Weathering and the Human Environment - Essay Example

Weathering and the human environment Geog 2106: Project Assignment Topic: Weathering and the human environment Justification of the role of weathering as a significant positive environmental process Introduction From the early geologic phases, the atmosphere has always come in contact with the exposed crust of the earth, a process referred to as weathering. This process occurs through a blend of both chemical and mechanical means. Weathering is a common phenomenon and most people have experienced it at firsthand. For instance, when one visits any old cemetery, he will notice some unclear writings on old marble tombstones.  It is logical to argue that such writings were at one time every legible and clear, but with time, the tiny cracks and fractures in the rocks have exposed it to aqueous solution attacks (Strahler & Strahler, 2005). With this respect, weathering may have either positive or negative impacts on the environment and on human life, but the process plays a significant role on the functions of the climate. Positive impacts of Ingenious Rock Weathering A combination of acid volatiles and igneous rocks results to the formation of salty oceans and sedimentary rocks. In this chemical process, rocks with feldspars are weakened via the conversion of stiff feldspar into more plastic clays that lack structural rigidity. This process happens in bare facades of the minerals that form the rock. Throughout geologic time, enormous quantities of sedimentary rocks have been dumped as part of this procedure. In fact, 70% of all rocks that have been deposited on the earth’s surface at present are of sedimentary derivation and are a result of the process of geological uplift. In this sense, geological processes bring back a number of sedimentary rocks to the Earth’s mantle, where the conditions of great pressure and temperature convert them to the primary materials. Rock weathering is also significant for the generation of biochemical elements that lack gaseous forms, such as calcium, iron, potassium, and phosphorous. Some of these elements play a central role in cell metabolism. In connection to this, it can be argued that rock weathering avails major nutrients for existence through the leaching process. The soluble nutrients are relocated to soil layers under the immediate surface. It is due to this reason that plants have developed root systems; in order to search these crucially required nutrients underground (Campbell & Claridge, 1987). Provision of nutrients Even though living tissues are composed of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon, there are as well as 23 other elements that are needed for the development of structural biomass and biochemical reactions. For example, the nitrogen nutrients are needed to act as protein in animals and plants; phosphorus forms part of the vital ribulose biphosphate carboxylase molecule as well as part of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the global molecule for energy transformations; and calcium, which is a key structural element of the proteins shaping animals and plants. Other important nutrients are sulphur, iron, and magnesium. The point to note here is that, although sulphur, carbon, and nitrogen can be availed from the atmosphere, phosphorous, potassium, iron, magnesium, and calcium all come from the process of rock weathering because the atmosphere does not have a so for these necessary nutrients. Delivery of nutrients into the root systems of plants can be achieved though many pathways. Sometimes, straight uptake in water solutions may be in place, but in some case, plants must protect themselves from too much intake of nutrients, since much of them can be poisonous, such as the calcium carbonate deposit accumulations in the root systems of some desert shrubs. Nutrients like potassium, phosphorous, and nitrogen are always harder to be found by the roots. However, if some nutrients are insufficient, plans will grow more gradually or may raise their root/shoot ratio.  Generally, nutrients availability, that is surplus or deficit availability is a controller of the way of the ecosystem, to determine its general productivity and to influence which specific types of plants come to outweigh. Too much nitrogen can result in the loosing of the fine root biomass and shortages in other nutrients. This whole process of adjustments and balance of nutrients can only be achieved through the process of weathering. This is for the reason that the pool of nutrients present in the vegetation and soil is mostly larger compared to the yearly receipts of nutrients from rock weathering and from the atmosphere. Recycling of nutrients is important on land, keeping much of the whole in humus, but the process of weathering must be involved to balance the nutrients intake for plants to avoid excess or less absorption by the same (Robert & Berthelin, 1986). In addition to the above importance, weathering also leads to production of new materials such as silts, sands, clays, and rock fragments. This is through the gradual weakening of rocks to form geological matter. Such products are more stable in the new environments as compared to when the rocks were in original forms. Generally, the process of weathering leads to rock products that are finer, thinner, more permeable and porous. Such rock products are friendlier to the environment, and particularly to man as they make possible practices such as agriculture. Human and animal movements are also made easier during economic and social activities as well as feeding processes. Contexts in which weathering can pose challenges to human-made structures Rock breaking or weathering can cause disasters In the definition, it is quite clear that weathering involves breakage of rocks as well as minerals on the earth’s surface. In some incidences, weathering may involve very large rocks. This can be a huge hazard and may lead to a disaster. Some of the disasters that can be caused through this process include tsunamis, rock falls, earthquakes, landslides, and volcanoes. A response to such a negative effect of weathering is a simple one. It is because of such disasters and risks that human beings are exposed to that there is availability of courses that train professionals to study different types of rocks along with their weathering process to deal with the risks in advance. To protect human life and structures such as their houses, tsunamis, landslides, and other disasters can be predicted and prevented. For example, if an engineer knows the features of a given rock type, he may be able to deal with such a disasters before they harm life. In fact, such big rocks can be used for development, a process that will mean building and expansion of land, such as putting up new schools, homes, and shopping centers. Sensibly, most building plans call for deep foundations, enabling the excavation and digging out rocks. Engineers can thus prevent disasters by providing information on the best way to excavate rocks before they weather out and for the reasons of building adequate foundations. Another challenge that may be caused by weathering is that, rock structures may be the most admired and durable ones. For instance, the fractures and bedding planes represent natural surfaces for chemical and physical weathering procedures. Humans are challenged with the fact that almost all rocks posses some naturally occurring systems of fractures. The surfaces may act as pass ways for water that encourages chemical weathering, or sometimes can freeze, leading to ice wedging. As a consequence, sedimentary rocks or other rocks that have plentiful fractures are basically weathered more quickly than corresponding unfractured rocks. According to Oliva, Viers & Dupré, 2003, in limestone, weathering may exaggerate gaps along bedding surfaces or fractures to form cave systems. For example, there is weathering concentrated along vertical fractures dividing panels of sandstone in a National Park in Utah. In this context, it is evident that the challenges are quite avoidable by man. There are many other alternatives to use in place of rock structures to avoid this challenge. Thus, a major component of weathering of rocks emphasizes the implication of weathering science in management and conservation practices meant to preserve the world’s greatest architectural wonders. Conclusion Human beings continue to wage a regular battle against this silent foe called weathering. Even though it has only little glory and power of earthquakes and volcanoes, earthquakes a natural process and acts on all features near or on the earth surface. It should not be ignored that despite the fact that some challenges are experienced, weathering is an important process that modifies the landscape around us, generating most probably our most significant resource; soil. The weathering of rocks, basaltic glasses and minerals is related to several areas of physical geography, together with landform modification, dating of surface features, ecosystem development, nutrient cycling, chemical composition of sea and surface waters, as well as soil development. The procedure releases nutrients into the atmosphere and geochemical cycles, playing a key role in environmental succession, particularly in the premature colonization of fresh basalt flows by plants. In addition, weathering is very significant to soil development as it forms the method by which bedrock is transformed into regolith and eventually soil mineral material. It is a major feature in landscape alteration over several years ago. Weathering coats have been used as a tool to date geomorphic surfaces. It also influences the make-up of continental waters. Further, research on basaltic glass weathering gives data about the secure storage of refined nuclear wastes. References Campbell, I. B., & Claridge, G. G. C. (1987). Antarctica: soils, weathering processes and environment (Vol. 368). Amsterdam: Elsevier. Oliva, P., Viers, J., & Dupré, B. (2003). Chemical weathering in granitic environments. Chemical Geology, 202(3), 225-256. Robert, M., & Berthelin, J. (1986). Role of Biologicaland Biochemical Factors in Soil Mineral Weathering. Interactions of soil minerals with natural organics and microbes, s(interactionsofs), 453-495. Strahler, A. H., & Strahler, A. N. (2005). Physical geography: science and systems of the human environment (pp. 256-282). Wiley.     Read More