Water and Weathering

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Explain why water is such an important agent in weathering?

-- Jenna Whitt (jmw3382@uncw.edu), September 27, 2004

Answers

Water is a powerful solvent. It reacts chemically with rocks to break down their structure. Water can also act as an abrasive when it carries hard particles like sand at sufficient velocity. Finally, water expands on freezing. If pooled in small crevices in rocks, it can cause them to crack when it freezes.

-- peter matt (peter@mattbrothers.com), October 02, 2004.

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