Weathering

Subdecks (1)

Cards (8)

  • Mechanical weathering?
    wetting and drying
    exfoliation
    crystalisation
    freeze thaw
  • Freeze thaw- water enters a crack then freezes in cold weather. Once froze it expands in volume by 10%. This exerts pressure on the rock and with repeated occurrences the fragments break away.
  • Salt crystalisation- once salt evaporates it leaves salt behind, these salts can grow and exert stress into the rock
  • Wetting and drying- frequent cycles of wetting and drying on the coast; rocks rich in clay expand when wet and contract when dry and break
  • Biological weathering- thin plants grow into cracks in a cliff face and these roots widen and break up the rock