WOE 25 Segment One Weathering and Soils

What On Earth Program 25 Breaking Down Rocks Segment One Weathering and Soils This segment begins with fresh rock and examines the physical and chemical processes which convert the minerals within rocks to soil. Physical weathering including frost wedging and mass wasting are examined as processes which break rocks into small pieces while increasing the surface area available for chemical weathering. The chemical weathering processes of solution, oxidation and hydration are then examined. The segment then examines the result of weathering processes, illustrating the development of saprolite and soil profiles. The character of various soil horizons is then examined. The remainder of the segment is devoted to examples of ways in which soils are used and misused. Students see the damage that occurs when houses are built on the wrong type of soil. Dust bowl conditions and gullying are shown as examples of the misuse of land. Sediment traps and strip cropping are shown as examples of good conservation practice.