Factors affecting weathering

         FACTORS AFFECTING WEATHERING

              All the process of weathering are affected by rock structure, climate, topography, and vegetation. 

              Rock structure refers to mineralogical composition, joints bedding planes, faults, fractures, pores and its integral hardness. The degree of weathering of the source area, i.e., the area where weathering operates is controlled by the nature of pre-existing rocks to a greater extent. 

              Climate is the sum-total of the meteorological elements like temperature, moisture, including both humility and precipitation, wind, air - pressure and evaporation. Climate determines whether physical or chemical weathering will predominate and the speed with which these process will operate.

             Topography directly affects weathering by exposing rocks and indirectly though the amount of precipitation, temperature and vegetation. 

              Surface covered with vegetation are protected and bare surface are weathered to a greater extent.