LOCATED IN CENTRAL TEXAS

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Exfoliation – mechanical weathering has caused the rock to “peel” in sheets. This was caused by contracting and expanding during heating and cooling in the temperature

The weathering of sedimentary rock has exposed the granite dome underneath

Other types of mechanical weathering present – plant roots

RAINWATER MIXES WITH CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE AND SOILS TO FORM CARBONIC ACID (H2CO3), WHICH ACTS TO DISSOLVE AWAY LIMESTONE.

Georgetown-

Inner Space Cavern

Natural Bridge Caverns in Texas

A gorge is a ravine with nearly vertical walls. This gorge was cut when heavy rains pushed a flood over Canyon Lake Dam in central Texas in 2002.

One of the windiest regions in the US

Low vegetation, so high wind erosion

Palo Duro Canyon Formed by water

erosion

Physical/Mechanical weathering-the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces (wind, flowing water, ice, gravity, animals/plants, temperature changes)

Physical Weathering

The steep walls here were carved out by moving water

Palo Duro Canyon in the High Plains EcoRegion

Davis Mountains – formed from volcanic activity

Guadalupe Mountains – formed by fossilized coral reef

Big Bend– Water erosion from the Rio Grande River

Big Bend– Ancient swamp, current desert

Big Bend - the warm red and brown colors of igneous rocks show oxidation, oxygen reacting with iron forming rust

Big Bend– limestone cliff eroded by carbonic acid

Water droplets capture carbon dioxide to form carbonic acid

Due to abundant vegetation that holds the soil in place, there is very little erosion

Wave action, a cause of weathering, erosion and deposition, is constant along the Texas Coastline.

Sediments are weathered and eroded along beaches and carried out into the ocean to form sand bars and islands

Galveston Beach

Mustang Island was formed by erosion and deposition

Sand dunes in Padre Island

Before Ike

After Ike

After Ike

Galveston Texas before/after Hurricane Ike