Weathering is the gradual wearing and tearing of rocks on the surface of the Earth. The main agents of weathering are temperature, humidity, and precipitation. External forces acting on the surface of the Earth are known as exogenic forces. Wind, water, and ice are some exogenic forces. These forces cause various processes such as erosion, transport, deposition, and mass wasting. Different Climatic Regions Affect the Rate of Weathering in the Following Ways
Weathering in Different Climatic Regions
Equatorial regions experience hot and humid climates. Chemical weathering is more common in these regions because of the presence of high temperature and humidity.
Tropical regions have separate dry and wet seasons. High temperature increases the rate of evaporation. During the wet season, oxides of iron and aluminium are precipitated from rocks. This results in the formation of laterite soils.
In the regions of a dry climate, such as in deserts, physical or mechanical weathering is common as temperatures in these regions are extremely high during the daytime and drop considerably at night.
In temperate and mid-latitude regions, frost action and chemical weathering occur in areas that have a high concentration of limestone rocks.
In the polar regions, frost action is the common form of weathering as the temperature is extremely low. Because the melting water in these regions contains carbonic acid, chemical weathering may also be experienced.
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