no water needed):
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Causes of mass wasting:
- Volcanic eruptions
- Earthquakes
- Weathering and erosion
- Intense rainfall
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Types of mass wasting (fall, slide, flow):
- Fall:
- Rock fall: fragments of rock break off steep slopes, commonly due to frost wedging.
- Slide:
- Landslides: masses of rock, earth or debris moving down a slope.
- Translational slide: a mass of material moves along a planar surface.
- Rotational slide: a mass of soil or rock moves downward and outward along a curved surface.
- Rock slides: rock sliding along a sloping surface
- Landslides: masses of rock, earth or debris moving down a slope.
- Flow:
- Creep: very slow movement of soil or unconsolidated material on a slope.
- Debris flow: hazardous flows of rock, sediment, and water down mountain slopes.
- Mudflow: River of liquid and flowing mud on normally dry land areas
- Fall:
Landforms
- Landforms are natural features of the Earth's surface, shaped by internal and external processes over thousands/millions of years.
- Internal Processes (Endogenic): Uplift and sinking driven by heat and pressure (plate tectonics). Building up landforms.
- External Processes (Exogenic): Weathering, erosion, deposition. Wearing down and rebuilding landforms.
- Types of Landforms:
- Mountains: high landforms with steep slopes and peaks.
- Fold mountains: formed from colliding tectonic plates.
- Fault-block mountains: formed from fractures in Earth's crust.
- Dome mountains: formed when magma pushes the surface upwards.
- Volcanic mountains: formed from erupting molten rock (magma).
- Plateaus: elevated landforms with flat surfaces.
- Plains: flat or low relief areas, formed by erosion and deposition.
- Valleys: low-lying areas between hills/mountains formed by glaciers and rivers.
- Islands: pieces of land surrounded by water.
- Oceanic Islands: rise from ocean floors, primarily formed by volcanism.
- Continental Islands: unsubmerged parts of continental shelves, surrounded by water.
- Hills: higher than surrounding land, formed through erosion, volcanic activity and tectonic plate movement.
- Mountains: high landforms with steep slopes and peaks.
Hydrologic Cycle
- The hydrologic cycle describes the continuous circulation of water within Earth's atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
- Major components (elements in order):
- Evaporation: liquid/solid to gas (water vapor).
- Condensation: gas to liquid/solid (water droplets, ice crystals).
- Precipitation: liquid/solid water falls to the ground.
- Transpiration: Plants release water to the air.
- Evapotranspiration: Combined evaporation and transpiration.
- Surface runoff: water flows over the surface.
- Infiltration: water percolates into soil.
- Interception: water is temporarily held on vegetation.
- Groundwater baseflow: groundwater moves to rivers, lakes, or oceans.
- Sublimation: direct conversion of ice to vapor.
Earth as a Water Planet
- Earth is called the "water planet" for its vast amounts of water.
- Primitive life originated in water.
- Most of Earth's surface is covered with water.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the types and processes of weathering. Explore both mechanical and chemical weathering methods, including exfoliation, frost wedging, and carbonation. Understand how natural forces break down rocks and minerals.
