Rock from weathering
The world is shaped by physical and chemical weathering of the Earth's surface. Weathering is the process of breaking material down into smaller and smaller pieces through a chemical and physical process. As volcanoes push new material up from the Earth's core, it's slowly being broken down by the process of weathering.
Identification
The process of chemical weathering is brought on by the reaction of different particles coming in contact with one another. The different substances absorb and dissolve rocks, breaking down its material. The resulting material has different characteristics and composition than before. Physical weathering is the process of rock breaking down without any chemical changes. The rock is simply reduced to a smaller and smaller substance but still has the same chemical composition.
Types
Physical and chemical weathering can happen in many different ways and degrees, which is why some rock-like granite is very resistant to weathering and sandstone can break apart quickly. Chemical weathering can happen from carbonation which is a process of carbon dioxide entering rainwater to form carbonic acid reacting with the minerals in the rock and causing it to break apart. Another process is from oxidation combining oxygen in the air with iron in the rock, which weakens the rock. Physical weathering happens because of wind, rain, heating and cooling, and from plants. The conditions expand and contract the rock, causing cracks as well as wind and water to sand the rock, all reducing its size over time.
Function
The reason weathering plays an important role in the cycle of the Earth is because as volcanoes deposit rock higher into the atmosphere, weathering brings the rock back down to the surface. It's the planet's way of achieving equilibrium. Many of the unique features on our Earth are from weathering of mountain ranges. The Grand Canyon and Arches Natural Park are the result of physical weathering. The color of many rocks is attributed to chemicals interacting with the stone causing chemical weathering.
Effects
Both physical and chemical weathering happens at different rates. The type of stone and environment determine how fast rock weathers. Pollution also affects the rate of weathering. Nitrogen and sulfur gas in the air at high amounts bond with water and form powerful acids that increase the rate of weathering more than unpolluted areas. Rocks like limestone and marble are vulnerable to salt deposits and increase weathering more than from other factors. Clay stone is susceptible to hydrolysis and oxidation. Areas where the climate varies greatly from night and day will have more weathering because heating and cooling cracks the rock. Places with more rainfall will have more weathering because more water can enter progressively more cracks.
Benefits
Weathering is an important process and contributes to the eventual creation of soil which is used to grow food. Weathering creates sand on beaches. Weathering causes the salt in rock to be released and drain into the oceans, giving us saltwater.
Tags: chemical weathering, break apart, breaking down, from weathering, have more, have more weathering, heating cooling