One of the most significant weathering forms is tafoni. The caverns are almost spherical in shape and weathering takes place on it walls by flaking and granular disintegration, resulting in a floor covered with debris. Often, the cavern entrance will have a visor hanging from the roof. Microclimate within the cavern is milder than that outside with respect to moisture and temperature. The greater moisture enables rapid weathering.
Wind swirling within the cavern can lead to evaporation.
Tafoni often develops preferentially along bedding planes or joints. Although the predominant process is thought to be salt weathering by crystal growth, both hydration and dissolution have also been invoked. Alveoles are a smaller form of tafoni which give rock a honeycomb appearance. They are also very common to coastal locations. Again, salt weathering is the dominant process.