Factor How does it affect weathering?

Climate: If you go back to the chemical weathering processes, most if not all are
Cold and dry = slow rate of chemical weathering chemical reactions involving water. Hence, the presence of water which is an
High temperature and high rainfall = high rate of chemical important chemical weathering agent increases the rate of weathering. High
temperature enhances chemical reactions.
weathering

Factor How does it affect weathering?

Rock Type: Recall that temperature is an important factor of mineral formation/

Weathering rates roughly follow the inverse of the order of
Rock Structure:
The presence of cracks where agents of weathering (water,
plant roots, etc.) can enter enhances weathering
crystallization.of Olivinemineralscrystalizesin the Bowen’sat highreactiontemperatureseries.whileCalcitequartz at the
lowest temperature as compared to the other minerals. Therefore, quartz is
the most stable on surface conditions (low temperature conditions), while the
other minerals in the series would be less stable. Olivine would be least
stable. Limestone however will have a high susceptibility to weathering even
though it is formed at surface temperature, because it can be easily dissolved
by water (cite Bohol chocolate hills for example).
These cracks/structures facilitate the entry of weathering agents.

Topography: Be careful on this because this is a very tricky factor. Physical weathering
Physical weathering occurs more quickly on a steep slope occurs faster when the slope is steep due to the higher slope’s susceptibility
than on a gentle one to mass wasting and the higher rate at which new materials are exposed to
agents of mass wasting (rainwater can easily wash away weathered materials
downslope). However in gentle slopes, the rate of chemical weathering may
be higher. This is due to the fact that water which is an agent of weathering
may stay longer in the gentle slopes.

Time: Longer time of exposure to weathering agents could mean higher degree of
Longer time of exposure to agents of weathering means weathering processes have occurred. The rock has been weakened,
higher rate of weathering. therefore easier to be break.