Take a Look in the picture below.
Why do
you think that soil exist in different
formation?
Exogenous Landforming
Processes
Weathering and
Erosion
Weathering and Erosion
Weathering
• The breakdown do the materials of
Earth’s crust into smaller pieces.
Weathering
• It refers to the group of
destructive processes that
change the physical and
chemical character of rock at
or near the earth’s surface.
3 Kinds of Weathering
1. Physical weathering/ Mechanical
2. Biological Weathering
Biological Activity
Plant growth
Burrowing animals
Human activity
3. Chemical Weathering (Rock
decomposition)
1. Physical Weathering
• Process by which rocks are broken
down into smaller pieces by external
conditions.
• Types of Physical weathering
– Frost heaving and Frost wedging
– Friction and impact
– Temperature changes
Physical Weathering
Frost Action – the mechanical
effect of freezing water on rocks –
commonly occurs as frost wedging
or frost heaving.
Frost wedging – the expansion
of freezing water pries rock
apart.
Frost heaving – lifts rock and
soil vertically.
Frost Wedging
Frost Heaving
Physical Weathering
Abrasion – the grinding away
of rock by friction and impact
during transportation.
Glaciers, waves, and wind
carry and abrade rock
fragments.
Friction and Repeated Impact
Physical Weathering
Pressure Release – the reduction of pressure on
a body of rock can cause it to crack as it
expands.
Unloading – the removal of the great weight
of rock above the batholith.
Sheet joints – cracks that develop parallel
to the outer surface of a large mass of
expanding rock, as pressure is released
during unloading.
Exfoliation – the stripping of concentric rock
slabs from the outer surface of a rock mass.
Physical Weathering
Others:
Thermal Expansion – daily
cycle of heating (expansion) and
cooling (contraction) of rocks.
Pressure of Salt Crystals
2. BIOLOGICAL WEATHERING
• rocks break up due to the roots of the
plants that grow on the cracks which made
it wider and eventually cause the rock to
disintegrate
• happens when the roots of plants grow
down through soil and rocks to find water
and minerals
• roots can grow through cracks in rocks to
find groundwater.
Plant Roots
Burrowing of Animals
Temperature Changes
Chemical Weathering
• The process that breaks down rock
through chemical changes.
• The agents of chemical weathering
– Water
– Oxygen
– Carbon dioxide
– Living organisms
– Acid rain
Water
• Water weathers rock by dissolving it
Oxygen
• Iron combines with
oxygen in the
presence of water in
a processes called
oxidation
• The product of
oxidation is rust
Carbon Dioxide
• CO2 dissolves in rain water and creates
carbonic acid
• Carbonic acid easily weathers limestone
and marble
Living Organisms
• Lichens that grow on rocks produce weak
acids that chemically weather rock
Acid Rain
• Compounds from burning coal, oil and gas
react chemically with water forming acids.
• Acid rain causes very rapid chemical
weathering
Karst Topography
• A type of landscape in rainy regions where
there is limestone near the surface,
characterized by caves, sinkholes, and
disappearing streams.
• Created by chemical weathering of
limestone
Features of Karst: Sinkholes
Features of Karst: Caves
Features of Karst: Disappearing
Streams
Erosion
• The process by which water, ice, wind or
gravity moves fragments of rock and soil.
Water Erosion
• Rivers, streams, and runoff
Ice Erosion
• Glaciers
Wind Erosion
Mass Movements
• Landslides, mudslides, slump and
creep
PERFORMANCE TASK #1
1. Construct a Cause-Problem-Solution
Diagram or Graphic Organizer on the effects
of weathering and erosion. Give two
examples
A. Cause B. Problem C. Solution
