It is defined as the process of decay and disintegration of rocks under the influence of physical and chemical agencies in atmosphere.

It is the breaking down of rocks, soils and minerals as well as artificial materials through contact with earths atmosphere.

The breakdown do the materials of Earths crust into smaller pieces.

There are several methods by which rocks undergo weathering is discussed in two clauses 1. Physical Weathering 2. Chemical Weathering.

Process by which rocks are broken down into smaller pieces by external conditions without change in composition. A single rock block on a hillsope or a plain may be disintegrated gradually into a numerous small irregular fragments through frost action.

On a plain region these loose fragments and particles rest temporarily, however on slopes the end products of the fragments and particles may roll down due to gravity and get accumulated at the base called Heaps as unsorted debris. These fragments and particles have the same chemical composition as parent rock.

Temperature variance and organic activity are the two factors that bring about this change and it is one of the common geological process of slow natural rock disintegration.

Types of Physical weathering

Frost action. Plant roots Friction and impact Burrowing of animals Temperature changes Exudation Thermal stress Exfoliation

In areas of intensive cold and humid climates temperature often fall down below the freezing point of water repeatedly during winter months. In such areas the process of freezing of water happening in the pores, cracks and cavities of rocks. The original openings are widened at the first stage of attack and there by accomadate more water to come and freeze in cycles.

After freezing in some days a thawing cycle that means melting of ice formed within the cavities, repetition of freezing and thawing over many years the rocks get disintegrated due to internal stress exist in the process.

The formation of crystals of sodium chloride within the cavities of rocks there by causing their disintegration. It is seen is seashore.

Thermal stress weathering (sometimes called insolation weathering) results from expansion or contraction of rock, caused by temperature changes. Thermal stress weathering comprises two main types, thermal shock and thermal fatigue. Thermal stress weathering is an important mechanism in deserts, where there is a large diurnal temperature range, hot in the day and cold at night. The repeated heating and cooling exerts stress on the outer layers of rocks, which can cause their outer layers to peel off in thin sheets. Although temperature changes are the principal driver, moisture can enhance thermal expansion in rock

Diurnal temperature variation is a meteorological term that relates to the variation in temperature that occurs from the highs of the day to the cool of nights. Although temperature changes are the principal driver, moisture can enhance thermal expansionin rock

Intrusive igneous rocks (e.g. granite) are formed deep beneath the Earth's surface. They are under tremendous pressure because of the overlying rock material. When erosion removes the overlying rock material, these intrusive rocks are exposed and the pressure on them is released. The outer parts of the rocks then tend to expand. The expansion sets up stresses which cause fractures parallel to the rock surface to form. Over time, sheets of rock break away from the exposed rocks along the fractures. Pressure release is also known as "exfoliation" or "sheeting"

The process that breaks down rock through chemical changes. The agents of chemical weathering

Water Oxygen Carbon dioxide Living organisms Acid rain

Water weathers rock by dissolving it

Iron combines with oxygen in the presence of water in a processes called oxidation The product of oxidation is rust

CO2 dissolves in rain water and creates carbonic acid Carbonic acid easily weathers limestone and marble

Lichens that grow on rocks produce weak acids that chemically weather rock

Lichen is a combination of two organisms, an alga and a fungus, living together in symbiotic association

Compounds from burning coal, oil and gas react chemically with water forming acids. Acid rain causes very rapid chemical weathering

The process by which water, ice, wind or gravity moves fragments of rock and soil.

Rivers, streams, and runoff

Glaciers

Landslides, mudslides, slump and creep

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Atmosphere is composed mainly of gases that are collectively known as air. AIR in motion is called as wind. The movement of wind may create temporary or semi permanent changes on the land surface. It depends upon the wind velocity, nature of wind blows, duration of wind blows. Wind acts as a agent of erosion and it carries particle and depositing in different places

These three principal modes of activity are given below 1. Wind erosion 2. Transportation 3. Deposition

Wind erosion

Wind performs work of erosion by three different methods

1. Deflation

2. Abrasion

3. Attrition

Deflation : Wind possesses not much erosive power over rocks the ground covered with vegetation, but when moving with sufficient velocity over dry and loose sands. It can remove the huge quantity of the loose material from the surface, this process of removal of particles of dust and sand by strong winds is called deflation.

In some desert deflation may cause the removal of sand from a particular location to such an extent that a big enough depression is created called BLOWOUT. When the depression extend and reaches the water table is called oasis.

Wind Abrasion Wind becomes a powerful agent for rubbing and abrading the rock surface when naturally loaded with sand and dust particles. This types of erosion involving rubbing, grinding abrading and polishing the rock surface by a natural agent(wind, water or ice) with the help of load while passing over the rocks is termed as abrasion.

Example for Wind abrasion Yardangs Pedestal rocks Ventifacts Desert Pavements.

Yardangs are formed by wind erosion, typically of an originally flat surface formed from areas of harder and softer material. The soft material is eroded and removed by the wind, and the harder material remains. The resulting patter of yardangs is therefore a combination of the original rock distribution, and the fluid mechanics of the air flow and resulting pattern of erosion.

These are the flat rock surface covered by rounded peples spread all over them, and are typical features of rock desert.

The sand grains and other particles lifted by by the winds from different places are carried to considerable distances, during this journey the particles are not moved in proper portion it is moved in zig zag motion colliding with one another. This process is termed as attrition.

 1. 2. 3.

It depends upon three process Source of sediment Transporting power of wind Method of transport

Source of sediment Materials of fine particles such as clay silt and sand occurring on surface of the earth are transported in huge volume from one place to another different regions of the world.

Methods of transport It is done in two different process 1. Suspension the silt particles is lifted up by the wind from the ground and carried to the upper layer of the winds this is called transport in suspension. 2. Saltation - the heavier and coarse sediments such as sand, pebbles and gravels etc are lifted up periodically during high velocity of wind and It is a process of sediment transporter in a series of jumps.

Aeolian Deposit Sediment and particles once picked up by the wind from any source of the surface area carried forward for varying distances depending on the carrying capacity of the wind and it is deposit, this process is termed as Aeolia deposit. These are 2 main types namely 1 . Dunes 2. Loess

A dune is a hill of sand built by aeolian processes. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind. The valley or trough between dunes is called a slack. A "dune field" is an area covered by extensive sand dunes. Large dune fields are known as ergs. Some coastal areas have one or more sets of dunes running parallel to the shoreline directly inland from the beach. In most cases the dunes are important in protecting the land against potential ravages by storm waves from the sea. Although the most widely distributed dunes are those associated with coastal regions, the largest complexes of dunes are found inland in dry regions and associated with ancient lake or sea beds.