Weathering, Erosion, Deposition, and Landscapes

Weathering – the mechanical and chemical processes

that change objects on Earth’s surface over time.
Erosion – the removal of weathered material from one
location to another; the sediments are transported by
wind, gravity, glaciers, man, and running water.

Deposition – the process whereby these sediments

are released by their transporting agents (dropped).

Weathering breaks down the rocks, erosion moves

the particles, and deposition drops the sediments in
another location.
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Weathering – responsible for limited
changes in Earth’s surface –
dissolving, crumbling or weakening a
rock.

Can take thousands of years.

Two forms – physical and chemical

Erosion – responsible for large scale
changes in the form of the Earth.

Rivers, valleys, and canyons are

created by the erosion of weakened or
disintegrated rock.

Can take thousands of years or

minutes.
Water is a major factor in weathering.

Rain splashes mud

Puddles form
Water flows along surface, moving downhill.
Little water paths become rills.
Rills deepen into creeks, then streams, and
finally, rivers.
Water digs deeper channels and carries more
earth and rock from shores and bottom.
Stream
Large river
 There are two primary types of weathering:
Chemical and Physical

1. Physical Weathering – the breakdown of rocks and minerals

into smaller pieces without a change in chemical composition.

Causes of physical weathering:

1. Freeze/thaw
2. Wedging by plant roots
3. Day/Night temperature fluctuations
4. Loss of thin surface of rocks by exfoliation or
abrasion
5. Gravity causing rocks to fall from heights and then
breaking into pieces
6. Animals, including people, digging into rocks

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When water in the cracks
of rocks freezes it
expands causing the
crack to enlarge or get
bigger. The ice melts &
refreezes over & over,
breaking the rock apart.
Wedging by plant roots

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 After May 5, 2003

Old Man in the

Mountain, NH before
May 5, 2003
Animal actions
 Physical weathering exposes new surfaces
and pieces.
 New surfaces can be physically or
chemically weathered

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2. Chemical Weathering – Decomposition
of rock material due to the chemical
reaction of compounds in the rock with
chemicals in the environment.

Not all rocks are composed of the same

chemicals or minerals, so chemical
weathering affects different rocks
differently.

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Chemical weathering occurs at the
surfaces of rocks.

When physical weathering results in

freshly exposed rock surfaces, agents
of chemical weathering have new
material to decompose.

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 Chemical Weathering occurs when elements and minerals in rocks
react with chemicals from the environment. The rock breaks down
at the same time as it changes chemical composition. The end
result is different from the original rock. There are 3 main types
of chemical weathering:
1. Oxidation – oxygen combines with the elements in the rock and it
reacts. This the scientific name for rust.

2. Hydration – water reacts with the minerals in

rocks and can dissolve certain minerals.

3. Carbonation – carbon dioxide dissolves in water to form

carbonic acid. This makes acid rain which chemically weathers
(dissolves) rocks. Other acids, like sulfuric acid, also combine
with water to make acid rain.
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 Chemical Weathering:
H2O + CO2  H2CO3
water + carbon dioxide  carbonic acid

Statue created in
1702, Germany

Picture on left,
taken 1908
(after 206 years)

Picture on right,
taken 1969
(61 years later)

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 There are 4 factors that effect the rate of weathering:
1. Surface Area (exposure) - Exposing more surface area will
increase the rate of weathering.

2. Particle Size – Larger particles weather slower and smaller

particles weather at a faster rate.
3. Chemical Composition (what a rock is made of) – Certain rocks
and minerals are naturally weaker than others, while others are more
resistant (stronger).
4. Climate – Warmer, moister climates have the most weathering.
Heat & water speed up all chemical reactions. This is the most
important factor in weathering.
Mrs. Degl 26
Erosion (transport)
There are 5 main agents of erosion:
1. *Running Water*
2. Glaciers
3. Wind
4. Gravity Weathering has to happen before erosion.
5. Man The rocks have to be broken into smaller
sediments before they can be eroded away.

Wind Erosion

Glacier

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 Mount Rushmore
It will not be there forever!!
There is a pile of weathered
material at the bottom. It is
slowly being eroded down hill
by gravity.
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Water, wind, or gravity exert a force on the soil
material, causing it to move.
When erosion occurs on a slope, soil is washed
from the slope. The steeper the slope, the more
erosion can occur.
Obstacles like rocks and vegetation can slow the
progress of erosion or divert the path of the
erosion.

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 CaCO3 + 2HCl  CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O
Calcium Hydrochloric Calcium Carbon Water
carbonate acid chloride dioxide

GAS
Marble – consists mostly
of the mineral calcium
carbonate (CaCO3)

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Hot mantle rises,
cools at surface and
sinks.

Crust floats on mantle.

New crust material
comes from rising
mantle, pushes old
crust away.

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Sand grains carried
by strong and
consistent winds act
as abrasives capable
of sculpting solid
rock.

Sandstone 35
Soil erosion in
cultivated
farmlands can
result in
devastating
dust storms.

Dust Bowl in Texas, 1935

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 Rainfall intensity and runoff – heavy bursts of
hard rain cause more soil erosion than light
rain. Heavy rains can saturate soil and create
puddles that flow with gravity and start
erosion

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 Slope gradient – water
erosion is more likely
on steeper surfaces,
water moves very
quickly down the side
of a steep hill
 Vegetation – plant roots
can absorb water, hold
soil, leaves and
branches absorb energy
of raindrops

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 Interactive rock cycle

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 Soil forms from the weathering of the
rock below it. The solid rock below is
called Bedrock. The rock is exposed to
wind, rain etc… The rock breaks down
over time to form soil. Soil has different
layers called Soil Horizons.

O- Horizon = the very thin surface covering (not really a layer)

A – Horizon (TOPSOIL) = dark surface soil that contains a lot of
living material and dead plant/animal remains (humus). This is the
layer with all of the nutrients needed to grow plants.
B-Horizon (SUBSOIL) = lighter colored soil with less nutrients and
more clay
C-Horizon (REGOLITH) = larger rock fragments that sit on top of
the unweathered bedrock
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 Soil is the product of weathering and erosion.

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