Earth's Processes Notes PDF

EARTH’S PROCESSES and cause them to expand, leading to Prepared by: Ms. Emilou C. Aron cracking and disintegration of the rock Exogenic Processes Mass Wasting Geologic Phenomena and processes Downslop...

EARTH’S PROCESSES and cause them to expand, leading to Prepared by: Ms. Emilou C. Aron cracking and disintegration of the rock Exogenic Processes Mass Wasting Geologic Phenomena and processes Downslope movement due to gravity. It originates at the earth’s surface Caused by several factors. Weathering, Mass Wasting, & Erosion The action might be rapid or slow. Weathering a process that disintegrates and decompose rocks near Earth’s surface through the elements of weather Biological, Mechanical, and Chemical Weathering Mechanical Weathering ✓ Physical breakdown of rock ✓ Agents: pressure, temperature, water, animal/plant activity Block Disintegration - caused by successive heating and cooling which causes the expansion and contraction of rocks FALL - The free-fall movement of detached Frost Wedging individual pieces of rock. Common on slopes that are too steep for loose material to remain Exfoliation on a surface Biotic Weathering or Biological SLIDE - Occur when rock materials remain Weathering - a process by which living fairly coherent and move along a well-defined organisms, such as plants, animals, and surface. microorganisms, contribute to the weathering and breakdown of rocks and FLOW - Happens when rock materials are minerals. saturated with water and move Chemical Weathering Erosion ✓ The interaction of rock with mineral Removal of soil at a greater rate than solutions (chemicals) to change the its replacement by natural agencies composition of rocks. Carried by agents (wind, rain, flowing Oxidation - oxygen reacts with minerals in water, even human actions) rocks or soils, resulting in a change in the Wind erosion happens when winds carry chemical composition of the material. vast quantity of fine soil particles and sand Carbonation - When water with adequate away from a region, spreading it over carbon dioxide comes in contact with adjoining cultivated land and destroying carbonate rocks, it reacts, and the their fertility. products are carried by the water. Hydration - absorption of water into the Sheet erosion is the removal of thin layers mineral structure, and occurs when water of soil because of surface runoff and rain. molecules combine with minerals in rocks  This is common along the riverbeds and A molten rock material that is areas affected by floods. found beneath the Earth’s surface. Rill erosion is the removal of soil by the When magma reaches the action of concentrated running water. This surface, it is called lava. process creates numerous centimeter- deep tiny channels called rills, which carry Volcanism water during storms. ✓ Is the eruption of molten rock called Gully erosion is the removal of soil in magma onto earth’s surface through a water channels or drainage lines. The vent gullies gradually multiply and spread over ✓ The driving force is the plate tectonic a wide area. The land being dissected is motion created by the molten rocks in called badlands or ravines. the mantle caused by thermal Endogenic Processes convection currents Geological processes that occur ✓ Volcano beneath the surface of the Earth. is a visible manifestation of the Earth is associated with energy process of rock formation originating in the interior of the solid is a vent that serves as the earth. conduit of lava or the molten Three main sources of heat rock that reaches the Earth’s surface 1. planet creation; Crater – funnel-shaped 2. frictional heating; depression where materials 3. heat from the decay of are ejected radioactive elements Deformation - is a process in which rocks Magma & Volcanism change in shape, size, location, tilt, or break due to squeezing, stretching, or shearing. Magmatism Stress - a force applied per unit ✓ refers to the geological process by which magma forms and intrudes into the Earth’s crust often resulting in the formation of igneous rocks. ✓ Magma is formed from the melting of rocks in the Earth’s mantle & crust. ✓ Several processes that can lead to melting or rocks: 1. Decompression melting 2. Addition of volatiles 3. Heat transfer ✓ Magma Tectonic Forces - are typically divided into Anticline - a fold that arches upward, with the three parts namely Compressional tectonic oldest rock layers at the center and the forces, Tensional tectonic forces and shearing younger rock layers on the outside tectonic forces. This is made possible due to Monocline - a fold in which the rock layers are Frictional Heating. tilted in one direction, creating a step-like In Compressional Tectonic Forces, crustal formation rocks are pushed together. Overturned - a type of fold in which one limb is In Tensional tectonic forces, crustal rocks tilted beyond the vertical, resulting in the older are pulled away from each other. rock layers being on top of the younger rock layers Lastly, in Shearing tectonic forces, crustal rocks are sliding past each other. Syncline - a fold that bends downward, with the youngest rock layers at the center and the older rock layers on the outside