Weathering

Weathering is the breaking down of rocks, soils and minerals as well as artificial materials through contact with the Earth's atmosphere, biota and waters. Weathering occurs in situ, or "with no movement", and thus should not be confused with erosion, which involves the movement of rocks and minerals by agents such as water, ice, snow, wind and gravity.

Famous quotes containing the word weathering:

“No paradise, no fall,
Only the weathering land
The wheeling sky,
Man, with is Satan
Scouring the chaos of the mind.
Oh Hell!”
—Gary Snyder (b. 1930)