The Grand Canyon and The Dust Bowl

Erosion and Weathering

Erosion

• Erosion- The Process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth’s surface.

– Water Erosion- The most important element of erosion and most common

– Wind Erosion- The next most common where wind moves soil and rocks

– Ice Erosion- When water gets in the cracks of rocks and freezes causing them to break apart.

Weathering

• Weathering- The break down of rocks, soils, and minerals.

The Grand Canyon

• The Grand Canyon is believed to have been formed by WATER erosion from the Colorado River over thousands of years.

The Dust Bowl

• The Dust Bowl in the 1930’s was caused because of WIND erosion. Farmers plowing in the Midwest made the soil really loose and when the winds began to pick up the soil and cause dust storms.