Weathering Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is weathering?
The breakdown of rocks into smaller fragments.
Weathering is a critical geological process that contributes to soil formation and landscape changes.
What are the two main types of weathering?
- Physical Weathering
- Chemical Weathering
Both types of weathering play significant roles in shaping the Earth’s surface.
What is physical weathering?
The mechanical breakdown of rocks without changing their chemical composition.
Physical weathering can lead to the formation of smaller rock fragments and soil.
What is exfoliation in physical weathering?
The process where rocks expand during the day and contract at night, leading to structural weakness and breaking.
This process is influenced by temperature fluctuations.
What happens to rocks during high temperatures in the exfoliation process?
The rock can break apart.
High temperatures increase atomic movement, causing expansion.
Fill in the blank: Freeze-thaw weathering involves water seeping into cracks in rocks, freezing, and expanding, which puts _______ on the rock.
pressure
What happens to water when it freezes in freeze-thaw weathering?
It expands and puts pressure on the rock.
This expansion can lead to the rock breaking apart over time.
What is chemical weathering?
The breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions, altering their mineral composition.
Chemical weathering can lead to the formation of new minerals and soil.
What are greenhouse gases?
Gases that can absorb and reflect heat.
They play a role in climate change and weathering processes.
Is carbon dioxide a greenhouse gas?
True
Carbon dioxide is one of the most significant greenhouse gases affecting the Earth’s atmosphere.
What is acidic rain?
Water mixed with carbon dioxide, forming carbonic acid.
Acidic rain contributes to rapid chemical weathering.
What causes rapid chemical weathering?
Nitrogen and sulfur react with water to produce acid rain.
This weathering is intensified by pollutants from fossil fuels.
What is slow chemical weathering?
A natural process where rainwater mixes with carbon dioxide in the air, reacting slowly with minerals in rocks.
This type of weathering takes more time compared to rapid chemical weathering.
