Worksheet No.

WEATHERING AND EROSION

Unit 13 WEATHERING AND MOVEMENT

 Name the four agents of erosion

Agents of Erosion: Running. Water, Glaciers, and Wind

Reference:www.science.sjsu.edu/scied/255/PDF02/erosion

 Describe the different types of mechanical or physical weathering.

Mechanical Weathering

Mechanical weathering involves the breaking down of rocks due to a kind of pressure exerted on the
rock, which can be due to various reasons. The primary method of mechanical weathering is the
alteration in size that the particle would go through and it would definitely grow smaller with
weathering. Here are the types of Mechanical Weathering.

Exfoliation is the process wherein the rocks break in sheets along the joints that they have parallel
to the earth surface. It mostly occurs when a large mass of rock is brought to the surface level as a
result of tectonic movements, which thrusts the rock upwards. Even after the rock layer comes on
the surface of the earth the exertion of pressure continues which results in the formation of cracks or
sheet joints. Now due to pressure the rock disintegrates along the crack to expose the underlying
layer of rock. This process is called Exfoliation.

Abrasion is the type of mechanical weathering which is very common in the deserts. Abrasion
means that the the surface of the rock is weathered due to the action of an abrasive agent, which
removes the upper layer of the rock, by friction. In the deserts the poles meant for electric wires tend
to topple as the base of the pole goes through the abrasive actions and becomes weathered,
resulting in the toppling down of the poles. It happens so that wind carries the sand particles that
chafes against the rock and wears it down.

Freeze and Thaw Weathering is the type of weathering which is common in places where the night
temperature goes down below freezing point thus freezing the weather that is collected in the cracks
and crevices of the rocks. As we all know when water freezes its volume increases and as result of
which the crack expands. In the morning the frozen water thaws and gives space to more water,
which follows the same procedure. After repeated freezing and thawing, ultimately the rocks breaks
along the crevice leading to fragmentation of the one whole rock into many rock particles.

By Poushali Ganguly

Published: 3/15/2008

Reference: www.buzzle.com/articles/mechanical-weathering.html
  Describe the different types of chemical weathering.

Hydrolysis is an exchange reaction involving minerals and water. Free hydrogen (H+)
and hydroxide (OH)- ions in water are able to replace mineral ions and drive them into
solution. As a result, the mineral's atomic structure is changed into a new form. It is a
process whereby silicate minerals like potassium feldspar are weathered and a clay
mineral is formed.

2KAlSi3O8 + 2H+ + 9 H2O -> Al2Si2O5(OH)4 + 4H4SiO4 + 2 K2+

Hydration involves the absorption of water like which occurs during the conversion of
hematite to limonite:

2Fe2O3 + 3H20 -> 2Fe2O3 . 3H20

Some geoscientists question whether hydration is a true chemical weathering process

because the process is readily reversible and the new product is not chemically
different from its precursor. Some would rather call hydration a physical weathering
process.

Carbonic acid action involves combination of carbon dioxide and water. Though
present in pure water, carbon dioxide dissolved in water provides ions that produces
free hydrogen. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere combines with rain water to form
carbonic acid (H2CO3):

H2O + CO2 -> H2CO3

Though weak, when carbonic acid is combined with a mineral like calcite (CaCO 3)
common to limestone, calcium and bicarbonate ions are released and carried off by
groundwater.

CaCO3 + H2CO3 -> Ca+2 + 2 HCO-3

Reference: www.uwsp.edu/...weathering/chemical_weathering.html

 Describe the different types of mass wasting.

Types of mass movement – gravity causes mass movement, the force of gravity moves rocks and other
materials downhill.
• Landslides – most destructive, rapid form of erosion – may not only move rock an sediments
but trees, plants, roads, what ever is in the way.
• Mudslides – rapid downhill movement of a mixture of water, rock and soil- often occur after
heavy rains but like landslides can be triggered by earthquakes.
• Slump – movement of a mass of rock and soil, move down together as one.
Creep – very slow downhill movement of rock and soil. Only noticeable by looking at objects such

 What is the importance of unloading?

As the weight of those overlying rocks is removed, the underlying rocks feel a negative stress in the vertical
direction. Relaxation in this direction causes the rocks to buckle and break into smaller segments at a variety
of spatial scales. This in itself constitutes some sort of weathering. Then the availability of additional pore
spaces in the rock due to the breakup is likely to induce increased groundwater flow through the rock,
increasing weathering even further.

Unit 14 RUNNING WATER

 Describe the three ways water moves sediments.

Abrasion – the wearing away of rock by a grinding action

Load – the amount of sediment a river carries is called its load.

Turbulence – a type of movement of water in which, rather than moving down

stream, the water moves every which way.
Reference:scorescience.humboldt.k12.ca.us/.../types_of_mass_wasting.htm

 Describe how valleys widen?

The processes involved are:(1) retreat of valley sides by weathering and local corrasion by streams and (2)
shifting of channels by plugging the main channel at the basin head and by tributary deposition on the basin
floor. Repeated shifting of the channel over a long period and flood scour to an average depth produces a flat
bedrock floor.

Reference: bulletin.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/60/11/1771

 Describe how meander forms.

Meander formation is a somewhat equivocal term referring to the natural factors and processes that result in
meanders. The waveform configuration of a stream is constantly changing. Once a channel begins to follow a
sinusoidal path the amplitude and concavity of the loops increase dramatically due to the effect of helical flow
sweeping dense eroded material towards the inside of the bend, and leaving the outside of the bend
unprotected and therefore vulnerable to accelerated erosion, forming a positive feedback loop. In the words of
Elizabeth A. Wood.

 Describe how delta forms.

Delta (geologic formation), deposit of soil or silt formed wherever a swift stream or river empties into a lake,
ocean, or slower river, so called because its triangular shape resembles the Greek letter Δ (delta). The term was
first used by the Greek historian Herodotus in the 5th century BC to describe the Nile delta. The triangular
shape and the great width at the base are due to blocking of the river mouth by silt, with resulting continual
formation of distributaries at angles to the original course. Deltas are usually characterized by highly fertile
soil. The combined delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers in India, and the deltas of the Nile River in
Egypt and the Mississippi River in the United States are the world’s largest.

 How does a delta differ from an alluvial fan?

delta forms when a river empties into a larger body of water. An alluvial fan forms on land where a river
emerges from a mountainous area and flows out onto a more gently sloping plain. The decrease in slope
causes the river to decelerate and deposit sediment, forming an alluvial fan.

Reference: -- Sharon Gabel (gabel@oswego.edu), December 16, 2002.

 What is stream piracy?

Stream capture, river capture, or stream piracy is a geomorphological phenomenon occurring when a
stream or river drainage system or watershed is diverted from its own bed, and flows instead down the bed of
a neighboring stream.

Reference: www.ask.com

Unit 15 Glaciers

 How does a glacier form?

Glaciers can only form in Polar Regions or high mountains. This is because in those areas summer does get
hot enough to melt all of the snow. The glaciers will not be at any more than a 30-degree angle on the bottom.
If the snow/ice mixture is at more of an angel than that then it will fall as an avalanche (crumble and separate).
A glacier is only considered a glacier after it has begun moving.
Reference: www.ask.com
  What causes a glacier to move and how quickly can it move?

Once the depth of snow and ice reaches more than 30 to 40 meters, gravity begins to pull the glacier down hill.
Reference: www.ask.com

 Which parts of a glacier and its tributaries move most quickly?

It moves quicker in the middle and slower around the sides.
Reference: www.wikianswers.com

 Which continent does not have any glaciers? Why?

Most of the world's glaciers are found near the Poles, but glaciers exist on all of the world's continents, even
Africa. Australia doesn't have any glaciers; however, it is considered part of Oceania, which includes several
Pacific island chains and the large islands of Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. Both of these islands have
glaciers.
Reference:
nsidc.org/glaciers/story
/

 Describe how a glacier moves.

Glacier movement depends on whether it is warm or cold. This depends on the pressure melting point (PMP),
which is when ice is on the verge of melting. An increase in pressure can increase melting and therefore
movement due to lubrication. Accumulation is the inputs of the glacier system by precipitation as snow,
avalanches, debris as rocks and melts water. Ablation is the outputs of the glacier system which include melt
water, till-rock deposition, calving iceberg, evaporation and wind erosion. If there is more accumulation than
ablation then the glacier advances due to gravity. If there is less accumulation than ablation there is more melt
water, which acts as a lubricant, the glacier then moves down the valley but retreats due to climate, altitude
and latitude. There are two types of glaciers, cold polar and temperate.

Reference: www.ask.com

Unit 16 Wind, Waves and Current

 Identify the different types of dunes.

crescentic, linear, star, dome, and parabolic.

Reference: www.ask.com

 How do dunes migrate?

Sand can only be moved by strong, steady winds. The air must be moving at least 15 miles per hour to be able
to pick up sand grains. In the Tularosa basin, it is primarily between February and April that the winds are
strong enough. These winds are called unidirectional winds because they always move in the same direction,
from the southwest to the northeast. As the wind blows, it pushes the sand ahead of it, so individual dunes are
slowly moving to the northeast.

Reference: www.wikianswers.com
  Identify the parts of the wave.

The very top of a wave is called the crest.

They very bottom is the trough.

From one crest to the next is the wavelength.

The center of the wave is the medium, or rest position.

From the medium to the crest is the amplitude.

Reference: www.wikianswers.com

 How do breakers form?

As waves approach landmasses, the wave base begins to contact the sea floor and the wave's profile begins to
change. This friction slows the circular orbital motion of the wave's base, but the top continues at its original
speed. In effect, the wave begins leaning forward on its approach to shore. When the wave's steepness ratio
reaches 1:7, the wave's structure collapses on top of itself, forming a breaker.

A spilling breaker is the classic rolling wave coming up a gradually sloping sandy beach. The long incline
drains the energy of the wave over a large area.

A plunging breaker approaches a steeper beachfront and forms a curling crest that moves over a pocket of air.
The curling water is traveling faster

The classic curl of a breaking wave is associated worldwide with surfing. As a wave approaches shore, friction
slows the bottom of the wave while allowing the top to continue moving, which causes the top to lean forward
in this manner.
than the slowing wave base, and the water outruns itself with nothing beneath for support.

Along oceanfronts with steep inclines or cliffs, a wave's energy is expelled in a very short distance, often with
great force. These surging breakers develop and break right at the shoreline, proving dangerous and sometimes
fatal to unsuspecting beachgoers. The tremendous energy dissipated at the ocean-level interface results in
enormous erosion and deposition.

Reference: www.virtualnjshore.com/tbwaves.html
  How do waves move sand along a beach?

• Waves and currents move sand along a beach.

• When waves hit the beach at an angle, they carry sand
up and onto the shore in this direction.
• The movement of waves that strike the shore at an angle
is longshore current.
• Once the waves have washed up, they are then pulled
back by gravity. This causes a zigzag movement of
sand (longshore drift).
• This causes sand to move gradually down
a beach. This causes sand to shrink in some areas and grow in others.

Reference: www.cape.k12.mo.us/CJHS/science/gibbar/PowerPoints/ES/W...