Erosion and Weathering

Runoff can increase erosion rates by carrying sediments and pollutants that can wear away soil and rock more quickly. Increased runoff can lead to more water flowing over the land, which can pick up and transport more material, resulting in higher rates of erosion.

Ridges that separate watersheds are called divides. They mark the boundary between two watersheds, directing the flow of water towards different drainage basins. Water that falls on one side of the divide will flow into one watershed, while water that falls on the other side will flow into a separate watershed.

Water is a powerful cause of weathering because it can seep into cracks in rocks, freeze, and expand, causing the rocks to break apart. Water can also chemically react with minerals in rocks, leading to their breakdown and erosion. Additionally, water can transport sediment and other weathered material, contributing to the reshaping of landscapes.

Contour farming involves cultivating along the natural contours of the land, creating ridges that reduce water runoff and help retain soil. No-till farming avoids disturbing the soil through plowing, maintaining soil structure and organic matter. Both practices help prevent soil erosion by reducing water runoff and protecting the topsoil from being washed or blown away.

Sheet erosion can be counterbalanced by implementing conservation practices such as planting cover crops, contour plowing, and building terraces or berms to help slow down water flow and prevent soil from eroding. These practices can help improve soil structure and stability, reducing the risk of erosion. Additionally, maintaining vegetative cover on slopes can also help prevent sheet erosion by holding the soil in place.

Physical weathering would be least common in extremely cold polar regions, such as Antarctica, where freeze-thaw cycles are limited due to consistently low temperatures. Without the repeated cycles of freezing and thawing, which cause physical weathering through ice wedging, the rate of physical weathering is significantly reduced in these areas.

The type of erosion pictured is called water erosion, specifically sheet erosion where thin layers of soil are removed by flowing water. This type of erosion can help carry harmful chemicals deposited in the soil to rivers, lakes, and oceans by dissolving or suspending the chemicals in the water as it moves over the land, eventually depositing them into water bodies downstream.

Weathering rates increase at higher elevations due to factors such as increased physical weathering from freeze-thaw cycles, greater exposure to wind and rain, and more vegetation that can contribute to chemical weathering through root penetration and organic acids. The lower temperatures at higher elevations can also slow down the rate of chemical weathering, leading to the dominance of physical weathering processes.

Weathering can be caused by factors such as freeze-thaw cycles, acidic rain, and biological activity. Transport by erosion can occur through processes like water, wind, and glaciers, which pick up and carry weathered material away from its original location.

Weathering requires energy (to break up the rock). This energy comes from the Sun in the form of Sunlight (heat). This heat drives the wind and evaporates water causing them to interact so as to do the weathering.

Stream Bank erosion is the wearing away of the banks of a stream or river. This is distinguished from erosion of the bed of the watercourse, which is referred to as scour.

The roots of trees growing by a stream are undercut by such erosion. As the roots bind the soil tightly, they form abutments which jut out over the water. These have a significant effect upon the rate and progress of the erosion.

Erosion typically occurs on the outer bank of meandering rivers due to the faster flow of water and increased energy. Deposition tends to occur on the inside bank where the water flow slows down and sediment is dropped. Over time, this process causes the meander to migrate and change shape.

Swash and backwash waves are associated with coastal deposition. Swash waves carry sediment onto the beach, while backwash waves transport sediment back into the ocean. This back-and-forth movement helps build up beaches and contribute to coastal deposition processes.

Deflation is a type of wind erosion where the wind picks up and carries away loose particles of sediment like sand or dust. As the wind blows, it can erode the surface of the ground by removing small particles and transporting them to other locations.

A sharpened peak is typically formed through erosion processes, where the mountain or peak is worn down over time by factors like wind, water, and glaciers. Erosion can create steep, pointed peaks as softer rock is weathered away, leaving behind harder, more resistant material.

Factors that influence shoreline erosion include wave strength, coastal storms, sea level rise, sediment supply, coastal development, and human activities such as dredging and construction. Additionally, the presence or absence of natural defenses like dunes or vegetation can also impact erosion rates.

Weathering affects features such as rock color, texture, and shape. Over time, weathering can cause rocks to break down and change color due to exposure to elements like water and oxygen. It can also lead to the erosion and smoothness of rock surfaces, altering their original texture and shape.

False. The process that lays down sediment in a new location is deposition, not erosion. Erosion is the process of wearing away and removing sediment from a location.

A horn is typically the result of erosion where glaciers carve multiple slopes on a mountain peak, leaving a sharp, pyramid-like feature. The eroded cirque walls on all sides of the peak give it a distinctive shape.

Weathering breaks down rocks into smaller particles, erosion transports these particles away from the area, and deposition leaves them in new locations. These processes can create differences in soil types, landforms, and vegetation patterns in the black prairies.

The soil sample with smaller particles tends to hold water better than the soil sample with larger particles. This is because smaller particles have higher surface area and can retain more water due to capillary action. Therefore, the soil sample with larger particles would likely lose water more quickly.

Removal of vegetation can significantly increase the rate of soil erosion because plants help to stabilize the soil with their root systems and provide coverage that protects the soil from the impact of raindrops and wind. When vegetation is removed, the soil is more vulnerable to erosion by water and wind, leading to loss of topsoil and nutrient depletion.

The hydrosphere and lithosphere are primarily involved in the process of erosion. The hydrosphere, which includes water bodies like rivers and oceans, transports sediment and wears away at rocks through processes like abrasion and hydraulic action. The lithosphere, which includes the Earth's crust and land formations, is the surface being eroded by the movement of water, ice, and wind.

The process of weathering can take thousands of years or longer, depending on the type of rock, climate, and other environmental factors. Chemical weathering tends to be a slower process compared to mechanical weathering, which can occur relatively quickly in areas with frequent freeze-thaw cycles or high levels of erosion. Overall, weathering is a gradual process that continuously shapes and changes the Earth's surface over extended periods of time.

500 years