play a very important role in the weathering of rocks. Provisions for agriculture, construction of houses, and construction of roads, among others require large amounts of rocks to be broken down.

humans

weathering or disintegration of rocks caused by living organisms

biotic

happens when winds carry vast quantity of fine soil particles and sand away from a region, spreading it over adjoining cultivated land and destroying their fertility.

wind erosion

removal of soil in water channels or drainage lines.

gully erosion

involves the movement of weathered rocks (now soil, sand or pebbles) from their site of weathering

erosion

the removal of thin layers of soil because of surface runoff and rain. This type of erosion is common along river beds and areas affected by flood

sheet erosion

removal of soil by the action of concentrated running water. This process creates numerous centimetre deep tiny channels

rill erosion

caused by successive heating and cooling which causes the expansion and contraction of rocks.

block disintegration

The combined action of all physical and chemical processes that disintegrate and decompose rocks near Earth's surface

weathering

refers to the alternate freezing and thawing of water inside the joints of the rock, causing them to split into small particles or fragments

frost weathering

can all causes physical weathering. Tiny grains of sand are picked up and carried off by the wind, which are then blasted on the surface rocks, smoothening them. This could wear away the rock and weather it.

wind and waves weathering

also known as mechanical weathering refers to the breakdown of rocks without change in its composition Pause

physical weathering

stripping of the outer layer of rocks due to intense hearing. The successive expansion and contraction of the outer layers of the rock peels off from the main rock in the form of concentric shells

exfoliation

is the weakening or disintegration of rocks and the formation of compounds or new substances caused by chemical reactions.

chemical weathering