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Hillslopes
Material loosened by weathering may be eroded and
transported but the agents of erosion must overcome the
forces of friction before downslope movement occurs
Slopes are often convexo-concave
Convex at the top (waxing slope and free face)
Concave at the bottom (debris slope and waning slope
in the depositional zone)
Weathering Processes
Weathering processes disintegrate rock into mineral
particles or dissolve them into water
Two forms:
1.
Physical weathering
2.
Chemical weathering
Parent Material
1. Bedrock
2. Regolith
3. Sediments
Soil Thickness
1. Rate of organic and
mineral soil production
2. Rate of weathering
and erosion
3. Rate of organic soil
decomposition
4. Time
(large)
5.
6.
7.
Vegetation
Acids from organic decay add to chemical
weathering; shields rock and soil; roots hold soil
together on steep slopes but split jointed bedrock
8.
Time
Effect of the above processes increases with time
Talus slope
Glacier National Park,
USA formed due to
freeze-thaw
weathering)
Crystallization
Dry weather: moisture drawn upward to rock surfaces
Dissolved minerals crystallize.
Crystals spread mineral grains apart (especially sandstone)
Opened spaces are then open to water and/or wind erosion.
Hydration
Minerals absorb water and expand
Stresses rock grains forced apart
Granular disintegration enhances chemical weathering due
to large increase in exposed surface area
Pressure-release jointing
Overburden removed through weathering
Pressure released - heave for millions of years
Layers of rock peel off in curved slabs
pressure-release jointing
Exfoliation (sheeting) leaves massive, arch and domeshaped features on exposed landscapes
Exfoliation
Exfoliation
Dome
Half Dome,
Yosemite
National
Park, USA
Hydrolysis
Minerals chemically combine with water in a reaction
to the mild acids in precipitation water
(eg. feldspar converted to clays and silica)
Disintegration etches, erodes and softens rock
2.
Oxidation
Oxygen oxidizes metallic elements to form oxides
(eg. iron oxide, Fe2O3)
More susceptible to further chemical weathering
3.
Florida Sinkhole
Stalactite and
Stalagmite complex
Photo: Vladimir Maltsen
Mass Movement
Any unit movement of a body of material propelled and
controlled by gravity. Slopes and gravitational stresses
are always involved
Physical and chemical weathering weaken rock near the
surface, making it susceptible to mass movement
Angle of repose:
Slope achieved at equilibrium as grains flow downslope
Driving force:
Gravitational forces. The greater the slope angle, the
greater the likelihood of mass movement.
Resisting force:
Cohesiveness and internal friction
Effects of Lahar
Form of earthflow
Soil Creep
Debris avalanche