GGR201H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1,11-12: Soil Ph, Metamorphic Rock, Spall
21 Feb 2017
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An increase in biodiversity leads to an increase in weathering: burrowing animals break off rocks and mix soil, decaying organisms release co2, which becomes carbonic acid, plant roots release organic acids. Weathering and erosion do not have to occur at the same rate: if weathering is faster than erosion, then saprolite forms. Rock that has not been displaced or lost volume, but has been chemically altered so that it has less mass and strength. In areas with high temperature and low precipitation (dry, arid regions), there is very little weathering of any kind. Breaking material apart without changing the composition. Favoured by cycles of freezing and thawing; a steep slope gradient. Processes which break exposed rocks into sheets oriented parallel to the land surface. Exfoliation sheets are easier to erode than unfractured rock. More common in igneous and metamorphic rock.
