1. Sculpturing Earth’s Surface
Unit 3: Chapter 4

2. Big Idea/Essential Questions
Weathering, Erosion and Deposition continuously alter and shape the earth’s surface.
Essential Questions
How does mass wasting sculpt the earth’s surface?
Explain how chemical weathering alters materials at the earth’s surface?
ES Standards: 3.1
SIS Standards 1-4

3. Key Vocabulary Chemical weathering Differential weathering Eluviation
Horizon
Lahar
Leaching
Mass Wasting
Mechanical weathering
Regolith
Soil Profile
Solifluction
Solum
Spheroidal weathering
Weathering

4. Earth’s Processes
What are some processes that shape the earth’s surface?
External
Driven by energy from the sun
Breaks apart rock and moves debris
Examples: Weathering, Mass Wasting, Erosion
Internal
Driven by earth’s interior
Gradually forms mountains and volcanic activity
Example: Plate Boundaries

5. What are some examples you have seen of weathering? 2 types Mechanical
Chemical

6. Mechanical Weathering
Smaller pieces without changing composition
Why would smaller pieces weather faster?
Types of
Frost Wedging (aka Frost Action)
Salt Crystals
Unloading (aka Exfoliation)
Biological Activity

8. Chemical Weathering
Alters composition of rock
Types of
Water
Oxidation
Carbonic Acid

10. What factors would influence the rate at which a rock weathers?
Question of the Day
What factors would influence the rate at which a rock weathers?

11. Soil
What is soil?
Texture is based on size of particles
Peds give soil structure; determines porosity and permeability of soil
Platy, spheroidal, prismatic, and blocky
What do factors due you think control soil formation?
How is soil eroded? The rate at which it is eroded?

15. Mass Wasting What is the driving force behind mass wasting?
What are some triggers of mass wasting?

16. Classifying Mass Wasting
Type of Motion
Fall
Slides
Flow
Rate of Movement

17. Types of Mass Wasting Slump Rockslide Debris Flow (aka mudflows)
Earthflow
Creep
Solifluction