Weathering, Erosion, & Deposition in Texas Ecoregions

Last updated about 4 years ago

25 questions

1

On March 22, 2016, in Austin, a large garage-sized boulder broke free from a hillside and fell to the base of the hill, crushing two vehicles and crashing into a house.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

We have to take a detour in our walk along the field by the river because there is a thick, sticky layer of mud and debris on top of the grasses and wildflowers.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition 

The flash flood is caused by heavy rain. Once saturated with water, a large section of the mountainside slides down into the reservoir, causing the dam to break and the water to rush downstream.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

On April 1, 2010, in Mineral Wells, a large garage-sized boulder broke free from a hillside. Before the boulder falls, what process is happening in the hillside around the boulder?

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

The driveway is long and winding because it bends around a huge old oak tree. The pavement near the tree bulges upward and has many more cracks than the other sections of the driveway.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

There is a long meter-deep scar in the soil where a section of the riverbank has slipped downward into the river.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

The layers of rock are very obvious in the majestic arches and formations at Palo Duro Canyon.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

Where the river makes a sharp bend to the right, there is a beautiful sandbar. We sometimes can find fossil turtle shells partially buried in this sand.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

Walking in the shallow coastal waters, you can feel the rows of bumps in the sand from the rippling wave action of the ocean.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

It is fun to wade in the shallow areas of the river; the smooth rocks are rounded and sometimes slippery.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

When it rains, the water flows across our pasture into this sunken area. We think that there is a cave under our pasture.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

The homeowner had clearly worked hard to hold the steep hillside in place by constructing a stone wall, but now sections of the wall and soil have tumbled onto the sidewalk.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

The soil is rich and dark; however, on closer inspection, you can still identify small grains of quartz and feldspar from the granite bedrock.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

The area is mostly underlain by sedimentary rocks, but there are a few small volcanic cinder cones and some ancient buried volcanic lava flows. The soil that developed over these volcanic rocks is richer in potassium. You can identify these areas because the wild iris plants like the potassium-rich soil and only grow in that area.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

When camping in west Texas, we wake one morning to discover that our car and tent are covered with a thin layer of sand.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

When we walk along the seashore, we look for shark teeth in the sand. Sometimes we also find unbroken sand dollars, too.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

We love to go rock climbing on the rugged cliffs in the mountains, but our first challenge is to scramble up the large pile of sand and pebbles at the base of the cliff.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

Years ago, the rancher dug out an area to build a pond for his cattle, but over time the pond filled with sediment so now there is very little room for the water.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

A beautiful display of bluebonnets bloomed along the bank of the river, but after the storm last night, the flowers and a large section of the soil in which they grew is gone.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

Which of the following will most likely increase the amount of erosion that occurs on the banks of a river?

Heavy rains on the mountain that is the river's water source

High winds over the ocean to which the river flows

High temperatures increasing evaporation from the river

Ice formation at the source of the river

The Gulf Prairies and Marshes ecoregion experiences significant soil erosion. One would expect the climate in this region to be –

dry and hot

cold and snowy

wet and rainy

warm and humid

The Blackland Prairie ecoregion of Texas has many exposed boulders that are smooth and rounded. What feature of this area caused the boulders to take on these characteristics?

Hurricane activity

Wind-blown sand and rain

Severe droughts

Deep and rapid rivers

The tall rock formations with smooth surfaces in Big Bend National Park were formed over time by –

rock deposition.

water erosion.

local vegetation.

wind weathering.

Weathering of Earth’s surface can have which of the following effects?

Building mountains

Creating hurricanes

Breaking down rocks

Causing lava flow

Sediments, which are deposited at the mouth of a river, create a –

lake

volcano

canyon

delta

 On March 22, 2016, in Austin, a large garage-sized boulder broke free from a hillside and fell to the base of the hill, crushing two vehicles and crashing into a house. 

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

We have to take a detour in our walk along the field by the river because there is a thick, sticky layer of mud and debris on top of the grasses and wildflowers. 

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition 

The flash flood is caused by heavy rain. Once saturated with water, a large section of the mountainside slides down into the reservoir, causing the dam to break and the water to rush downstream.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

On April 1, 2010, in Mineral Wells, a large garage-sized boulder broke free from a hillside.  Before the boulder falls, what process is happening in the hillside around the boulder?

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

The driveway is long and winding because it bends around a huge old oak tree. The pavement near the tree bulges upward and has many more cracks than the other sections of the driveway.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

There is a long meter-deep scar in the soil where a section of the riverbank has slipped downward into the river.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

The layers of rock are very obvious in the majestic arches and formations at Palo Duro Canyon.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

Where the river makes a sharp bend to the right, there is a beautiful sandbar. We sometimes can find fossil turtle shells partially buried in this sand.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

Walking in the shallow coastal waters, you can feel the rows of bumps in the sand from the rippling wave action of the ocean. 

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

It is fun to wade in the shallow areas of the river; the smooth rocks are rounded and sometimes slippery.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

When it rains, the water flows across our pasture into this sunken area. We think that there is a cave under our pasture.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

The homeowner had clearly worked hard to hold the steep hillside in place by constructing a stone wall, but now sections of the wall and soil have tumbled onto the sidewalk.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

The soil is rich and dark; however, on closer inspection, you can still identify small grains of quartz and feldspar from the granite bedrock.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

The area is mostly underlain by sedimentary rocks, but there are a few small volcanic cinder cones and some ancient buried volcanic lava flows. The soil that developed over these volcanic rocks is richer in potassium. You can identify these areas because the wild iris plants like the potassium-rich soil and only grow in that area.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

When camping in west Texas, we wake one morning to discover that our car and tent are covered with a thin layer of sand. 

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

When we walk along the seashore, we look for shark teeth in the sand. Sometimes we also find unbroken sand dollars, too.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

We love to go rock climbing on the rugged cliffs in the mountains, but our first challenge is to scramble up the large pile of sand and pebbles at the base of the cliff.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

Years ago, the rancher dug out an area to build a pond for his cattle, but over time the pond filled with sediment so now there is very little room for the water.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

A beautiful display of bluebonnets bloomed along the bank of the river, but after the storm last night, the flowers and a large section of the soil in which they grew is gone.

Weathering

Erosion

Deposition

Which of the following will most likely increase the amount of erosion that occurs on the banks of a river?

Heavy rains on the mountain that is the river's water source

High winds over the ocean to which the river flows

High temperatures increasing evaporation from the river

Ice formation at the source of the river

The Gulf Prairies and Marshes ecoregion experiences significant soil erosion. One would expect the climate in this region to be –

dry and hot

cold and snowy

wet and rainy

warm and humid

The Blackland Prairie ecoregion of Texas has many exposed boulders that are smooth and rounded. What feature of this area caused the boulders to take on these characteristics?

Hurricane activity

Wind-blown sand and rain

Severe droughts

Deep and rapid rivers

The tall rock formations with smooth surfaces in Big Bend National Park were formed over time by –

rock deposition.

water erosion.

local vegetation.

wind weathering.

Weathering of Earth’s surface can have which of the following effects?

Building mountains

Creating hurricanes

Breaking down rocks

Causing lava flow

Sediments, which are deposited at the mouth of a river, create a –

lake

volcano

canyon

delta