Question

  

Canyon Formation

Geoscience processes change the surface of Earth at various time and spatial scales. Some processes, such as the uplift of mountain ranges, occur over a long period of time. Others, such as volcanic eruption, occur over a short period of time. Processes can be small in scale like the weathering of a rock, or large in scale like the motion of Earth's plates.

In the formation of a canyon, moving water breaks down rock that is then transported away. The Colorado River has been forming the Grand Canyon in the United States for about 6 million years. The Grand Canyon now covers about 1,900 square miles. The picture shows how a canyon can form over millions of years.



Multiple Choice Question

Which pair of processes is responsible for the formation of a canyon?

A. 

deposition and weathering 

B. 

erosion and sedimentation

C. 

weathering and erosion

D. 

sedimentation and deposition

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

C. weathering and erosion

Weathering breaks down the rock, while erosion involves the movement of that broken material away from the site, which is essential in the formation of a canyon.