What is weathering? Explain the types of weathering in detail.
Answers
Weathering is the breaking down of rocks, soil and minerals as well as wood and artificial materials through contact with the Earth’s atmosphere, biota and waters. Weathering occurs in situ, roughly translated to: “with no movement”, and thus should not be confused with erosion, which involves the movement of rocks and minerals by agents such as water, ice, snow, wind, waves and gravity and then being transported and deposited in other locations.”
Weathering processes are of three main types: mechanical, organic and chemical weathering.
Mechanical or Physical Weathering
Mechanical weathering is also known as physical weathering. Mechanical weathering is the physical breakdown of rocks into smaller and smaller pieces. One of the most common mechanical actions is frost shattering. It happens when water enters the pores and
When wind and water flows over the rocks, the rocks start to break. They weather into small pieces over a million of years. This process is called weathering.