Freeze-thaw weathering

This form of physical weathering is caused by repeated freezing and melting of water. **The principle of frost weathering is based on the different volumes of the same amount of water in the solid and liquid state**. During the period when temperatures drop below freezing point, water in rock cracks and fissures freezes and increases in volume. The increasing pressure of the crack wall widens and deepens. In summer, the water penetrates deeper into the cracks and the whole cycle is repeated until the rock completely disintegrates.