Erosion.
The term erosion could be applied to the weathering of the surface of the earth. As water and the particulate matter it carries sweep over rocks, the softer ones will be worn away, will erode, more quickly than the harder ones. In the event of violent flooding when a massive increase in water flow churns river beds, rocks can be picked up and slammed together. Again it will be the softer materials that will be broken up more than the harder ones.
The process by which softer, less weather resistant rocks wear away and leave harder, more weather resistant rocks behind
The size of an exposed rock can affect its rate of weathering. Smaller rocks have a larger surface area compared to their volume, which exposes more area to weathering agents like water and air, causing faster weathering. Larger rocks have less exposed surface area relative to their volume, so they weather more slowly.
Most canyons were formed by a process of long-time erosion from a plateau or table-land level. The cliffs form because harder rock strata that are resistant to erosion and weathering remain exposed on the valley walls.
Mechanical weathering breaks down rocks into smaller pieces, increasing their surface area exposed to chemical weathering agents like water and acids. This increased surface area allows for more efficient chemical reactions to occur, accelerating the chemical weathering process. Additionally, mechanical weathering can create fractures and cracks in the rock, providing pathways for chemical weathering agents to penetrate deeper into the rock, further enhancing the weathering process.
The rate of weathering can differ due to factors such as climate (temperature and moisture), type of rock or mineral being weathered, presence of vegetation, human activities, and exposure to air and water. Different environmental conditions can accelerate or slow down the process of weathering.
THE WEATHERING PROCESS ......................... WHO KNOWS???
Mechanical weathering by blowing sand and exposed rock is caused by abrasion, which is the process of particles in the wind rubbing against the rock surfaces. This constant rubbing and erosion over time can lead to the breakdown of the rock into smaller pieces. Additionally, the force of the wind carrying sand and small rocks can also impact the rock surfaces and contribute to the weathering process.
When a rock is exposed to weather, it can undergo weathering processes like physical breakdown due to temperature changes, chemical alteration from rainwater or acids, and biological weathering from plant roots or burrowing animals. Over time, these weathering processes can cause the rock to erode and break down into smaller pieces.
An earth pillar is formed through the process of erosion and weathering, where softer rock around a more resistant core is gradually worn away. Over time, the softer rock erodes, leaving behind a column-like structure known as an earth pillar.
When igneous rocks are exposed on Earth's surface and undergo weathering, they break down into smaller particles and eventually become sedimentary rocks through the process of erosion, transportation, deposition, and lithification.