Sculpturing Earth’s Surface

SCULPTURING EARTH’S SURFACEUnit 3: Chapter 4

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

Key Vocabulary Chemical

weathering Differential

weathering Eluviation Horizon Lahar Leaching Mass Wasting

Mechanical weathering

Regolith Soil Profile Solifluction Solum Spheroidal

weathering Weathering

Earth’s Processes What are some processes that shape the

earth’s surface? External

Driven by energy from the sunBreaks apart rock and moves debris

Examples: Weathering, Mass Wasting, Erosion

InternalDriven by earth’s interiorGradually forms mountains and

volcanic activity Example: Plate Boundaries

WeatheringWhat are some examples you have seen of weathering?

2 types Mechanical Chemical

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

Chemical WeatheringAlters composition of rockTypes of

Water Oxidation Carbonic Acid

Question of the Day

What factors would influence the rate at which a rock weathers?

SoilWhat 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?

Mass WastingWhat is the driving force behind mass wasting?

What are some triggers of mass wasting?

Classifying Mass WastingType of Motion

Fall Slides Flow

Rate of Movement

Types of Mass WastingSlumpRockslideDebris Flow (aka mudflows)EarthflowCreepSolifluction