Weathering

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Weathering

Weathering is the decay of rocks.

Rocks are susceptible to weathering

Freeze Thaw Weathering

1. Water collects in a crack in a rock

2. Temperature drops causing water to drop and increase-causing stress and cracks already there enlrge

3. Temperature continues to fluctuate repeatedly eventually the fragment breaks off and collects as scree

Chemical Weathering

Solution

Rain water is slightly acidic because of the carbon dioxide in the air dissolves in it

When rainwater falls on the rock, the minerals in the rock react with the rain causing a chemical reaction and weathers

*Acid Rain- this is caused by the sulfur dioxide formed in the air from fossil fuels, it dissolves with the water in the air causing the rain to be more acidic

Note that the chemicals in the rain only react with the minerals in the rock, not the rock itself

There are three different types of weathering;

Mechanical- freeze-thaw and exfoliation

Chemical- solution carbonate

Biological- flora and fauna

This makes the process of chemical weathering happen more quickly

Trees and fish are killed from the rain

Biological Weathering

Animals and plants can wear away rocks. For example, burrowing animals such as rabbits can burrow into a crack in a rock, making it bigger and splitting the rock.

This is because plant roots can grow in cracks. As they grow bigger, the roots push open the cracks and make them wider and deeper. Eventually pieces of rock may fall away.

Find this information at:http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/environment_earth_universe/rock_cycle/revision/6/

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