1. What are sub-aerial processes?
Use this Power Point to make notes about the different types of weathering & mass movement

2. What are sub-aerial processes?
The coast is the narrow zone between the land and the sea.
It is worth remembering that the landscape will be influenced by processes on the land as well as the sea.
Sub-aerial processes include weathering and mass movement. These processes operate on the cliff face to weaken it and provide material for coastal erosion.

3. What is weathering?

4. Biological weathering
What has caused the cracks to appear?

5. How do you think these rocks have become weathered?
Chemical weathering
How do you think these rocks have become weathered?

6. Can you explain…
Colin forgot to chill the wine so he put it in the freezer to quickly make it cold – but then forgot it was there!
Next time he went to the freezer he found it totally shattered.
Explain what has happened.
The water expanded as it froze, creating huge forces.
These shattered the glass bottle.

7. What are the different types of weathering?

8. Mechanical weathering
Frost shattering
Daily temperatures fluctuate around 0oC
Ice occupies 9% more volume
Freeze-thaw process widens joints

9. Mechanical weathering
Exfoliation
Outer layers of rock warm faster and cool more rapidly
Outer layers peel like an onion (onion skin weathering)

10. Mechanical weathering
Pressure release
Rocks developed under great pressure.
Later exposure releases pressure and exposure to atmosphere.
Cracks develop and sheeting occurs

11. Mechanical weathering
Salt crystallisation
Slightly saline water enters pore spaces
Evaporation leaves salt crystals which exert stresses on the rock
This leads to granular disintegration

12. Biological Weathering
Plant / tree roots expand along joints and bedding planes
Blocks of rock become detached

13. Chemical weathering Oxidation
Rocks exposed to oxygen causes rocks to crumble
E.g. Iron in a ferrous state is changed by oxygen in to a ferric state.
Rocks change colour from a blue grey to a reddish brown

14. Chemical weathering Hydration Rocks capable of absorbing water
E.g. water added to anhydrite, gypsum results
Active following periods of wet and dry weather
Also classed as a physiochemical process – that is, they swell and exert pressure as well as change chemical structure

15. Chemical weathering Hydrolysis Hydrogen in water reacts with minerals
E.g. Breakdown of feldspar (mineral in igneous rock) to granite

16. Chemical weathering Carbonation
Rainwater contains carbon dioxide, which produces carbonic acid.
Dissolves limestone in to solution (calcium bicarbonate (soluble)).

17. Chemical weathering Solution
Minerals which are soluble dissolve, with increasing acidity in the water

18. Chemical weathering Acid rain
Human activity increasing carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide
Increases rate of carbonation of limestone

19. What is mass movement?

20. What are the different types of mass movement?
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