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Weathering, Meaning, Types, Causes, Significance, Notes

Weathering Definition

Weathering is the process that breaks down rocks and minerals on the Earth’s surface. This can happen due to water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, and temperature changes. Once rocks are broken down, erosion moves the small pieces away. No rock can fully resist weathering and erosion, which together shape landscapes like the Grand Canyon. Weathering gradually wears away exposed rock surfaces. Rocks that are buried quickly are less affected than those exposed to wind and water. Weathering also helps create soil by mixing tiny rock particles with organic materials like plants and animal remains.

Weathering Types

Weathering is classified into three types:

All three processes are together found to be in operation. Very rarely does any one of these processes operate independently.

Physical Weathering

Physical weathering happens when temperature changes cause rocks to break apart, often with help from water.

There are two main types:

  • Freeze-thaw: Water seeps into cracks, freezes, expands, and breaks the rock.
  • Exfoliation: Cracks form parallel to the surface due to reduced pressure from uplift and erosion.

This type of weathering mainly occurs in areas with little soil and few plants, like mountains and hot deserts. It happens through repeated freezing and melting of water or by rocks expanding and contracting in the heat.

Chemical Weathering

Chemical weathering occurs when rainwater reacts with minerals in rocks, creating new materials like clay and soluble salts, especially when the water is slightly acidic. It happens faster in warm, wet climates, which provide the water needed for these reactions, and is the first step in forming soil.

The main types of chemical weathering are:

  • Solution: Acidic rainwater dissolves rocks, especially limestone.
  • Hydrolysis: Acidic water breaks down rocks into clay and soluble salts.
  • Oxidation: Oxygen and water break down rocks, often making iron-rich rocks rusty.

Biological Weathering

Biological weathering happens when living things change the environment by adding or removing minerals and ions, or by causing physical changes as they grow or move. Humans also play a role in this process. When we clear plants, farm the soil, or expose new surfaces, we create new contact between air, water, and minerals. Animals like earthworms, termites, and rats also help by moving soil and breaking down materials.

Read More: Types of Rocks

Weathering of Rocks

Rock near the earth’s surface disintegrates as a result of weathering. The main contributors to weathering are water, air, and plant and animal life. Rock’s surface minerals are loosened and weathered so that erosive forces like water, wind, and ice can carry them away.

Read More: Mass Movement

Weathering Significance

  • Weathering is the first step in soil formation.
  • Roots can not grow into rocks unless they are weathered.
  • Weathering causes erosion, waste, and changes to landforms.
  • It produces natural resources like clay for making bricks.
  • Weathering makes rocks easier to mine and quarry.
  • Vegetation, biomes, and forests depend on weathering.
  • Weathering enriches and concentrates ores like manganese, aluminium, iron, and copper.
  • Broken rock fragments form sediment, which creates sedimentary rocks like sandstone and limestone.
  • Some weathered rocks, like granite tors, become tourist attractions, such as the Bismarck rock in Tanzania.
  • Unique weathered rocks can become local shrines for worship.

Difference Between Weathering and Erosion

The processes that reduce rocks to little particles are erosion and weathering. Erosion is the process through which water and wind carry away rock fragments. On the other hand, weathering deteriorates the rocks without moving them.

 Erosion  Weathering
It is the shifting of solids caused by ice, water, and wind. It is the direct atmospheric contact-induced breakdown of minerals, soil, and rocks.
Water, wind, ice, thermal, and gravity erosion are the various types of erosion. Physical, chemical, and biological weathering are among the various types of weathering.
Materials that have been eroded are moved. The deteriorated items are not moved.
Among the factors that contribute to erosion are wind, water, ice, and human activity. Air pressure is one of the atmospheric elements that contribute to weathering.

Weathering UPSC

The process of wearing down, fracturing, and fragmenting the rock that makes up the surface of the ground and is left out in the elements is referred to as weathering. The process is the outcome of weather-related factors such as frost action, temperature changes, and rain action.

A solid understanding of this subject is required to help individuals pass competitive exams. On that note, we have covered this topic exclusively for students preparing for the UPSC and IAS exams.

Other Indian Geography Topics

Seasons of India Mountains of India
Mangrove Forests in India Important Mountain Passes in India
Monsoon in India
Indus River System
Climate of India
Rivers of India
Tributaries of Ganga
National Parks in India
Important Dams in India
Wildlife Sanctuaries of India
Tiger Reserves in India
Northern Plains of India
Physiography of India
Important Lakes of India
Wetlands in India
Biodiversity in India
Natural Vegetation in India Earthquakes in India
Types of Soil in India
Ramsar Sites in India
Brahmaputra River System
Hydropower Plants in India
Nuclear Power Plants in India
Major Ports in India
Biosphere Reserves in India
Waterfalls in India

Other Fundamental Geography Topics

Solar System Types of Clouds
Structure of the Atmosphere Himalayan Ranges
Component of Environment
El Nino and La Nina
Coral Reef
Continental Drift Theory
Endogenic and Exogenic Forces
Indian Ocean Region
Pacific Ocean
Indian Ocean Dipole
Air Pollution
Environmental Impact Assessment
Tropical Cyclone
Western Disturbances
Types of Rocks

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FAQs

What is weathering?

Weathering can be defined in simple terms as the action of weather and climatic factors (e.g. temperature and rainfall) over Earth materials.

What are the three types of weathering?

Weathering is classified into three types-Physical weathering, Chemical weathering and Biological weathering.

What are the effects of weathering?

Rock near the earth's surface disintegrates as a result of weathering. The main contributors to weathering are water, air, and plant and animal life. In order for erosive forces like water, wind, and ice to carry away the surface minerals of rock, weathering degrades and loosens those minerals.

What is Exfoliation in weathering?

Exfoliation is a type of mechanical weathering in which the rock beneath is peeled away by bent rock plates. Exfoliation domes or dome-like hills and rounded boulders are the result of this. Granitic rock has the best exfoliation dome development. Outstanding examples of exfoliation domes can be seen in Yosemite National Park.

What is an example of weathering?

On a mountainside, tiny rock fragments fall off due to wind and water. Chemical and mechanical activities can cause weathering.

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