Weathering

Created by

annelies

Cards (20)

What is weathering?
The breakdown and decay of rocks exposed to the weather
What is Denudation?
The process of breaking up and removing the rocks on the surface of Earth
What is mass movement?
The movement of loose material going down a slope under the influence of gravity.
What is Erosion?
The wearing away of rocks and the removal of the materials that result
What is Mechanical weathering?
The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces, the pieces are not removed and remain in place
What is Chemical weathering?
When rocks decay or are dissolved by chemicals e.g carbonation
What is Freeze thaw action?
The breakdown of rocks by frost action
When does freeze thaw action occur?
Precipitation and when temperatures go below freezing point 0 degrees Celsius
What is a karst landscape?
A limestone landscape where the soil cover is removed and the rock is exposed to weather
What is a limestone pavements?
A large area of exposed limestone
What does limestone pavements take the form of?
almost flat terraces but may have steep cliff edges
How are grikes formed?
As rainfall seeps through the rock it picks out its weakest point and weathers it by carbonation. The joints or cracks in the limestone are then deepened and widened to form deep gashes called grikes
What are clints?
The block of limestone that remains
What are stalacites?
Iceicle-like shapes that hang from the ceiling of a cave or cavern
What are stalagmites?
Cone-shaped features that can be found on the ground of a cave or cavern
What are pillars? 
When stalacites and stalagmites join together
What is a swallow hole?
A passage that the river enters when the water dissolves the limestone by carbonation opening the joints and bedding plains in the rock
How is a cave formed?
When the carbonic acid in the water dissolves the limestone to cut out a long passage
What are bedding plains?
the lines in the rock that seperates 2 layers or a strata
What are joints?
The cracks in rocks