Weathering Summary

Summary: Weathering is the breaking down of rock. There are two types of weathering: mechanical (water, wind, ice) and chemical (oxidation, lichens, acid rain). Erosion is when water, wind, or ice carries away rock fragments/sediment to a different area. The process of weathering is a VERY slow process that occurs over millions of years. Constructive and destructive forces are always at work either breaking down or building up the Earth’s surface.