ELP- Weathering &

Denudation
NAME- Mohd Tazar Aftab
CLASS- IX-H
Teacher - Stuti ma’am
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am very thankful to my subject teacher Mrs. Stuti Mishra who have me this ELP project on
weathering and denudation which helped me a lot in gaining knowledge and also to my parents
and friends who helped me in completing this project.
S.no Topic PG.no Remark

1. Weathering 1
2. Types of weathering 2-12
3. Regions of weathering 13
4. Denudation 14-15
5. Work of rivers, landforms 16
6. Wind, wind erosion ways 17-18
7. Bibliography 19
 What is weathering?

The action of the weather conditions in altering the color, texture,

composition, or form of exposed objects.

Being specific : The physical disintegration and chemical

decomposition of earth materials at or near the earth's surface
 TYPES OF WEATHERING
There are three types of weathering:
1. Physical weathering-In physical weathering the rocks are broken down into
smaller pieces, but the chemical composition of the rock remains the same.
Factors of physical weathering-
Temperature Change
Hot temperatures can give rise to thermal expansion in rocks and cool
temperatures can cause rocks to contract. In areas such as deserts
where the temperature is hot during the day, rocks get hot and can
expand by a small amount. During the night the temperature can drop
significantly making it very cold and so the rocks contract. This
continuous expansion of the rock during the day and contraction during
the night exerts stress on the rock and cracks form eventually causing
pieces of the rock to fall away.
Freeze-thaw
Water expands when it freezes. So when water enters the cracks in a rock
and freezes it expands and pushes the cracks further apart. When the
water melts in can travel further into the bigger cracks making the cracks
even bigger when the water freezes again. This process occurs
continuously until the crack is big enough to break a piece of the rock off.
Wind, Rain and Waves
Wind can carry small particles or sand and rocks such as in sandstorms in
deserts. When these particles collide with rocks they can wear them
away. Rainfall can also wear away at rocks as can the action of waves over
a long period of time.
The effects of weathering by wind can be seen on this rock formation at the Paria Canyon in
Arizona, USA.
Located in Victoria, Australia these limestone pillars called the, “twelve apostles” have been
created by the action of waves crashing against the limestone pillars.
2. Chemical weathering
Chemical weathering occurs when rocks are broken down by a chemical change.
Rainwater can become slightly acidic by absorbing carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere and this reacts with the mineral grains in the rock giving rise to new
minerals and salts.

The degree of chemical weathering depends on the type of rock for example
limestone is more readily chemically weathered than granite. Other factors such as
temperature also play a role as the chemical reactions occur more quickly in areas
of high temperatures.

Acid rain is also a contributor to chemical weathering. When fossil fuels such as
coal, gas and gasoline are burnt they release oxides sulphur, carbon and nitrogen
into the atmosphere. These gases combine with moisture in the air to form
sulphuric acid, carbonic acid and nitric acid, making the resulting rainwater more
acidic than normal.
The effects of chemical weathering in particular acid rain can be seen on this close up
of this statues face. The acid rain has reacted with the mineral grain of the rock which
has over time caused cavities to form as well wearing away the definition of the facial
features.
3. Biological weathering

Biological weathering takes place when rocks are worn away by living
organisms. Trees and other plants can grow within the cracks in a rock
formation. As the roots grow bigger they push open cracks in the rocks
making them wider and deeper. Over time the growing tree eventually
prizes the rock apart.

Tiny organisms like bacteria, algae and moss can grow on rocks and
produce chemicals which can break down the surface layer of the rock.
Burrowing animals such as rabbits can accelerate the formation of cracks.
This image shows biological weathering taking place by a tree whose roots have grown within a
rock face.
 WEATHERING REGIONS

PHYSICAL WEATHERING- In Polar climates, Physical weathering is more prominent due to low
temperatures.

CHEMICAL WEATHERING- In mid latitude or temperature climate, chemical weathering

operates on a large scale due to frost action.

BIOLOGICAL WEATHERING- Any mountain or hot desert.

 DENUDATION

Denudation is the name for the processes of erosion, leaching,

stripping, and reducing the mainland due to removal of material from
higher to lower areas like valleys, river valleys, lakes and seas with a
permanent filling of low lands.
Rock with denudation
 Work of RIVERS and LANDFORMS

Rivers flow from mountains to low slopes, eroding the bed

rocks vertically. Because the flow is fast and slope (gradient)
are steep, this process goes on, till the river reaches its mouth
and results in formation of 'V' shaped valleys. Landforms slides
from mostly mountains removes material from higher to lower
therefore helping in denudation.
Work of WIND

Air moves because of atmospheric pressure and this moving

air is known as wind. Winds blows because of variations in air
pressure. Winds perform denudation activity also but their
erosion and transportation capacity is low as compared to
water. They work well in dry and desert areas.
WIND EROSION WAYS-

Deflation hollows-Deflation hollows are where wind has removed sand

down to a level where a layer of particles too heavy for the wind to move
(an armoured surface) stabilises the sand and prevents the surface being
lowered further.
Sand dunes- Being formed by wind erosion by wind transferring sand from
one dune to another.
Barchan-Barchan, also spelled Barkhan, crescent-shaped sand dune
produced by the action of wind predominately from one direction. One of
the commonest types of dunes, it occurs in sandy deserts all over the
world.
Bibliography

1. Weathering: An introduction to scientific principles-Book by

David Rolls and Will Bland
2. The Denudation-Book by Tilottama Majum