GG101 Lecture Notes - Mass Wasting, Geomorphology, Carbonation
Document Summary
Study of landforms and landscapes and the processes that are responsible for their development. 2 main types of processes: endogenic processes internal earth processes. Energy source is geothermal heat (radioactive decay of certain isotopes generates the these processes can be described by the model of plate tectonics heat) Fig 11. 2 a - c: exogenic processes. Energy source comes from the sun (solar radiation) Set of processes that act to break down materials at the surface and in the shallow subsurface. Mechanically break materials apart mainly through expansion and contraction. Freeze thaw (frost action: water in pores and fissures in bedrock rapidly freezes and expands. Salt crystal growth: saline water in pores and fissures evaporates. Crystals expand (as they absorb water or are heated: what type of environment? tend to be a marine shoreline, seaspray. Pressure release: expansion of bedrock may occur if confining pressure is released, produces fissures that are parallel to the surface, exfoliation.
