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Physical Weathering

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Physical weathering is an important geological process that shapes landforms. Rocks exposed at the surface are affected by radiation, atmospheric circulation, hydrodynamics and gravity, which cause freezing and thawing, expansion and contraction, disintegration and crumbling, exfoliation and block separation. Over time, these continuous processes cause rocks to break down into small pieces from coarse to fine and eventually to loose sand and soil. Physical weathering helps to shape rocks into different types of landforms.

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© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

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(2020). Physical Weathering. In: Chen, A., Ng, Y., Zhang, E., Tian, M. (eds) Dictionary of Geotourism. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2538-0_1885

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