Extreme Weathering
Geologists use this 10-letter word to describe the process where rock must first break down before wind and water can carry it away.
What is weathering.
Without this invisible downward-pulling force, very little erosion would actually happen on Earth.
What is gravity.
These massive agents of erosion are frozen solid but act like "rivers of ice" slowly flowing downhill.
What are glaciers.
Unlike water and ice, wind is limited because it can only pick up and move this size of sediment particles.
What are small particles.
Billions of tiny animals cause erosion because they are continuously digging up soil in search of these two things.
What are food and homes.
This type of weathering happens when substances like water or acids react with minerals inside a rock, causing them to rust or crumble.
What is chemical weathering.
These two fast-moving natural disasters are given as examples of erosion happening incredibly quickly.
What are mudslides and avalanches.
While normal streams cut narrow channels, glaciers are so powerful they have the unique ability to level these entire giant landmasses.
What are continents.
In these dry, water-scarce regions of the world, wind is often the primary agent of erosion.
What are desert regions.
This group of living things is named as the single biggest culprit when it comes to biological erosion.
What are humans or people.
This type of weathering happens when physical forces, like freezing ice, physically break a rock apart.
What is mechanical weathering.
Most of the time, erosion happens at this speed, making it so you can't even see it happening.
What is slowly.
Glaciers start out as massive piles of this material building up at the tops of mountains.
What is snow.
Being caught on a beach during a blustery, windy day feels a lot like your body is undergoing this high-pressure cleaning process.
What is sandblasting.
Moles and voles disturb this specific layer of the Earth, making it easy for wind and rain to wash it away.
What is the upper layer or soil.
Leaving a soda can in the freezer is a great way to understand this rock-splitting process, which happens when trapped rainwater freezes and expands.
What is frost wedging.
Gravity is the exact reason why water flows in this specific direction.
What is downhill.
Glaciers move sediment of all sizes, carrying everything from tiny grains of sand to boulders bigger than these structures.
What are houses.
This historical event in the 1930s USA was caused by high winds, severe droughts, and overgrazing by cattle.
What is the dust bowl.
A single rainstorm hitting this kind of open, active human work zone can cause more erosion than animals do in 100 years.
Rusting occurs on certain minerals inside rocks over time, much like what happens to this outdoor childhood item if it is left out in the rain.
What is a bicycle (or steel object).
Over a very long period of time, the simple act of water running downhill can carve a massive hole the size of this famous Arizona landmark.
Instead of pushing material like a bulldozer, a glacier moves millions of tons of debris by acting like this mechanical factory belt.
What is a conveyor belt.
During the Dust Bowl, the erosion was so intense that the blowing storms were given this stormy, dark nickname.
What are black blizzards
Plants help stop wind erosion because these underground parts anchor the soil safely in place.
What are roots.