Geography
Weathering is a natural process, but human activities can speed it up. Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons to support your answer.
Answer
Yes, I agree with the statement that weathering is a natural process, but human activities can speed it up in the following ways:
- Human activities like mining, quarrying, deforestation, construction, and agriculture cause weathering and disintegration of rocks.
- Mining and quarrying activities involve explosions and the removal of large quantities of rocks and soil, which speeds up weathering.
- Construction activities involve the removal of natural materials like rocks and soil, leading to increased exposure of the underlying materials to weathering agents.
- Agricultural activities like tilling, irrigation, and use of fertilizers and pesticides also speed up weathering.
Therefore, while weathering is a natural process, human activities can cause it to occur at a faster rate, which can have negative impacts on the environment and ecosystems.
Related Questions
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.
Describe the chief characteristics of weathering in different climates.
It is weathering that is responsible for bio-diversity on the earth. Justify this statement giving examples.
You went to the Rann of Kutch for the Rann Utsav, which is celebrated annually in Gujarat. On your way, which kind of weathering did you notice? What could be its cause/causes?