| The processes
involved in breaking rocks down and moving the resulting materials from
place to place. |
1. Weathering
- the process of breaking a rock down into smaller pieces more easily moved
Pieces. There are 2 groups of process involved:
Physical
Weathering:
The actual breakdown
of the rocks into smaller and smaller pieces. |
Chemical
Weathering
The chemical
alteration of the rocks to make them easier to breakdown - involves the
removal of some chemicals from the rocks. |
|
2. Erosion
- the moving of weathered materials from one place on the earth's surface
to another. There are 4 main agents of erosion:
| Gravity -
pulls materials down hills and cliffs or steep slopes. |
| Wind
- also called Aeolian - small to large particles moved by the winds. |
| Water
- the movement of materials by the action of flowing liquid water - both
in streams and in floods. |
| Ice -
the movement of materials in moving bodies of Ice (Glaciers, Icebergs or
Iceflows). |
|
