The temperature in deserts 'swings' from one extreme to another. By day - the temperature rises to as much as 50C or more... at night the temperature can be as low as minus 40C ! This drastic fluctuation causes rocks expand and contract - which breaks them apart. The wind does the rest - 'sand blasting' the rocks until they're completely worn away.
Physical weathering from temperature changes is most common in regions with extreme temperature fluctuations, such as deserts or high mountain areas. These areas experience large temperature variations between day and night, causing rocks to expand and contract, leading to weathering. Additionally, regions with frequent freeze-thaw cycles, like in polar regions or high altitudes, are also prone to temperature-induced weathering.
Not all deserts experience rapid weathering due to the lack of moisture in the environment, which inhibits chemical reactions that break down rocks. Additionally, physical weathering, such as wind erosion, is more common in deserts than chemical weathering.
water and snow
Physical weathering is most dominant in regions with extreme temperature changes, such as deserts and high mountainous areas. Freeze-thaw cycles, where water seeps into cracks in rocks and freezes, breaking them apart, are common mechanisms of physical weathering in these environments.
Exfoliation is primarily caused by physical weathering processes such as thermal expansion and contraction, where daily and seasonal temperature changes cause rocks to expand and contract, leading to the outer layers of rock peeling off in sheets. This process is especially common in areas with extreme temperature fluctuations like deserts.
The breaking of rocks due to constant expansion and contraction is known as thermal stress or thermal weathering. This process occurs when rocks are subjected to temperature fluctuations, causing them to expand when heated and contract when cooled. Over time, repeated cycles of this expansion and contraction can weaken the rock structure, leading to cracks and eventual fragmentation. This form of weathering is particularly common in environments with significant temperature variations, such as deserts.
Chemical weathering is more common in deserts, as the dry conditions limit the amount of mechanical weathering that can occur. Chemical weathering processes such as oxidation, hydration, and dissolution are more prevalent in desert environments where water is scarce.
Onion skin weathering, also known as exfoliation, is most common in regions with hot and dry climates. This type of weathering is associated with extreme temperature changes, which cause rocks to expand and contract, leading to the peeling of outer layers like an onion skin. Areas like deserts and exposed mountain surfaces often exhibit onion skin weathering.
Thermal expansion weathering is a type of physical weathering caused by the repeated heating and cooling of rocks. As rocks are heated during the day and cooled at night, they expand and contract, leading to stress and eventually causing the rocks to crack or break apart. This process is especially common in deserts and other regions with large temperature fluctuations.
jamiaca
Physical weathering from temperature changes would likely be least common in regions with stable and moderate climates, such as tropical rainforests or areas along the equator where there are minimal temperature fluctuations throughout the year.
Physical weathering from temperature changes would be least common in polar regions where temperatures remain consistently low, as there is little variation in temperature to cause the expansion and contraction of rocks.