Exo and Endo

• What are exogenic processes?

  Processes that wear away Earth's surface
• Why are exogenic processes considered destructive?

  They cause degradation and sculpting of the surface
• What are the four types of exogenic processes?

  1. Weathering
  2. Erosion
  3. Mass Wasting
  4. Deposition
• What is weathering?

  Physical disintegration or chemical alteration of rocks
• What are the types of physical weathering?

  1. Exfoliation
  2. Ice wedging/Frost action
  3. Temperature Changes
  4. Salt Wedging
  5. Abrasion
• What happens during exfoliation?

  Soil and rock removal exposes deep rock
• How does ice wedging work?

  Water freezes in cracks, expanding and breaking rock
• What effect do temperature changes have on rocks?

  They cause minerals to expand and contract
• In which climate are temperature changes more common for weathering?

  Desert climates with extreme temperature fluctuations
• What is salt wedging?

  Salt crystals grow in rock cracks, weakening them
• Where is salt wedging most effective?

  Coastal and semi-arid environments
• What is abrasion in weathering?

  Material wears away a surface over time
• What are the types of chemical weathering?

  1. Hydrolysis
  2. Hydration
  3. Oxidation
  4. Carbonation
• What occurs during hydrolysis?


  Chemicals in rock interact with water
• What is hydration in weathering?


  Mineral bonds change as they interact with water
• What is oxidation in weathering?


  Oxygen combines with substances to form oxides
• What is carbonation in weathering?


  Water mixes with carbon dioxide to form acid
• What are the types of biological weathering?

  1. Roots of Plants
  2. Microbial Activity
  3. Animal Burrowing
• How do plant roots contribute to weathering?


  Roots penetrate and rupture rocks for moisture
• What role does microbial activity play in weathering?

  Microorganisms produce acids that erode rocks
• How does animal burrowing affect rocks?

  Animals create fissures and absorb nutrients
• What is erosion?


  Removal and transportation of surface material
• What are the agents of erosion?

  1. Water
  2. Ice
  3. Wind
  4. Gravity
• What is the primary agent of erosion on Earth?


  Liquid water
• How do glaciers contribute to erosion?


  They transport and grind rocks as they move
• What role does wind play in erosion?


  It transports dust, sand, and ash
• How does gravity affect erosion?


  It causes materials to move downhill
• What is mass wasting?


  Rapid erosion influenced by gravity
• What are the classifications of mass wasting?

  1. Rock fall
  2. Landslides
  3. Debris and mudflows
  4. Creep
  5. Slump
• What occurs during a rock fall?


  Rock dislodges due to potential energy change
• What are landslides?


  Mass wasting events where weathered materials slide
• What causes debris and mudflows?


  Heavy rain produces runoff transporting materials
• What is creep in mass wasting?


  Slow downhill movement of soil and rock
• What is a slump?


  Rock or soil collapses and rotates downhill
• What is deposition?


  Laying down of transported sediment after erosion
• What are endogenic processes?

  Geological processes beneath Earth's surface
• What drives endogenic processes?

  Internal heat from radioactive decay
• What are the types of endogenic processes?

  1. Magmatism
  2. Volcanism
  3. Metamorphism
• What is magmatism?


  Formation of magma beneath Earth's surface
• What is volcanism?


  Eruption of magma onto the planet's surface