Utah has some of the most beautiful scenery around. We can thank both Weathering and Erosion for this beauty!

Observe a stream or river after a rainstorm. What color is the water in it? If you noticed it is no longer clear or blue but dirty looking you are correct. Where did the dirty color come from?

Weathering is a process that breaks rocks down to smaller pieces. Water often helps break the rocks apart. If water gets into a hole, it will expand when it freezes - making the hole larger than it was before. The rocks break to allow the hole to get bigger. Animals can help this process when they dig holes in the ground. Look at the tree at the right. When the tree roots grow down and push against a rock, they can make a hole for water to enter as well. Wind can break down rocks as it blows other rock particles against them.



Erosion is a science term that means soil or rocks are being moved away from their original location. Water is something that erodes soil or rocks very well. Can you think of any other methods which move soil or rocks? Wind is also a common cause of erosion. Gravity can help with erosion when the soil above it is wet.

The eruption of the Mt. St. Helens volcano destroyed all the plants and trees living around it. When the snow on the mountain melted, the water quickly eroded paths causing much soil to be moved.