Weathering & Erosion

Weathering and Erosion are two very different processes that occur on Earth's surface. Weathering is the breaking down of rock, soils, and minerals. Many natural forces can cause things to be weathered down. There are many types or forms of how weathering can occur. The two main types of weathering are mechanical weathering and chemical weathering.

Erosion is the process by which weathered down rocks and minerals are carried different places by natural forces such as wind or water. Erosion is a natural transportation system performed by nature. This process is how broken down rocks arrive different places. Many forces in nature can carry broken down rocks and minerals to different places.

Forms of Weathering:

Growing Plants - Plant roots grow into cracks of rock where they find water and nutrients. When the plant roots grow and get bigger, they force the rock apart

Expanding Ice - When the weather gets cold outside, water in rocks freezes and forces the rocks apart, creating pressure. When the weather gets warm again, the water melts. This leaves deep cracks in the rocks, which make the rocks weaker. Eventually, the rocks fall apart into fragments due to the cracks

Carbonic Acid - When water reacts with carbon dioxide in the air, it creates carbonic acid. This new formula reacts with the calcite in limestone, causing the rock to brake down. Over thousands of years, caves can form because of this chemical weathering process.

Forms of Erosion:

Running Water - When rocks break down into sediments along, or in rivers and streams, the running water that is flowing in the streams carries them away. Running water is a big form of Erosion, and is a well known form

Wind - When the wind outside gets strong enough, it has the ability to pick up dirt and sediments and carry them somewhere else. Wind moves things on the surface constantly

Sandblasting - When dirt and sand particles wear away rock over time. The particles are carried by the wind. This process takes thousands of years