Increasing Global Temperatures Is the Greatest Threat to the Rapid Weathering of Rocks in the Twenty-First Century. Do You Agree with This Statement? Explain Your Answer.
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I do not agree with this statement. Increasing global temperatures is not a threat to the weathering of the rocks, as some types of weathering actually require high temperatures to occur effectively.
One example is biological weathering. Vegetation is dense in places which have high temperatures. The more vegetation there is, the higher the rate of biological weathering. Therefore, it can be concluded that higher temperatures encourage biological weathering. Biological weathering is mainly caused by the roots of plants/trees penetrating into the rock, causing pressure to build up in the rock, which eventually cracks. Some organic compounds which are produced by the plants, as well as plant decay, react with some types of rock to cause rock decay. Where there are more plants, there will be more plant decay. Hence, places with dense vegetation, caused by increasing temperatures, will result in a higher rate of biological weathering.
Another example is chemical weathering. Chemical weathering involves the decay of solid rocks, which crumble into smaller chemically altered fragments. Chemical weathering is more effective in hot, humid areas, such as the tropics. It can then be concluded that rising temperatures will not hinder, but instead aid in processes such as chemical weathering, as high temperatures accelerate most chemical reactions. An example of chemical weathering is carbonation, where carbon dioxide which is dissolved in rainwater reacts with rocks containing calcium carbonate to form soluble bicarbonate. In the process, the rock is broken down. Higher temperatures will probably speed up the process in which the carbon dioxide reacts with the rocks. Thus, with rising global temperatures, chemical weathering might be sped up.
However, physical/mechanical weathering might be adversely affected by the increasing global temperatures, as some processes, such as freeze-thaw action, involves freezing of water. The freezing of water cannot happen if the...
One example is biological weathering. Vegetation is dense in places which have high temperatures. The more vegetation there is, the higher the rate of biological weathering. Therefore, it can be concluded that higher temperatures encourage biological weathering. Biological weathering is mainly caused by the roots of plants/trees penetrating into the rock, causing pressure to build up in the rock, which eventually cracks. Some organic compounds which are produced by the plants, as well as plant decay, react with some types of rock to cause rock decay. Where there are more plants, there will be more plant decay. Hence, places with dense vegetation, caused by increasing temperatures, will result in a higher rate of biological weathering.
Another example is chemical weathering. Chemical weathering involves the decay of solid rocks, which crumble into smaller chemically altered fragments. Chemical weathering is more effective in hot, humid areas, such as the tropics. It can then be concluded that rising temperatures will not hinder, but instead aid in processes such as chemical weathering, as high temperatures accelerate most chemical reactions. An example of chemical weathering is carbonation, where carbon dioxide which is dissolved in rainwater reacts with rocks containing calcium carbonate to form soluble bicarbonate. In the process, the rock is broken down. Higher temperatures will probably speed up the process in which the carbon dioxide reacts with the rocks. Thus, with rising global temperatures, chemical weathering might be sped up.
However, physical/mechanical weathering might be adversely affected by the increasing global temperatures, as some processes, such as freeze-thaw action, involves freezing of water. The freezing of water cannot happen if the...