Impact Of Weathering: Weathering is the process of breaking down rocks into smaller particles over time. Erosion is the subsequent transportation of these particles away from their original location.
- No rock on Earth is hard enough to resist the combined forces of weathering and erosion.
- The Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA, is cited as an example of the effects of weathering and erosion.
- Length: 446 kilometers (277 miles)
- Width: Up to 29 kilometers (18 miles)
- Depth: 1,600 meters (1 mile)
- Weathering and erosion continually alter the rocky landscape of Earth.
- Length of exposure influences the vulnerability of a rock to weathering.
- Rocks quickly buried beneath other rocks are less vulnerable than those exposed to wind and water.
- Weathering is often the initial step in soil production, smoothing rough rock surfaces.
- Tiny weathered mineral particles mix with organic matter like plants, animal remains, fungi, bacteria, and other organisms.
- A single type of weathered rock may yield infertile soil.
- Weathered materials from various rocks contribute to more fertile soil with greater mineral diversity.
- Examples include glacial till, loess, and alluvial sediments.
- Soils resulting from a mixture of weathered rocks tend to be richer in minerals.
Read Also: The Elements of Weather and Climate
