1. You have learned how volcanoes and earthquakeschange the features of the Earth. However, landforms are also changed in other ways.
2. Weathering The breaking and changing of rocks
3. Types of WeatheringWater and ice can change rocks.Water fills tiny cracks in the rocksand freezes when the weather getsthe cold. The freezing water pushesagainst the rocks. Then the weathergets warm and melts the ice. Therocks move back, but the cracksmay be larger than they were before.When this happens over and overagain, the rocks break apart.
4. Types of Weathering Plant roots can cause weathering! As roots grow, they push against the sides of the cracks and break the rocks apart.
5. Erosion The moving of weathered rocks and soils by wind, water, or ice
6. Wind Erosion Mostly noticed in the desert where dunes are formed. Dunes: large piles of windblown sand
7. Glaciers Large areas of ice formed from snow. As these large, slowly moving patches of ice move, the land below them changes.
8. Water Erosion As water moves through the land, it can move rocks and carve out the land.
9. Let’s Review!What is weathering?Weather is the breaking and changing of rocks.
10. What is erosion?Erosion is the moving of weathered rocks and soils bywind, water, and ice.