page_title: Weathering
section_title: Ocean waves
hierarchical_section_title: Weathering / Physical weathering / Ocean waves
caption_attribution_description: VU0K1843.jpg Antarctica
context_page_description: Weathering is the breaking down of rocks, soils, and minerals as well as wood and artificial materials through contact with the Earth's atmosphere, water, and biological organisms. Weathering occurs in situ, that is, in the same place, with little or no movement, and thus should not be confused with erosion, which involves the transport of rocks and minerals by agents such as water, ice, snow, wind, waves and gravity and then being transported and deposited in other locations.
  Two important classifications of weathering processes exist – physical and chemical weathering; each sometimes involves a biological component. Mechanical or physical weathering involves the breakdown of rocks and soils through direct contact with atmospheric conditions, such as heat, water, ice and pressure. The second classification, chemical weathering, involves the direct effect of atmospheric chemicals or biologically produced chemicals also known as biological weathering in the breakdown of rocks, soils and minerals. While physical weathering is accentuated in very cold or very dry environments, chemical reactions are most intense where the climate is wet and hot.
context_section_description: Coastal geography is formed by the weathering of wave actions over geological times or can happen more abruptly through the process of salt weathering.
caption: Wave action and water chemistry lead to structural failure in exposed rocks.
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