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Geology for Civil Engineering

Weathering
&
Erosion
Prepared by: Dr. Bryan V. Bantayan
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WEATHERING
The process of rocks
breaking down into
smaller pieces is called
weathering. These smaller
pieces are called
sediment. Sediment
continues to break down,
eventually becoming soil.
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WATER
CAUSES
WEATHERING
Water causes weathering
through physical and chemical
processes that break down rocks
and minerals over time. Through
erosion, water wears away at
surfaces, while chemical reactions
dissolve minerals, weakening the
structure of rocks.
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WIND
CAUSES
WEATHERING
Wind causes weathering by
carrying abrasive particles like
sand and dust, which physically
erode rock surfaces over time
through constant friction and
impact.
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PLANTS
CAN CAUSE
WEATHERING
Plants can cause weathering, a
process where rocks break down,
through their roots. As plants
grow, their roots can penetrate
cracks in rocks. As the roots
expand, they widen these cracks,
leading to physical weathering.
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PLANTS
CAN PREVENT
WEATHERING
Plants can cause weathering, a
process where rocks break down,
through their roots. As plants
grow, their roots can penetrate
cracks in rocks. As the roots
expand, they widen these cracks,
leading to physical weathering.
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ANIMALS
CAN CAUSE
WEATHERING
Animals contributing to
weathering are organisms that
physically or chemically break
down rocks and minerals through
their actions. This can include
burrowing animals like worms and
rodents, whose movements can
dislodge rocks and expose them to
weathering processes.
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TYPES OF
WEATHERING

PHYSICAL
WEATHERING BIOLOGICAL
WEATHERING
CHEMICAL WEATHERING
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TYPES OF
WEATHERING
Physical weathering is the
breakdown of rocks into
smaller pieces through
mechanical forces like freezing
and thawing.
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PHYSICAL WEATHERING
Physical weathering occurs when there are physical changes to the
rock such as changes in temperature or when the rock is exposed to
the effects of wind, rain and waves
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PHYSICAL WEATHERING
Water can get into cracks in a rock and if it freezes the ice will
expand and push the cracks apart.
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PHYSICAL WEATHERING
When the ice melts more water can get into the larger crack meaning that
when it then freezes again it expands and can make the crack even bigger.
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TYPES OF
WEATHERING
Chemical weathering alters
rock composition by chemical
reactions, such as oxidation or
dissolution by acidic water.
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CHEMICAL WEATHERING
Chemical weathering describes the chemicals in rainwater making
changes to the minerals in a rock.
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CHEMICAL WEATHERING
A reaction can occur when the rainwater comes into contact with minerals in
the rock, causing weathering.
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TYPES OF
WEATHERING
Biological weathering involves
living organisms like plants
and animals breaking down
rocks through their actions or
waste products, leading to
erosion and soil formation.
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BIOLOGICAL WEATHERING
Biological weathering is
caused by the
movements of the plants
and animals
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EXAMPLE

A rabbit can burrow into

a crack in a rock making
it bigger and eventually
splitting the rock.
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EXAMPLE

A plant may grow in a

crack in a rock and as its
roots grow causes the
crack to widen.
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EROSION
Erosion is the gradual
wearing away of soil, rock,
or other materials on the
Earth's surface by natural
forces like water, wind, or
ice. It happens when these
forces move particles from
one place to another, slowly
reshaping the landscape
over time.
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EXAMPLE
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TYPES OF
EROSION
When a river carves a valley, it means
the flowing water gradually cuts
through the land, shaping and
deepening the surrounding terrain
over time. As the river erodes the
earth, it forms a channel, gradually
creating a valley with distinct
features like steep walls and a flat
bottom.
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TYPES OF
EROSION
Wind blowing topsoil refers to the
process where loose soil particles
from the uppermost layer of the
Earth's surface are carried away by
the force of wind. This phenomenon
typically occurs in dry and arid
regions where vegetation cover is
sparse, leaving the soil vulnerable
to erosion.
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TYPES OF
EROSION
Waves cutting back cliffs refers to
the gradual erosion of rock
formations along a coastline caused
by the relentless force of ocean
waves crashing against them. Over
time, the waves wear away at the
base of the cliffs, causing them to
recede or collapse, altering the
shape of the coastline.
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TYPES OF
EROSION
Glaciers moving rocks, a process
known as glacial erosion, happens
when glaciers slide over the Earth's
surface, picking up rocks and debris
along the way. As the glacier
moves, it acts like a giant conveyor
belt, carrying rocks of various sizes
and shapes.
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TYPES OF
EROSION
A landslide is a sudden movement
of rock, soil, and debris down a
slope. It can happen due to heavy
rainfall, earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, or human activities like
construction. Landslides can be
small or large, causing damage to
property and posing risks to people
and the environment.
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EROSION

Gullies in an eroded hill in Atri, Italy

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WATER
EROSION
Water erosion is the process where
water wears away soil and rocks,
carrying them along its path due to
the force of flowing water, such as
rivers or rain.
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WATER EROSION
Moving water, primarily sea waves, causes coastal erosion, aided by
atmospheric forces like rain and frost wearing down cliffs.
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BEACH EROSION

The effects of beach erosion along the shoreline in Puget Sound, Washington.
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ERODED VALLEY

A valley within the Grand Canyon in Arizona created by the scouring action of
moving water.
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GLACIAL
EROSION
Glacial erosion is the process by
which glaciers, massive bodies of
ice, wear away and reshape the
land beneath them through the
scraping, plucking, and grinding of
rocks and soil. As glaciers move,
they pick up debris and carve out
valleys, fjords, and other distinctive
landforms, shaping the landscape
over time.
 GLACIAL EROSION
Glacial erosion also occurs when rocks are pulled or chipped away from the glacier bed. The
material eroded this way is carried until it's dropped somewhere or until the glacier melts.
ALASKA: MENDENHALL GLACIER

Mendenhall Glacier, Southeastern Alaska, USA.

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WIND
EROSION
Wind erosion is the process where
wind carries away loose soil and
particles from the Earth's surface,
reshaping landscapes over time.
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WIND EROSION
Wind erosion plays a significant role in eroding rocks by carrying sand. Sand dunes lacking
vegetation to hold them together and protect them are prone to erosion and alteration due
to the shifting of blown sand.
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WIND EROSION
This process wears away material through two methods: deflation, which is the removal of
small loose particles, and sandblasting of landforms by wind-carried material.
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Embrace the power of

weathering and erosion -
they sculpt landscapes and
reveal the beauty of
resilience over time. Just as
rocks endure and transform,
so can you. Embrace change,
adapt, and emerge stronger,
like a masterpiece shaped by
nature's artistry.

Dr. Bryan V. Bantayan