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freeze–thaw
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Freeze–thaw
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 as well as a lack of vegetation. In contrast, older freefalls and mass movements produce a darker colour and partly vegetated scree slopes.', copy:'(Image © Garret Nagle)'});)
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Form of physical weathering, common in mountains and glacial environments, caused by the expansion of water as it freezes. Water in a crack freezes and expands in volume by 9% as it turns to ice. This expansion exerts great pressure on the rock, causing the crack to enlarge. After many cycles of freeze–thaw, rock fragments may break off to form scree slopes.
For freeze–thaw to operate effectively the temperature must fluctuate regularly above and below 0°C/32°F. It is therefore uncommon in areas of extreme and perpetual cold, such as the polar regions.
© Research Machines plc 2008. All rights reserved. Helicon Publishing is a division of Research Machines plc.
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ablation
abrasion (earth science)
arête
atmosphere (earth science)
attrition
basalt
biological weathering
calcium carbonate
calcium hydroxide
carbon cycle
carbon dioxide
carbonate
carbonation
cementation
chalk (rock)
chemical weathering
coastal erosion
conglomerate (geology)
continental drift
core (earth science)
corrie
crust
drumlin
earthquake
erosion
erratic
esker
evaporation
exfoliation
extrusive rock
fault
fertilizer
fold
fossil
freeze–thaw
glacial deposition
glacial erosion
glacial trough
glacier
glacier budget
global warming
gneiss
granite
gravel
greenhouse effect
hanging valley
helium
ice age
igneous rock
intrusive rock
krypton
landslide
lava
limestone
lithosphere
magma
mantle
marble
mass movement
mechanical weathering
metamorphic rock
metamorphism
mineral
moraine
neon
nitrate
nitrogen
nitrogen cycle
nivation
ocean
oxygen
periglacial environment
physical weathering
plate
plate tectonics
plutonic rock
pollution
Precambrian era
pyramidal peak
rock
rock cycle
sandstone
schist
scree
seafloor spreading
seawater
sediment
sedimentary rock
shale
silica
slate
soil
solifluction
till
truncated spur
volcano
water
water cycle
water pollution
weathering
abrasion (earth science)
arête
atmosphere (earth science)
attrition
basalt
biological weathering
calcium carbonate
calcium hydroxide
carbon cycle
carbon dioxide
carbonate
carbonation
cementation
chalk (rock)
chemical weathering
coastal erosion
conglomerate (geology)
continental drift
core (earth science)
corrie
crust
drumlin
earthquake
erosion
erratic
esker
evaporation
exfoliation
extrusive rock
fault
fertilizer
fold
fossil
freeze–thaw
glacial deposition
glacial erosion
glacial trough
glacier
glacier budget
global warming
gneiss
granite
gravel
greenhouse effect
hanging valley
helium
ice age
igneous rock
intrusive rock
krypton
landslide
lava
limestone
lithosphere
magma
mantle
marble
mass movement
mechanical weathering
metamorphic rock
metamorphism
mineral
moraine
neon
nitrate
nitrogen
nitrogen cycle
nivation
ocean
oxygen
periglacial environment
physical weathering
plate
plate tectonics
plutonic rock
pollution
Precambrian era
pyramidal peak
rock
rock cycle
sandstone
schist
scree
seafloor spreading
seawater
sediment
sedimentary rock
shale
silica
slate
soil
solifluction
till
truncated spur
volcano
water
water cycle
water pollution
weathering
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