Transcript Weathering and Soil Formation

Weathering and Soil
Formation
Chapter 10
Old and New Mountains

The Appalachian
Mountains appear
very different from
the Sierra Mountains.
 The Appalachians
are smaller, rounded,
gently sloping, and
covered with plants.
 The Sierras are twice
as high, and very
rocky and steep.
Weathering
 Weathering-is
the process by which rock
materials are broken down into smaller
and smaller pieces (sediment) by the
action of physical or chemical processes.
 Rocks on the Earth’s surface are
undergoing weathering all the time, either
by mechanical means or by chemical
means.
Mechanical Weathering
 Mechanical
weathering is simply the
breakdown of rock into smaller pieces by
physical means.
 Agents or causes of mechanical
weathering include:
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Ice
Wind
Water
- gravity
- plants
- animals
Mechanical Weathering
Section 1
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Ice Wedging:t is mechanical
weathering caused by the
freezing and thawing of water
that seeps into cracks in rocks.
cracks in rocks.

Abrasion: Abrasion is the
grinding and wearing away of
rock surfaces through the
mechanical action of other rock
or sand particles.
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Wind, Water, and Gravity:
Wind, water, and gravity carry
rocks, causing them to abrade
against one another.
Chapter 10
Section 1 Weathering
Ice Wedging
Click below to watch the Visual Concept.
Visual Concept
Mechanical Weathering, continued 2
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Plants As a plant grows, the force of the expanding root
becomes so strong that it can break a rock apart.

Animals Almost any animal that burrows causes
mechanical weathering by mixing and digging through
soil and rock particles.
Animals and Mechanical
Weathering

Animals that burrow
in the ground break
up soil and loosen
rocks to be exposed
to further weathering.
Chemical Weathering
 Chemical
Weathering is the chemical
breakdown of rocks and minerals into new
substances.
Agents of Chemical Weathering
 Explain
how each of the following Causes
Chemical Weathering

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Water
Acid Precipitation
Acid in Ground Water
Acids in Living Things
Air (Define and explain the result of Oxidation)
Chemical Weathering
 Water-
Even hard rock, such as granite,
can be broken down by water. Weak
acids in water dissolve the minerals bonds
that hold rock together.
Chemical Weathering
Acid Precipitation

Acid Precipitation The high level of acidity in acid
precipitation can cause very rapid weathering of rock.
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Sometimes precipitation contains more acid than normal.
Rain, sleet, or snow that contains more acid than normal
is called acid precipitation.

Acid precipitation forms when small amounts of
certain gases mix with water in the atmosphere. The
gases come from natural sources, such as active
volcanoes.
 They are also produced when people burn fossil fuels,
such as coal and oil.
Chemical Weathering
 Acids
in Living Things Some living
things, such as lichens, produce acids that
can slowly break down rocks.
Lichens, which consist of
fungi and algae living
together, contribute to
chemical weathering.
Chemical Weathering
 Acids
in Groundwater When acidic
groundwater comes into contact with
limestone, the limestone is dissolved and
forms karst features.

When the groundwater touches some kinds of rock, a
chemical reaction happens. The chemical reaction
dissolves the rock. Over a long period of time, huge
caves can form where rock has been dissolved.
Chemical Weathering
Acid in groundwater has
weathered limestone to form
Rusty’s Cave in Dade County,
Georgia.
Chemical Weathering, Oxidation
 Air
Oxygen in the air causes oxidation.
Oxidation is the chemical reaction in which
an element, such as iron, combines with
oxygen to form an iron oxide (rust).
Chapter 10
Section 1 Weathering
Oxidation
Click below to watch the Visual Concept.
Visual Concept
Chemical Weathering
Acid in groundwater
has weathered
limestone to form
Rusty’s Cave in Dade
County, Georgia.
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Water Even hard rock, such
as granite, can be broken
down by water. Weak acids
in water dissolve the
minerals bonds that hold
rock together.
Acid Precipitation The high
level of acidity in acid
precipitation can cause very
rapid weathering of rock.
Acids in Groundwater
When acidic groundwater
comes into contact with
limestone underground, the
limestone is dissolved and
forms karst (caves or
caverns)features.
Chemical weathering:
the process by which
rocks break down as a
result of chemical
reactions.
Differential Weathering
Section 2

What Is Differential Weathering? Differential
weathering is a process by which softer, less
weather resistant rock wear away and leave
harder, more weather resistant rock. The image
below is an example of differential weathering.
Composition of the Rock
 Rocks
that are made of harder minerals
are more resistant to weathering
Granite
 Rocks
that are made of softer minerals will
weather faster than rocks that are made of
harder minerals
Limestone
The Shape of Rocks

Surface Area The more
surface area of a rock
that is exposed to
weathering, the faster the
rock will be worn down.
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Increasing the Rate of
Weathering If a large
rock is broken down into
smaller fragments,
weathering of the rock
happens much more
quickly.
Surface Area and Volume
Weathering and Climate
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What Is Climate? Climate is the average weather
condition in an area over a long period of time.
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Temperature and Water The rate of chemical
weathering happens faster in warm, humid climates.
Water also increases the rate of mechanical weathering.
Mechanical weathering happens in cold climates.
e
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Weathering and Elevation
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High Elevations Rocks
at higher elevations, as
on a mountain, are
exposed to more wind,
rain, and ice than rocks at
lower elevations.

Steep Slopes The
steepness of mountain
slopes increases the
effects of mechanical and
chemical weathering.
Steep slopes cause water
and sediments to quickly
run down the side of the
mountain.
Soil
Ch. 11
The Source of Soil
Section 3
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What Is Soil? Soil is a loose mixture of small mineral fragments,
organic material, water, and air that can support the growth of
vegetation.
Residual and Transported Soil: Soil that remains above its parent
rock is called residual soil. Soil that is blown or washed away from
its parent rock is called transported soil.
Chapter 10
Section 3 From Bedrock to Soil
Residual and Transported Soil
Click below to watch the Visual Concept.
Visual Concept
Loam
Loam, a type of very
fertile soil is made
up of air, water and
organic materials as
well as minerals from
weathered rock.
 Rich fertile soil that
is made up of about
equal parts of clay
sand and silt.

Soil Properties
• Soil Texture and
Soil Structure Soil
texture is the soil
quality that is based
on the proportions of
soil particles. Soil
structure is the
arrangement of soil
particles.
Transported soil may be
moved long distances from
its parent rock by rivers,
such as this one.
Soil Texture
Soil Properties 2
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Soil Fertility A soil’s
ability to hold nutrients
and to supply nutrients
to a plant is described
as soil fertility.

Soil Horizons Because
of the way soil forms,
soil often ends up in a
series of layers called
horizons.
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Soil pH Soils can be
acidic or basic. The pH
scale is used to
measure how acidic or
basic a soil is.
Soil Layers
Chapter 10
Section 3 From Bedrock to Soil
Leaching
Click below to watch the Visual Concept.
Visual Concept
Regolith
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A term that
describes the
weathered material
that is on top of the
bed rock
Top soil is the top
layer of regolith
Regolith protects
the rock below from
weathering because
bedrock weathers
easier than regular
rock
Soil Triangle
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A soil texture triangle is used
to classify the texture of a
soil.
The sides of the soil texture
triangle are scaled for the
percentages of sand, silt, and
clay.
Clay percentages are read
from left to right across the
triangle
Silt is read from the upper
right to lower left
Sand from lower right
towards the upper left portion
of the triangle
. The intersection of the
three sizes on the triangle
give the texture class. For
instance, if you have a soil
with 20% clay, 60% silt, and
20% sand it falls in the "silt
loam" class.
Soil and Climate
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Tropical Rain Forest
Climates The warm soil
in tropical rain forest
climates allows dead
plants and animals to
decay easily. This
provides rich humus to
the soil.
Desert Climates The
lack of rain in desert
climates leads to low
rates of chemical and
mechanical weathering.
Lush tropical
rain forests
have
surprisingly
thin topsoil.
The salty
conditions
of desert
soils make it
difficult for
many plants
to survive.
Soil and Climate 2
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Temperate Forest and
Grassland Climates
Temperate forest and
grassland climates get
enough rain to cause a high
level of chemical
weathering, but not too
much that nutrients are
leached out.
Arctic Climates In arctic
climates, as in desert
climates, chemical
weathering occurs very
slowly. Low temperatures
slow the formation of
humus.
The rich
soils in
areas that
have a
temperate
climate
support a
vast
farming
industry.
Arctic soils,
such as the
soil along
Denali
Highway, in
Alaska,
cannot
support
lush
vegetation.
The Importance of Soil
Section 4

Nutrients Soil provides
minerals and other
nutrients for plants. All
animals get their energy
from plants.
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Housing Soil provides a
place for animals to live.
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Water Storage Without
soil to hold water, plants
would not get the
moisture or the nutrients
they need.
Soil Damage and Loss
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Overuse Overused soil can lose its nutrients and
become infertile.
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Soil Erosion When soil is left unprotected, it can be
exposed to erosion. Erosion is the process by which
wind, water, or gravity transport soil and sediment from
one location to another.
Providence
Canyon,
Georgia,
shows the
effects of
cutting
forests for
farm land.
Providence Canyon
Providence
Canyon is near
Lumpkin,
Georgia. It has
beautiful gullies
formed by
erosion 150
years ago. This
park is part of
Georgia's East
Gulf Coastal
Plain region.
People call it
Georgia's "Little
Grand
Canyon." There
are 16 canyons
altogether. Some
canyons are 1
mile long and 300
feet across. An
ancient ocean
formed all the
canyons.
Georgia Red Clay

Georgia is famous for
its red clay.
 This red color comes
from the high iron
content in the soil.
 Think rust!
Dust Bowl
In the 1800’s settlers in the
Great Plains turned the
fertile, moisture laden sod
into farmland.
 In drought, this land dried
up and blew away as dust.
 In the 1930’s, severe
drought over several years
allowed this soil to be blown
away in great, dark clouds.
 Some of these dust storms
reached New York City.
 This lasted until 1938.
Many farmers in the “Dust
Bowl” had to abandon their
homes and move away.
 Read Steinbeck’s “The
Grapes of Wrath”
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Contour Plowing and Terracing
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Contour Plowing In
contour plowing, the rows
of soil act as a series of
dams to prevent water
from eroding topsoil
away.
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Terracing If hills are
steep, farmers can use
terracing. Terracing
changes one steep field
into a series of smaller,
flatter fields.
Cover Crop and Crop Rotation

Cover Crops Cover
crops are crops that are
planted between harvests
to replace certain
nutrients and prevent
erosion. Cover crops
prevent erosion by
providing cover from wind
and rain.

Crop Rotation Farmers
can rotate crops that use
different nutrients so that
nutrients in the soil have
time to become
replenished.