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WEATHERING

WEATHERING. Weathering – the physical & chemical breakdown of rocks. Atmosphere (gas) Lithosphere (solid) Hydrosphere (liq.). Involving an interaction between the 3 spheres of the earth. I. Physical Weathering: - rocks break into pieces - changing size and shape

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WEATHERING

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  1. WEATHERING

  2. Weathering – the physical & chemical breakdown of rocks. • Atmosphere (gas) • Lithosphere (solid) • Hydrosphere (liq.) Involving an interaction between the 3 spheres of the earth.

  3. I. Physical Weathering: - rocks break into pieces - changing size and shape - but not their composition.

  4. AGENTS OF PHYSICAL WEATHERING: • Frost Action-The freezing and thawing causes alternate • expansion and contraction of rocks eventually breaking them • apart. • Dominate in mountain or polar regions. • More likely to occur in winter

  5. Plant Action“Biological Action”- With plant growth the root system will increase in volume and cause cracks in the rock to expand. • Lichens are primary soil producers • creating conditions for larger plant growth.

  6. 3. Abrasion-When ice, water, or wind causes sediments to have collisions physical weathering results. • Wind abrasion is similar to • sandblasting and slowly • weathers the rock down.

  7. Wind abrasion occurs • in arid environments • Note the lack of soil and • angular rock features.

  8. Water abrasion occurs in moist and humid climates • Water produces rounded fragments as the sediments are • rolled and bounced along the stream bottom.

  9. Glacial Abrasion occurs when sediments are trapped with in the ice and scrape against the bedrock. • Forming Striations In the Rock (Scratches) • Glaciers are found • in cold climates • high altitudes • latitudes

  10. 4. Pressure Unloading / Exfoliation – -The top rock layers are removed releasing pressure. -The underlying rocks then crack and fall apart.

  11. II. Chemical Weathering - when agents of weathering chemically change the composition of a rock. AGENTS OF CHEMICAL WEATHERING: 1. Oxidation– Oxygen combines with minerals to form oxides. (iron + oxygen = Rust) • Oxidation weakens the bedrock making it softer.

  12. 2. Hydration- minerals absorb water and chemically change the composition of the material • Ex. granite contains mica. • Mica has a weak chemical • composition and absorb water. • Turns into clay

  13. Carbonation – When pollutants like Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen & Sulfuric Oxides mix with rain water creating acid rain, which can dissolve limestone and harm the living environment. • Coal Burning For Electricity • Fossil Fuel Consumption for Cars

  14. Water - Is unique and dissolves most minerals and metals in our environment. • (universal solvent).

  15. III. FACTORS AFFECTING The Rates of WEATHERING: • ClimateDifferences: • Arid Climates are very dry and the rate of weathering is slow. • Humid Climates are moist and the rate of weathering is fairly fast.

  16. Arid and Humid Climates cause different rates of weathering. • ex, Cleopatra's Obelisk Egypt New York

  17. Cold and Humid -Physical weathering is dominate at high latitudes altitudes, or in the winter. -Frost Action and Glacial Abrasion • Hot and Humid - Chemical weathering is dominate near • the equator and in the summer. • -Oxidation, Hydration

  18. Humid climates also favor chemical weathering and increase the rate in which water will dissolve minerals.

  19. Hot & humid climates can also increase the rate of physical weathering by biological action.

  20. In the mountains and at the poles physical weathering like frost action and abrasion are more likely.

  21.  2.Particle Size and Shape as particle size decreases the weathering rate increases - When The Surface Area Increase - More Sides Are Able To React With The Elements

  22. Mineral Composition - some rocks are resistant to • weathering because of their composition • More Resistant • Hard Rocks have Strong • Chemical Compositions • Less Resistant • Soft Rocks have Weak • chemical compositions

  23. IV. Products of Weathering - sediments and soils • 1. Sediment Types • a. Solids – Are clastic sediments • such as pebbles, sand, silt, or clay   • b. Colloids – Are suspended clay size particles • c. Ionic Solutions – Are dissolved compounds in water

  24. 2. Soil Types: a. Residual – Soils formed from the weathering of the local bedrock and have the same mineral composition. b. Transported - Soil that has been moved & the sediments are not of the same composition as the local rock • Soil Horizons • Top layer rich in organics & minerals from biologic activity. • Sediments with minerals dissolved from above are found here. • C. Mostly un-weathered bedrock.

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