www.ux1.eiu.edu

Chemical Weathering

The process by which rocks are

decomposed, dissolved or

loosened by chemical processes

Abrasion

The grinding & wearing away of

rock by friction http://commons.wikimedia.org

Mechanical Weathering

Occurs when rocks are broken

down without any change in the

chemical nature of the rock

Biological Weathering

Caused by the activities of living

organisms.

May be mechanical or chemical commons.wikimedia.org

commons.wikimedia.org

Differential Weathering

When softer rock wears away &

leaves harder rock behind

Sediment

Material that is broken down by

process of weathering

en.wikibooks.org

commons.wikimedia.org

Erosion

When materials in the landscape

are moved or transported from

one location to another

Deposition

The process by which rocks, sand

and sediment are deposited by

the forces of erosion http://commons.wikimedia.org

http://www.usgs.gov/

Mass Wasting

The rapid downhill movement

of rocks and sediment due to

the force of gravity

Creeping

The slow downhill movement of

rocks and sediment due to the

force of gravity

http://en.wikipedia.org

http://www.qub.ac.uk

Ice Wedging

Mechanical weathering where

rocks are broken by water

expanding as it is frozen http://en.wikipedia.org

Splash Erosion

Caused by the impact of water

striking the ground NRCS

Sheet Erosion

Caused by the flow of water

running across the land www.Freefoto.com

Rill Erosion

Caused by water concentrating

into closely-spaced, small

channels

http://en.wikipedia.org

Gully Erosion

Steep-sided trenches formed by

the combining of many rills

http://en.wikipedia.org

Runoff Water flow that occurs when

the soil is infiltrated to full capacity and

excess water from rain, meltwater, or

other sources flows over the land http://en.wikipedia.org

Wind Erosion

The physical wearing of the earth's

surface by wind.

Wind erosion removes and redistributes

soil http://en.wikipedia.org

Deflation

The removal of loose, fine-grained

particles by wind http://sciencedaily.com

Ice Plucking When melt water from a glacier freezes

around lumps of cracked and broken rock.

When the ice moves downhill, rock is

“plucked” up and moves with the glacier.

http://commons.wikimedia.org

Exfoliation Occurs when rocks are heated and expand in the

heat of the day and then cool and contract in

the cold of night. The expansion and

contraction makes thin slithers of rock

tend to flake off the surface.

http://commons.wikimedia.org