Geography & History Notes | KCSE, NECTA, ZIMSEC & GCSE

  Mass wasting , also known as slope movement or mass movement, is the geomorphic process by which soil, sand, regolith, and rock move down slope typically as a mass , largely under the force of gravity, but frequently affected by water and water content as in submarine environments and mudslides. The following are physical factors that enhance the movement of materials down the slope in other words mass wasting Nature of materials , Heavy and large materials move faster on a slope as they are more likely to be overcome by gravity thinly bedded layers have a tendency to move faster. Angle of slope, the steeper the slope, the faster the rate of movement  also when rocks are dipping steeply, movement is faster. Climatic factors (amount of water), the more saturated the material is the more likely it is to move as water adds weight and act as lubricants also alternate freezing and thawing encourages movement. Bare surfaces are more likely to experi...

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks at the earth's surface, by action of rainwater, extremes of temperature and biological activities. It does not involve the removal of rock materials.  Chemical weathering is the weakening and subsequent disintegration of rock by chemical reactions.   The following are 5 processes of chemical weathering Hydrolysis this is chemical breakdown of substance when combined with water. Therefore hydrolysis is break down of rock due to reaction between rock and water. The most common example of hydrolysis is feldspar which can be found in granite changing to the clay. When it rains water seep down into the ground and come into contact with granite rock. The feldspar crystals within the granite reacts with the water and are chemically altered to form clay minerals which weaken the rock . Oxidation this is weakening of the rock due to its reaction with oxygen.The oxidation is the process which cause rust. It occur when oxygen in water reacts with ...