Endterm Exam (mine) Flashcards
(19 cards)
wearing down
(degradation) of relief/elevations and filling up
(aggradation) of basins/depressions, on the Earth’s
surface.
Exogenic processes
The phenomenon of wearing down of the relief
variations of the surface of the earth through erosion is
known as?
Gradation
The breaking down or dissolving of
rocks and minerals on the surface of the Earth.
Weathering
Mechanical disintegration and chemical decomposition of rocks through the actions of various elements of weather and climate.
Weathering
also called mechanical
weathering, disintegrates rocks, breaking them
into smaller pieces.
Physical Weathering
when water gets inside the
joints, alternate freezing and thawing
episodes pry the rock apart
Frost wedging
force exerted by salt
crystal that formed as water evaporates from
pore spaces or cracks in rocks can cause the
rock to fall apart.
Salt Crystal Growth
the wearing away of rocks by
constant collision of loose particles
Abrasion
plants and animals
(including humans) as agents of mechanical
weathering.
Biological Activity
decomposes rocks through
chemical reactions that change the original rock-forming minerals
Chemical Weathering
Occurs when certain minerals are dissolved by acidic solutions
Solution
change in the composition of
minerals when they REACT with water
Hydrolysis
reaction between minerals and
oxygen dissolved in water.
Oxidation
processes which occur on earth’s surface due to the
influence of exogenic forces
Exogenic Process
energy emanating from within the earth is the main
force
Endogenic Process
Heat causes expansion and contraction of rocks causing smooth rounded surfaces
Temperature changes and expansion
Salts in rocks expand due to thermal action, hydration, and crystallization
Salt weathering
Three causes of salt weathering
Thermal action, hydration, and crystallization
