Weathering, Soils and Mass Wasting

This introductory lecture examines weathering, soil formation and classification, erosion, and mass wasting. It explains mechanical and chemical weathering, soil profiles and development, erosion processes, and gravity-driven movements including creep, debris flows, and solifluction.

Syllabus

Earth's External Processes
Weathering • Two kinds of weathering - Mechanical weathering
Increase in Surface Area by Mechanical Weathering
Frost Wedging
Sheeting and Exfoliation of Igneous Rocks
Chemical Weathering
Rock Type Influences Weathering
Rates of Weathering
Differential Weathering
Soil Components
Soil Texture
Controls of Soil Formation
Slopes and Soil Development
Contrasting Soil Profiles
Soil • Classifying soils
Global Soil Regions
Soil Erosion
Soil Conservation: Grassed Waterway
Mass Wasting Triggers
Mass Wasting Processes
Slump at Point Fermia, California
Mass Wasting Forms
Effects of Creep
Solifluction