GEOG 2051 Midterm: GEOG 2051 Exam 2 Study Guide
Document Summary
Weathering and karst landscapes: chapter 11, 12, 13. Know the terms denudation, regolith, saprolite, parent material, differential weathering: denudation: any process that wears away landforms and results in decreasing the elevation and relief of a landscape. **counteracts processes that tend to increase elevation and relief, like faulting and folding. What is weathering, what are the two types, why do rocks weather at earth"s surface: weathering: the breakdown of materials, both from physical (mechanical) or chemical processes; occurs at earth"s surface. Physical weathering: weathering where rock is mechanically broken into smaller pieces, eventually until those particles have uniform mineral composition; will continue to reduce the size of those particles. Chemical weathering: weathering in which a chemical alteration of the mineral composition of a rock occurs through chemical reactions between the minerals, air and water. Water: a powerful solvent; even more powerful when carbon dioxide is dissolved in the water, becoming weakly acidic.
