2B.6A: Weathering

• What is weathering?

  Weathering is the breakdown of rock in situ at or near the surface of the Earth. 

  • Weathering and mass movement are subaerial processes. 
  • Weathering attacks the backshore and foreshore parts of the littoral zone. 
  • Weathering creates rock fragments that form sediment. 
  • It's most active in the source zone of the sediment cell. 
• Biological weathering

  • Plant roots grow in small cracks in cliff face due to seeds being blown in. Cracks widen as roots grow thicker, breaking up rock
  • Water running through decaying vegetation becomes acidic, increasing chemical weathering
  • Birds (e.g. puffins) & animals (e.g. rabbits) dig burrows into cliffs
  • Marine organisms also burrow (e.g. piddocks) and secrete acid (e.g. limpets)