Soils and Weathering

Abstract

Weathering of rock and regolith involves physical, chemical, and/or biological processes. Physical weathering is the breakup and disintegration of rocks and minerals into smaller pieces. Chemical weathering is the decomposition of materials by a series of chemical reactions, resulting in different minerals and compounds, all of which are more geochemically stable in the near‐surface environment. Living organisms can cause and impact both physical and chemical weathering. Weathering of bedrock is one way that loose material at the Earth's surface (regolith) can form. Soils form in regolith. They support plant life and include organic material, water, and air.