Weathering and Erosion: B.H

Weathering

Weathering is the process by which rocks are broken down into sediments slowly over time. There are two major types of weathering: mechanical/physical and chemical.

Mechanical + Chemical Weathering

Mechanical: Breaks down sediments through physical processes. It changes the shape and size of the rock but not its chemical composition.

Chemical: Breaks down rocks through chemical processes and changes its chemical composition.

Erosion

After the sediments are broken down, the process of erosion moves these sediments to other locations.

Agents of erosion are: Flowing water, Glaciers, Wind, and Gravity.

Deposition

Deposition is when particles stop moving and settle where the erosional agents have taken them.

When sediments are eroded, they are deposited in horizontal layers called strata.

Deltas

Sediments carried by flowing water pile up around the rivers mouth, they create rich deposits of land called deltas. Deltas are great places to farm, because the soil contains nutrients picked up along the river.