What is the difference between weathering and erosion?

weathering and erosion both carry rock away

weathering moves broken rock away, erosion breaks rock down

weathering and erosion both break rock down

weathering breaks down rock and erosion carries it away

1 answer

The correct distinction between weathering and erosion is:

Weathering breaks down rock and erosion carries it away.

  • Weathering is the process by which rocks and minerals are broken down into smaller pieces or altered chemically, primarily due to environmental factors such as temperature changes, water, ice, and biological activity.

  • Erosion, on the other hand, involves the movement of these weathered materials from one location to another, typically by natural forces such as water, wind, ice, or gravity.

So, weathering is about breaking down the rock, while erosion is about transporting the broken material.