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Encyclopedia of Engineering Geology pp 1–5Cite as

Physical Weathering

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:

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Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

Synonyms

Disintegration; Fragmentation; Mechanical weathering; Slaking

Definition

Physical weathering of rocks consists of their physical disintegration, without chemical weathering, by several physical actions such as (a) significant diurnal and/or seasonal thermal variations, (b) expansion and fracturing of rock due either to stress relief or increase of pressure in rock pores and fissures by expansion volume associated with water freezing, and (c) mechanical actions of several weathering agents such as water flow, glaciers, wind, living organisms (e.g., roots of trees, cavities made by rodents), and the growth of poorly soluble salts, in rock pores, either by crystallization pressure, such as hydration pressure or by differential thermal expansion. These are of fundamental importance in the breakdown and fragmentation of rocks.

Introduction

The weathering of rocks is an important geological phenomenon because it leads to the formation of soils (whether residual or sedimentary),...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. GeoBioTec Research Centre (UID/GEO/04035/2013), Department of Geosciences, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho, 59, 7000-671, Évora, Portugal

    António B. Pinho & Isabel M. R. Duarte

  2. Geosciences Centre (UID/Multi/00073/2013), Department of Earth Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua Silvio Lima – Pólo II, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal

    Pedro Santarém Andrade

Authors
  1. António B. Pinho
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  2. Pedro Santarém Andrade
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  3. Isabel M. R. Duarte
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to António B. Pinho .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Kanata, Ontario, Canada

    Peter T. Bobrowsky

  2. London, United Kingdom

    Brian Marker

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© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

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Cite this entry

Pinho, A.B., Andrade, P.S., Duarte, I.M.R. (2017). Physical Weathering. In: Bobrowsky, P., Marker, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Engineering Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12127-7_219-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12127-7_219-1

  • Received:

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  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-12127-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-12127-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences

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