#14 Weathering

Weatheringthe breakdown of rock at or near the earth’s surface into smaller and smaller pieces…

Weatheringthe breakdown of rock at or near the earth’s surface into smaller and smaller pieces…

Mechanical or Physical Weathering

Happens when rock is broken or weakened by physical processes; the make up of the rock itself is not changed, it only becomes smaller

Tree RootsFrost Wedging

Physical Weathering from plant roots on the Duckabush River in the Olympic Mountains in Olympic National Park in Washington

Mount Rushmore

Chemical WeatheringA change occurs in the mineral make up of the rock, or the minerals are combined with new chemical elements

Water and CO2 most important factors – combine to make carbonic acid, a weak solution that dissolves away rocks

Wetter and warmer climates promote a faster process of chemical weathering

Acid Rain

occurs when chemicals in the atmosphere combine with water vapor and fall back to earth’s surface as rain and...

Destroys forests

Eats away surfaces of stone buildings or

monuments, and rock formations

Pollutes water

Causes of Acid Rain...

Industrial Pollution

Volcanic Ash

Some Obvious Effects of the Weathering Process...

Old Stone Structures Rock FormationsMountains worn from

Jagged Peaks