Influences of Weathering and other synergistic factors on air pollution.

Weathering- the disintegration and decomposition of rock at or near the surface of the earth or simply
the breaking of rocks. It affects the rocks in place and no transport is involved. This distinguishes
weathering from erosion.

Two types of Weathering

1. Mechanical/ Physical Weathering- physical disintegration of rock into smaller fragments, each with
the same properties as the original. Occurs mainly by temperature and pressure changes.

2. Chemical Weathering- process by which the internal structure of a mineral is altered by the addition
or removal of elements. Change in phase (mineral type) and composition are due to the action of
chemical agents.

Mechanical Weathering

- is the breaking up of rocks by physical forces—works in much the same way. In this natural process,
physical forces split rocks apart but do not change their composition --- what they are made of. Ice
wedging, pressure, plant root growth, and abrasion can all cause mechanical weathering.

Ice Wedging- when water freezes, it expands. When water freezes in the cracks and pores of rocks, the
force of its expansion is strong enough to split the rocks apart.

Pressure Release- rock deep within Earth is under great pressure from surrounding rocks. Overtime,
Earth’s forces can push the rock up to the surface, or the overlying rock and sediment can wear away.

Plant Growth- trees, bushes and other plants may take root in cracks in rocks. As the roots of these
plants grow, they wedge open the cracks. The rock—even if it is large –- can be split completely apart.

Abrasion- water can wear down rocks on riverbeds and along shorelines by abrasion.

- It is the process of wearing down by friction, the rubbing of one object or surface against
another.

Chemical Weathering- is the breakdown of rocks by chemical reactions that change the rocks’ makeup,
and cause to tear down.

Oxidation- the chemical combination of oxygen with a mineral. One example is the process of rusting
wherein rocks oxidizes and changes color of the rock into red/orange, which the iron oxides that easily
tear down.

AIR POLLUTION INFLUENCES ON WEATHERING

*Air pollution can make rain water even more acidic than it is naturally.
* Power plants and automobiles produce gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide, which react with
water vapor in the atmosphere to form acid rain.

* Acid rain causes rocks to weather much faster than they would naturally.

AIR POLLUTION & WEATHERING IN URBAN AREAS

 Weathering is natural process but human activities can speed it up. Certain kind of pollution
increase the rate of weathering. Burning coal, natural gas and oil releases chemical such as
nitrogen oxides (NO,) and sulfur oxides (SO,) into atmosphere.
 Weathering Process in urban areas is related with the conversion of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in
burning of fossil fuels to atmospheric sulfuric acid. This dissolves the calcium carbonate /
limestones which is a common ingredients in cements.

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