Repeated freeze-thaw action causes the rock to shatter, and it falls to the bottom of the slope as scree.
To see the process of weathering and freeze-thaw in action, go to YouTube and look up ‘Weathering and erosion – freeze- thaw weathering (Lammas Science)’ (1:20).
and mark the height of the water in the bottle with a permanent marker. Place the plastic bottle into the freezer overnight to allow the water to freeze. Note how much the water has expanded when you remove the bottle the next day.
1. What is the name of the broken material you see here in the image? 2. Where would you expect to find it as a result of freeze-thaw action – at the top or bottom of mountains?
1. What is denudation? 2. Describe the difference between weathering and erosion. 3. Name the three types of weathering. 4. What is mechanical weathering? 5. Using labelled diagram/s, explain freeze-thaw action.
