Physical/Mechanical: The breakdown of rocks and soils through direct contact with atmospheric

conditions, such as heat, water, ice, and pressure.

Chemical: chemical weathering, involves the direct effect of atmospheric chemicals or biologically produced chemicals (also known as biological weathering) in the breakdown of rocks, soils, and minerals.

Biological: Organisms (trees and vegetation) assistance in breaking down rocks/cliffs.

Physical weathering, also known as Mechanical Weathering, can occur in many circumstances including:

-Frost Wedging – Frost wedging occurs when water gets stuck in a crack in a rock and is then frozen. When water is frozen it expands which causes pressure on the rock and can crack or break the rock.

-Thermal Expansion – Repeated daily heating of the rock causes expansion and then the cooling of the rock will sometimes cause it to crack

Physical weathering is the disintegration of earth material without undergoing a chemical change. Physical weathering results in increased surface area for chemical reactions to occur on.

Chemical Weathering is the process by which rocks are decomposed, dissolved or loosened by chemical processes to form residual materials.