Earth and Life Science

Geologic Process

 a natural process whereby geological features are modified

Exogenic

 Originating on or above the surface of the earth

Endogenic

 Originating within the earth

Exogenic Process or Denudation

 Refers to the activities or phenomena that occur on the earths surface

 It is considered as destructive and are responsible for degradation and sculpting the
earths surface

Weathering

 The breaking or crumbling of rocks by physical, chemical, or biological means

essential for rock cycle, soil production andmovement of materials on the earth’ s
surface.
 Is the process of disintegraion (physical) and decomposition (chemical) of rocks
 Breaking down of rocks into smaller particles

Mechanical Weathering

 The breakdown of the rock into smaller pieces is by physical means

(Pressure Release,Temperature,Frost wedging,Abrasion,Biological Activity)

 Pressure Release -when a rock that forms under great pressure is brought to the
surface and overlying rock is flaked away, fractures will form parallel to the outer
surface of the rock.
 Exfoliation- happens when the pressure or stress on the rock is reduced resulting to
flaking
 Temprature- when rocks heat up,they expand(grow)
 Frost/Ice Wedging- water seeps into cracks in rock then the water freezes it
expands
 Biological- organic activity,human activity and burrowing of animals
 Abrasion – scraping or wearing away,rock fragments are carried along by wind or
water
Chemical Weathering

 Is the chemical breakdown of rocks and minerals into new substances

(Oxidation,Hydration,Hydrolysis,Carbonation,Acid Rain)
 Oxygen- combines with other substances in a chemical reaction called
oxication,when oxygen combines with iron,rust is form,this weakens chemical bonds
and break the rocks.
 Water- can weather rock by dissolving minerals.
 Carbon Dioxide- when water combines with CO2,it forms carbonic acid
 Acid Rain- SO2 and NO react with water and oxygen to create acid rain.Acid speeds
up weathering and damages plant and animal life.

Erosion

Rock particles get carried away by wind,water,Ice and Gravity

 Wind (blows)
 Water (Flows)
 Gravity (pulls)
 Glaciers (Scrape)

Erosion by Water (Coastal)

 Changes the shape of coastlines,waves contantly crash against shore.

Erosion by Wind (Aeolian)

 Carries dust,sand and volcanic ash from one place to another.Wind can so,etimes
blow sand into towering dunes.

Erosion by Ice (Glacial)

 Can erode the land in frigid areas and on some mountains,glaciers move slowly
downhill and across the land

Erosion by Gravity

 Gravity pulls any loose bits down the sidw of a hill or mountain. Gravity Erosion is
better known as Mass Movement

Weathering breaks down the rock and Erosion carries this rock away

Rock Cycle It is a series of processes that create and transform the types of rocks in
earth’s crust