Freeze-Thaw Weathering

Also known as freeze-thaw action or frost shattering, freeze-thaw weathering occurs due to seasonal climatic variations.  Weathering is the breakdown of rocks in situ.  In this instance, meltwater enters cracks in the mountainside where it freezes and expands by 9% as the temperature drops, putting pressure on the surrounding rock.  The water then melts as the temperatures increase and the cycle repeats, putting increasing pressure on the rocks until they crack, sending broken-off scree moving down the mountain.

A blockfield is a large expanse of flat land covered in broken pieces of rock, also known as a felsenmeer.