Weathering – Geomorphic Processes

By definition, weathering is the disintegration of rocks through chemical and physical processes. There are several ways in which this can occur including, but not limited to, frost shattering, thermal stress cracking, freeze-thaw cycling, chemical attack (liquids), salt attack (presence of chloride), action of acid rain and human factors. This separation occurs through the mechanical forces of stress, gravity and water. Also, macro-earthquakes can separate materials in certain cases too.

Basically, weathering is action of elements of weather and climate over earth materials. There are a number of processes within weathering which act either individually or together to affect the earth materials in order to reduce them to fragmental state.

Weathering processes are conditioned by many complex geological, climatic, topographic and vegetative factors. Climate is of particular importance. Not only weathering processes differ from climate to climate, but also the depth of the weathering mantle

There are three major groups of weathering processes: (i) chemical; (ii) physical or mechanical;(iii) biological weathering processes.