Understanding What Weathering Is
Weathering is the process that breaks down rocks into smaller pieces. It happens through wind, water, temperature changes, and chemical reactions.
Types of Weathering
Physical weathering: Rocks crack and break from temperature changes, freezing water, and pressure.
Chemical weathering: Water and chemicals react with rock minerals, changing their composition.
Biological weathering: Plants, animals, and microbes break rocks apart over time.
How Weathering Happens
Heat can expand rock, cold can freeze water inside cracks, and rain can dissolve minerals. These repeated actions weaken rocks and cause them to crumble.
Where Weathering Occurs
Weathering happens everywhere—mountains, deserts, forests, and coastlines. Any place exposed to air and water experiences weathering.
Why Weathering Matters
It creates soil, shapes landscapes, and begins the rock cycle. Many landforms, like arches and canyons, are products of long-term weathering.
Weathering vs. Erosion
Weathering breaks rocks down in place. Erosion moves the broken pieces away. They often work together to reshape Earth’s surface.
The Simple Takeaway
Weathering is the natural breakdown of rocks from physical, chemical, and biological processes. It helps create soil and shape the planet’s landscapes.