Earth Science Weathering Porosity

Which event is an example of chemical weathering?

• rocks falling off the face of a steep cliff

• feldspar in granite being crushed into clay-sized particles

• water freezing in cracks in a roadside outcrop

• acid rain reacting with limestone bedrock

The amount of chemical weathering will increase if

• air temperature decreases and precipitation decreases

• air temperature increases and precipitation decreases

• air temperature decreases and precipitation increases

• air temperature increases and precipitation increases

The cross section below shows sedimentary bedrock layers A, B, C, and D exposed at Earth’s surface. Which layer appears to be the least resistant to weathering?

• A

• B

• C

• D

The accompanying diagram shows granite bedrock with cracks. Water has seeped into the cracks and frozen. The arrows represent the directions in which the cracks have widened due to weathering. Which statement best describes the physical weathering shown by the diagram?

• Enlargement of the cracks occurs because water expands when it freezes.

• This type of weathering occurs only in bedrock composed of granite.

• The cracks become wider because of chemical reactions between water and the rock.

• This type of weathering is common in regions of primarily warm and humid climates.

Which climatic conditions normally produce the greatest chemical weathering?

• cool and dry

• cool and wet

• warm and dry

• warm and wet

Which agent of erosion is most likely responsible for the deposition of sandbars along ocean shorelines?

• glaciers

• mass movement

• wave action

• wind action

Which diagram represents a side view of a sand dune most commonly formed because of the prevailing wind direction shown?

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• 
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The block diagram above represents a rapid downslope flow of saturated soil and rock layers. What are two likely causes of this rapid downslope flow?

• groundwater and abrasion

• groundwater and gravity

• prevailing wind and gravity

• prevailing wind and abrasion

Which type of climate has the greatest amount of rock weathering caused by frost action?

• a dry climate in which temperatures remain below freezing

• a dry climate in which temperatures alternate from below freezing to above freezing

• a wet climate in which temperatures remain below freezing

• a wet climate in which temperatures alternate from below freezing to above freezing

After a heavy rainstorm, vegetation on a hillslope was completely removed. How will this removal of vegetation affect the relative amounts of infiltration and runoff that occur during the next heavy rainstorm?

• Infiltration and runoff will both be less.

• Infiltration and runoff will both be greater.

• Infiltration will be less and runoff will be greater.

• Infiltration will be greater and runoff will be less.