Erosion & Weathering
By: Luke Carlson, Caleb Tonozzi,
Daniel Sabotta, Michael
Dzierzynski
Weathering & Physical Weathering
• Weathering is the breaking
down of rocks soils and
minerals as well as artificial
minerals through contacts with
the Earth’s atmosphere biota
and waters.
• Two important types of
weathering are physical and
chemical weathering.
• Physical weathering involves
the break-down of rocks and
soils.
• The picture shows what
happens after physical
weathering.
Chemical Weathering
• The second type of weathering
is chemical weathering. It
involves the direct effect of
atmospheric chemicals or
biologically produced
chemicals in the breakdown of
rocks soil and minerals.
• The materials left over after the
rock breaks down combined
with organic material creates
soil.
• The picture on the right is a
picture of chemical weathering.
Erosion
•
Erosion is the process by
which soil and rock are
removed from the earths
surface by natural processes
such as wind, or water flow
then transported and deposited
in other locations.
• Erosion is a natural process,
human activities have
increased the rate of erosion is
occurring ten to forty times
more.
• The picture on the right shows
erosion has cleared out a
trench.
Erosion Part 2
• Water and wind erosion are
now the two primary causes of
land degradation. Together
they are responsible for 84% of
degraded acreage, making
excessive erosion one of the
most significant global
environmental problems.
• The picture on the right shows
that erosion is destroying a
farmers crop.
Causes of Weathering & Erosion
• The suns heat causes surface
rocks to expand and crack.
Rain dissolves atmospheric
gases that form acids that mix
with minerals in surface layers.
• Water can also freeze at night
and in the winter, expanding
cracks and carrying away
smaller rocks and dust.
• Wind and water also carries
small particles that can impact
and erode rocks and carry
loose soil.
Causes of Weathering & Erosion
Part 2
• Many plants ooze acids in their
roots that dissolve minerals
they need. Root structures also
enlarge cracks seeking water.
• Animals crush surface rocks in
deposit organic materials that
interact with minerals.
• The picture on the right shows
that water erosion has carved
out the bumps in the mountain.
Factors Controlling the Rate of
Erosion
• Soil erosion includes
processes of detachment of
soil particles from the soil
mass and the transport and
deposition of sediment
particles.
• Soil erosion is the source of
99% of the suspended soil
loads and waterways in the
U.S undoubtedly around the
world.
• The picture on the right shows
erosion on a road.
Factors Controlling the Rate of
Erosion Part 2
• Soil erosion is very
complicated problem to solve
because there are so many
factors which effect the rate of
erosion. These factors include
rainfall, soil type, landscape,
crops and farm management.
• As rainfalls from the sky it has
tremendous force and impacts
the soil. It can break away
small portions of soil.
• The picture on the right shows
that erosion has made a tree
fall over.
Differences Between Erosion &
Weathering
• Weathering involves two
processes that often work in
concert to decompose rocks.
Both processes occur in place.
There is no movement
involved in weathering.
• Chemical weathering involves
a chemical change in at least
some of the materials within a
rock. Mechanical weathering
involves physically breaking
rocks into fragments.
• The picture on top is erosion
and on bottom is weathering.
Soil Erosion
• Soil is naturally removed by
the action of water or wind.
Such background soil erosion
has been occurring for about
450 million years!
• In general background erosion
removes soil at almost the
same rate as soil is formed. It
is always a result of mankind’s
unwise actions such as
overgrazing or unsuitable
cultivation practices.
• This picture shows soil erosion
from water.
Study of Hopi Buttes Area
• Hopi Buttes Volcanic Field is
located on the Colorado
Plateau mostly on the Navajo
Reservation around the town
Dilkon.
• The field covers an area of
about 965 square miles and
contains 300 low relief volcanic
craters, and filled volcanic
pipes.
• The picture on the right shows
a picture of on of the Hopi
Buttes Volcanos.
Erosion in the Southwest
• Erosion is carving into
Southwest Washington
beaches. Erosion rates at
Cape Shoal water have
averages over 100 feet per
year for a century.
• In recent decades, new
erosion hot spots have
developed. Storm waves near
the Grays Harbor South Jetty
threatened the city of Westport
facilities and a state park.
• The picture on the right shows
erosion on a shore.
Coastal Erosion
• Coastal erosion is the wearing
away of the land and the
removal of beach or dune
sediments by wave action,
tidal currents, wave currents,
or drainage. Waves generated
by storms wind or fast moving
motor craft, cause coastal
erosion, which may take the
form of long-term losses of
sediment and rocks or merely
the temporary redistribution of
coastal sediments.
Beach Erosion
• Coastal areas around the
world must grapple with beach
erosion, from things like waves
crashing against the shore.
• Stopping beach erosion
requires a deep understanding
of its causes and a huge
investment, though everyone
can help out with.
• The picture to the right shows
beach erosion has cleared out
the sand under the ladder.
Landslides
• Landslides occur in all the 50
states in the United States.
Landslides cause 1-2 billion
dollars in damage each year.
• Landslides commonly occur in
connection with other disasters
such as earthquakes,
volcanoes, wildfires, and
floods.
• The picture to the right shows
a landslide that has taken out
part of the hill.
Landslides & Mudflows
• Major landslides are usually
accompanied by a faint
rumbling sound that will
increase in volume as the
landslide approaches.
• Also, the ground will pitch in
one direction only and may
begin shifting in the direction
underneath your feet.
• The picture shows a landslide
and a mudflow happening at
the same time.
How to prevent Erosion
• You can prevent erosion by
planting vegetation, trees,
ground cover, and also shrubs.
Roots of these plants helps
hold the soil in place. The soil
will not be able to blow away,
or wash away as easily.
• The picture to the right shows
erosion washing out part of the
land.
Bibliography
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopi_Buttes_volcanic_field
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_causes_weathering_and_erosion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weathering
http://en.wiki.org/wiki/Erosion
http://www.spindigo.com/doctorluke/www/Transcripts/agriculture_en
g/2_10_soil_factors.htm
http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/misc/gweaero/html
http://soilerosion.net
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/coast/erosion/study.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastal_erosion
http://www.enviroment.ualberta.ca/SoilPosters/wind.cfm
Bibliography
• http://www.ehow.com/way_5485616_ways-prevent-coastalerosion.html
• http://landslides.usgs.gov/
• http://sccounty01.co.santacruz.ca.us/oes/landslide%20and%20mudflow.htm