WEATHERING, EROSION SOIL DEGRADATION

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Rocks are symbols of hardness and strength. Although they appear solid and strong, they undergo decay, disintegration and removal. Two processes are involved in the crumbling of rocks and their transportation to other places: 1. Weathering 2. Erosion Weathering Slow but continuous natural process that breakdown rocks into small particles called sediments. Effects of weathering can be seen whenever rocks are exposed to various agents that cause them to crumble and fragmentize. Two general types of weathering:

A. MECHANICAL WEATHERING B. CHEMICAL WEATHERING A. MECHANICAL WEATHERING Pertains to the physical breakdown of rocks. Chemical composition of the rocks does not change as they crack, split and break into small pieces. Agents of Mechanical Weathering: 1. Temperature Rocks are repeatedly exposed to changes in temperature. During daytime, rocks are exposed to heat; at nighttime, they are exposed to cooler environmental temperature. Heat causes rocks to expand; cooling causes them to contract. Rocks are poor conductors of heat, the outer and inner parts expand and contract at different rates.

Outer parts expands and contracts faster than the inner part causing stresses along mineral boundaries outer layers peels off in thin sheets, a process called exfoliation.

2. Pressure Changes in pressure cause rocks to crumble. When landmasses are uplifted, the rocks are exposed from deep burial. Decrease in pressure causes them to expand- causing the formation of rocks. Cracks are due to pressure reduction are called joints.

3. Frost Wedging

When temperature reaches freezing point, water that seeps into the cracks or crevices of rocks solidifies causing the rocks to expand by about 10% of its entire volume cracks are pushed wider apart. Daily freeze-thaw process causes the sections of rocks to loosen and tumble into large piles called talus slopes found at the base of mountains or cliffs.

4. Water Water is considered the number one agent of weathering. Rocks are crambled by water in different ways: a. Rainwater breaks rocks apart. As water enters cracks or crevices, rocks split further apart. b. Water continuously dripping on the surface of rock

loosens them and removes particles. c. Running water as in the river and streams push and drag rocks causing the edges of rocks to wear off making them smooth and round. d. The lapping action of water eats up edges of islands exposed at water level. Hundred Islands in Pangasinan is an example. e. Activities of living things hasten or cause the mechanical weathering of rocks. Examples are: Growing roots of trees and other plants splits rocks apart. Burrowing animalsearthworms, snakes. Rodents and ants can cause further disintegration of rocks and their exposure on the surface.

 Growth of lichens and fungi causes the bare rocks to crumble beginning of primary succession. Human activitiesquarrying, clearing of forest, construction of roads, cultivation of lands and mining crumble rocks into smaller pieces.