Earth Science BL. 1
Rate of Weathering
Isabella, Rebecca, and Danny
I. What is “rate of weathering”?
• Rate of weathering
is how fast or how
slow a rock is
weathered,
chemically or
physically.
II. Factors that affect the rate of
weathering
• 1.Rock CompositionThe materials in a rock
can have an affect on
the rate of
weathering.
• Top: Granite
• Bottom: Limestone
II. Factors cont.
• 2. Surface Area- The
more surface area
that is exposed, the
faster the rate of
weathering.
• Above: crushed rock
• Below: whole
II. Factors cont.
• 3. ClimateTemperature and
moisture, or humidity,
are huge factors in
the rate of
weathering.
II. Factors cont. (Will this end?)
• 4. Topography- Steep
slopes= massive
movements of rocks
(thanks to gravity, of
course)
• Top: topographic map
• Bottom: land slide
II. Factors cont. (last one!)
• 5. any others?
Differential weatheringdifferent types of
weathering occurring
in different parts of a
rock
Top: Chemical
Bottom: Mechanical
III. Examples
• Hot and dry climate= very slow weathering
• Hot and humid climate= very fast weathering
III. Examples
• Mid temp and
moderate
precipitation= fair
amount of weathering