Weathering

The Earth's surface is mostly made up of rock. Although rock is hard, wind and water can SLOWLY break it apart.

is the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces at or near the Earth's surface.

all of these things can break down or weather rocks. Even you, with a hammer in your hand, could change the surface of the Earth.

The first type of weathering we will learn about is wind.

Wind and water can carry sand and other small pieces of rock. Blowing sand can act like sand paper on a rock.

in a desert that weathers down rocks.

Ocean waves also weather down rock cliffs because the waves carry sand and pebbles.

This sea arch was created over hundreds of years.

These are sea stacks and are another example of weathering by ocean waves.

Rain fills cracks in a rock and cold temperatures freeze the water, causing weathering of the rock.

1. Water seeps into the cracks of a rock.

2. As the water freezes into ice, the rock expands and breaks apart.

** Remember weathering is the breaking down of rock.

Plants can break down rocks, too!

As the roots become larger, they pry the rocks apart.

breaks down human created objects like roads and buildings.