Weathering & erosion
The rock around us looks permanent — but it is quietly falling to pieces. In this lesson we pin down the crucial difference between weathering (the breakdown of rock where it lies) and erosion (the wearing away and carrying off of that rock by a moving agent). We meet the three types of weathering — physical, chemical and biological — and the landforms each leaves behind, from scree slopes and rounded desert domes to dissolved limestone caves. Finally we look at the two things that control how fast rock weathers: the climate, and the rock itself, tying it all back to Namibia's own hot, dry landscape.
By the end you should be able to (NSSCO Geography 1.2):
- Distinguish between weathering and erosion
- Name and describe the types of weathering and their associated landforms: physical/mechanical, chemical and biological weathering
- Explain the main factors influencing the type and rate of weathering, in terms of climate and rock features
Mr Thomas and Mike talk through the whole topic — with the figure and working drawn live.