Skills Building
Weathering is the breaking down of rocks and soil on Earth’s surface. There are three forms of weathering – physical, chemical and biological. *
Natural processes can take more than 500 years to break down two centimetres of top soil.
Physical weathering occurs when the temperature of the rocks constantly changes, such as a freeze-thaw-process. Or by repeated exposure to the sun and rain.
Chemical weathering is caused by rainwater which becomes slightly acidic as it dissolves the carbon dioxide in the air.
Biological weathering is caused by living organisms such as roots from a tree cracking the surface, an animal that burrows into a rock, or algae that attaches itself to a rock and produces a chemical that wears away the surface.
Natural processes can take more than 500 years to break down two centimetres of top soil.
Physical weathering occurs when the temperature of the rocks constantly changes, such as a freeze-thaw-process. Or by repeated exposure to the sun and rain.
Chemical weathering is caused by rainwater which becomes slightly acidic as it dissolves the carbon dioxide in the air.
Biological weathering is caused by living organisms such as roots from a tree cracking the surface, an animal that burrows into a rock, or algae that attaches itself to a rock and produces a chemical that wears away the surface.