What phenomenon occurs when moisture in soil absorbs and freezes, resulting in ground heaving?

Frost heaving is the phenomenon that occurs when moisture in soil freezes and subsequently expands, causing the ground to rise or "heave." This process is primarily influenced by the presence of water in the soil and the conditions of freezing temperatures. As water in the soil freezes, it expands approximately 9%, which can lift the soil surface and lead to noticeable ground movement.

The implications of frost heaving are significant in construction and mining, as it can disrupt the stability of foundations, roads, and other structures. Proper understanding of frost heaving is essential for engineers to design structures resilient to this phenomenon, especially in regions with cold climates where soil freezing is common.

Other options represent different geological and weathering processes without the specific context of moisture absorption and freezing causing ground movement. Exfoliation refers to the peeling away of rock layers due to changes in temperature, spheroidal weathering is a form of weathering that causes rocks to break into rounded shapes, and expansion and contraction describe general thermal changes in materials but do not specifically address the freeze-thaw cycle and its effects on soil.