What is the best climate for weathering- desert or rain forest?
I suggest that rain forests offer the best climate for weathering. Rain forests have both warm air and warm water (but especially oxygen, carbon dioxide, water & organic acids such as tannins), which together are excellent ingredients to encourage SAPROLITISATION. The effects of the warm air & water is to attack the original rock fabric primarily through the decomposition of feldspars to kaolin. This type of weathering can be found down to a depth of 100 metres. Deserts, by definition are dry and though hot, there is limited water. In the desert environment, feldspars and other primary minerals remain stable for longer. Denudation and attrition occur but there is relatively little weathering.
