Geography
Answer
The chief characteristics of weathering in different climates are:
- Equatorial climate – High temperature and humidity throughout the year make chemical weathering the dominant process.
- Tropical climate – Alternate wet and dry seasons promote weathering. During the wet season, iron and aluminium oxides are leached and redeposited, leading to the formation of laterite soils.
- Dry (desert) climate – Mechanical weathering is most dominant due to the high diurnal range of temperature.
- Temperate climate – Frost action is an important agent of mechanical weathering, while solution (chemical weathering) is common in limestone regions.
- Polar climate – Physical weathering due to frost action is most prevalent, whereas chemical and biological weathering are negligible.
Related Questions
What is biological weathering? State the main agents of biological weathering.
Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(i) Biological weathering is also known as organic weathering.
(ii) Vegetation prevents disintegration of rocks.
(iii) Chemical and biological weathering is negligible in polar climates.
Weathering is a natural process, but human activities can speed it up. Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons to support your answer.
It is weathering that is responsible for bio-diversity on the earth. Justify this statement giving examples.