Weathering and Erosion


Weathering and Erosion are natural elements that occur on Earth. But what is the difference?
Weather breaks down the rocks and minerals and turns it into the soil, meanwhile the erosion moves up the contents created by weathering. Weathering creates the mess and erosion cleans it up!
There are two types of weathering; chemical and physical (mechanical). 
Physical weathering causes rock to crumble. 
It can be caused by:
  • abrasion-->  commonly caused by moving water and gravity
  • temperature--> thermal stress (heat= expand; cold= contract)
Chemical weathering changes the molecular structure of rocks and soil
Ex: CO2 combines with H20 and creates carbonation; hydration; hydrolysis
Can cause sinkholes or caves

There is no rock strong enough to withstand the effects of weathering or erosion.
Length of exposure contributes to how vulnerable a rock is to weathering
Lava and rocks that are quickly buried beneath other rocks are less  vulnerable to weathering and erosion than rocks exposed to wind and water

Weather and Erosion changes landscapes of Earth and can create new ones! For example, the Grand Canyon was created due to weather and erosion!
In one video, it talked about how weathering effects Cape Cod. I went to Cape Cod this past summer for the first time with my boyfriend and his family. I was amazed to see the visible effects of erosion and weathering! There were cliffs surrounding all the beaches. Below I attached pictures. The lighthouse below is moved every 50 years or so due to the constant erosion occurring. I thought this was interesting and wanted to share my experience with you all!


 









Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is Space Science?

Image
Space science includes space exploration and the study of space, also known as astronomy.  Astronomy is the study of the sun, moon, stars, etc. Often times, people associate astronomy with astrology. However, they are far different. As mentioned, Astronomy is the study of space. Astrology is the study of the positions, motions and properties of celestial objects and how they affect people and events. Astrology is no longer considered to be a science. Astronomy is one of the oldest scientists known to man. It dates as far back as the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and the Mayans.  While there was not the advanced technology that we have today, they were still able to observe space with their eyes. Galileo Galilei was one of the scientists who improved the technology of the telescope, allowing closer observations of the planets.  Isaac Newton explained the physics that made up our solar system and the reasoning for gravity. There are several fields of astronomy . They i
Read more

The five E's of Inquiry

Image
What are the five E's of Inquiry?? (A constructivist approach to learning) Engage--> An engaging activity Making connections with their prior knowledge Anticipate activities and focus students' thinking on learning! Make them mentally engaged! Explore--> Provides students with a common base of experiences. develop concepts, process and skills exploration of environment and materials Explain--> Helps students to explain the concepts they are using verbalize their understanding demonstrate new skills introduction of terms, definitions, and  explanations Elaborate--> extends students' understanding practice of skills and behaviors develop deeper and broader understanding of major concept obtain additional information Evaluate--> encourages learners to assess their understanding assess abilities evaluation of students
Read more

Summary on NASA Article (Soft robotics)

Image
NASA is now attempting to develop "soft robots" to explore other worlds. These soft robots does not have rigid pieces. They are flexible and able to develop to new and different environments. They are able to expand their range of motion and squeeze into tight areas if needed. This development however, is still in its early stages, but NASA scientists are continuing to develop and research how these soft robots are to be used in future space missions. The material of these robots are able to flex and relax, similar to the muscle of a human being. The scientists are currently investigating the following areas; mobility, joining, leveling and shaping.  Once they are able to overcome the hurdles in those four areas, they must find out one how to combine they together. NASA is continuing to research and develop these robotics and are planning to have their interns work over the summer and adjust to the feedback. Attached here is a video about the soft robotics: Lin
Read more