Problem 2
Describe how plants contribute to mechanical and chemical weathering but inhibit erosion.
Problem 3
A hill is composed of two sedimentary rocks, sandstone and shale. Vegetation is almost absent and the region is wet. Do you expect the slope of the hill to be regular or irregular? Explain your reasoning.
Problem 5
Due to burning of fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum, the level of carbon dioxide \(\left(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\right)\) in the atmosphere has been increasing for more than 150 years. Should this increase tend to accelerate or slow down the rate of chemical weathering of Earth's surface rocks? Explain how you arrived at your conclusion.
Problem 6
In Chapter \(4,\) you learned that feldspars are very common minerals in igneous rocks. When you learn about the common minerals that compose sedimentary rocks in Chapter \(7,\) you will find that feldspars are relatively rare. Applying what you have learned about chemical weathering, explain why this is true. Based on this explanation, what mineral might you expect to be common in sedimentary rocks that is not found in igneous rocks?
Problem 8
What are the main factors that determine the type of soil profile on Earth? Describe how these factors influence soil profile.
