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? 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 left. 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 working with water causes
erosion.
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 soil and rock to be displaced.
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August 18, 2005
by: Glen Westbroek |
