weathering and mass movement

1. Big Picture
Weathering and Mass
Movement.
• The meaning of weathering.
• What are the processes of
weathering.
• What is mass movement
and how does mass
movement happen?
Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of
weathering and mass movement
Weathering
 Is the breaking down of rocks
by mechanical, chemical or
biological processes in situ
(where they are).
Key Vocabulary
Page 94 -95
21 March 2019

2.  You can describe the two main types of weathering.
 You use a limited range of specialist terms
 You have a reasonable accuracy in the use of spelling,
punctuation and grammar.
 You can outline how weathering affects the cliff and aids erosion.
 You use a good range of specialist terms
 You have a considerable accuracy in spelling, punctuation and
grammar.
 You use the processes of sliding and slumping with weathering to explain why
cliffs collapse.
 You use a wide range of specialist terms where appropriate.
 Accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Learning Outcomes – Success Criteria
L3 - Detailed
Answer
L2 - Clear
Answer
L1 - Basic
Answer
Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of weathering and mass
movement

3. Produced by Mr M Colclough
Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of weathering and mass
movement

4. Type of weathering Diagram Explanation
Chemical
Biological
Mechanical
Extension: Which do you
think causes most rock
breakdown? Why?
Using the information sheets complete the table to explain how the different types of weathering
work.
Grades 1-3
You describe the types
of weathering and draw
a basic diagram.
Grades 4-6
You explain the types of
weathering by clearly
giving the stages.
Grades 7-9
You create clear staged
diagrams fully labelled
to explain each type.
Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of weathering and mass
movement

5. When the temperature rises again the ice will melt and contracts, which
releases the pressure on the rock.
Water becomes trapped in a crack or joint in the rock.
When the temperature drops below freezing, the water will freeze and expand
by 9 – 10% putting pressure on the rock.
This process repeats, the rock weakens resulting in rockfalls.
Freeze-thaw action
This is the breakdown of rock without changing its chemical composition. This occurs
when the temperature alternates above and below 0°C (the freezing point of water)
Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of weathering and mass movement

6. Living things such as burrowing animals and plants attacking rocks and weakening
their structures. For example, burrowing animals such as rabbits can burrow into a
crack in a rock, making it bigger and splitting the rock. Plant roots can grow in
cracks. As they grow bigger, the roots push open the cracks and make them wider
and deeper. Eventually pieces of rock may fall away.
Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of weathering and mass movement

7. Carbonic acids attack rocks changing its structure.
This includes solution. Chemical weathering occurs
when rain water which contains carbon dioxide
(making it a weak carbonic acid) reacts with the
calcium carbonate in rocks such as limestone and
chalk. This dissolves and is washed away in solution,
weakening the rock.
Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of weathering and mass movement

8. Question Time
What’s the correct definition of weathering?
A) The breakdown of rock in situ.
B) The breakdown and transportation of rock.
Which statement is correct?
A) Freeze-thaw weathering is where water gets into a crack, it freezes
and expands the rack, when it thaws, water gets deeper into the
creak, this is repetitive and eventually the rock breaks up.
B) Freeze-thaw weathering is where it rains making cracks widen and
weak so the rock breaks up.
Which statement is correct?
A) Carbonation weathering is where H₂O reacts with CO₂ creating acid
rain. Acid rain reacts with calcium carbonate (CACO₂) creating
calcium bicarbonate Ca(HCO₃)₂ which dissolves the rock.
B) Carbonation weathering is where H₂O reacts with calcium carbonate
(CACO₂) to create calcium bicarbonate Ca(HCO₃)₂ which dissolves the
rock.
Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of weathering and mass movement

9. Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of weathering and mass
movement
Key Vocabulary
Mass Movement
 The shifting of rocks of loose material down a slope such as a cliff
collapse. It happens when the force of gravity acting on a slope is
greater than the force supporting it. This process causes the cliff
to retreat (move back).

10. Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of weathering and mass
movement

11. Slide plane
Detached rock
Bedding of rocks
Divide your A4 sheet into four and draw and explain the different types of mass movement.
Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of weathering and mass movement.

12. The amount of weathering and mass movement that occurs will be
dependent on…
 Rock type
 Climate
 Structure of rock
 Vegetation
Extension: Explain how each factor affects the
amount of weathering and mass movement that
occurs.
Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of weathering and mass movement.

13. 1. A prolonged period of hot and
wet weather allows vegetation to
grow rapidly
3. People build settlements of
top of unstable cliffs, putting
pressure on them
2. People build homes close to
the cliff edge to get a clearer
view of the sea from their
window
4. Layers of different rock type
allow water to seep in the
dividing line between two rock
types
Extension: What can be done to
prevent or slow down weathering
and mass movement?
1. Decide whether these factors are human or physical
2. Explain how each will worsen weathering or mass movement. Use the 6 types we have
learnt today in your answer
Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of weathering and mass movement.

14. Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of weathering and mass movement.
Beachy Head 2001
Tasks
1. Label the rockfall, chalk cliffs,
rocky beach.
2. Do you think Freeze Thaw
weathering is happening here
here?
3. How might rockfalls be a hazard to
people?
4. What conditions may have caused
this rockfall?
Write In full sentences. Make
sure your arrows touch the
feature in the photograph.
Key Skill: Photograph Interpretation

15. Weathering and Mass Movement
LO: To develop greater knowledge of the processes of weathering and mass movement.

16. Positive– Write down areas of the lesson you have been successful in,
name the key terms or named examples you are now confident in using. What
areas have you worked hard on improving? Named examples, geographical
terms, facts, statistics, explanations, comparison?
Error – Write down areas you are less confident with, certain case studies
or examples you may need to go over again to fully understand. Do you use
enough explanation using named examples and facts in all your answers? Do
you push yourself or are you reliant on the teacher for guidance or pressure
to progress?
Next – Where can you move yourself forward over the next lesson, week or
month. What are you going to start including which will improve your detail
and work?
Making the Grade:
How am I doing in this lesson?
Produced by Mr M Colclough