Introduction to Weathering

Weathering and Erosion

• Weathering = change the appearance of something through long exposure of air/water/nature
• Erosion = removing pieces of rocks and transporting them to another by wind and water.

Types of Weathering

• Physical

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• Biological

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• Chemical

Physical Weathering

• The breaking of rocks by:
• wind or rain
• contraction
• water freezing
• thermal expansion
• This occurs in regions with extreme temperatures

Biological Weathering

• Rocks are broken down by living things or decomposed
• Broken by:
• Lichens
• Tree roots

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Chemical Weathering

• The breaking of rocks when water and rocks interact with each other to create a chemical reaction.
• Rocks are broken by:
• water
• gases