Question Why do scientists think the Grand Canyon was once covered by an ocean?(1 point) Responses The sedimentary rock type forming layers of the canyon formed under the sea.
The sedimentary rock type forming layers of the canyon formed under the sea
. Seawater has been found seeping up through the canyon floor.
Seawater has been found seeping up through the canyon floor
. The Grand Canyon is located along coastlines that likely flooded.
The Grand Canyon is located along coastlines that likely flooded.
Only an ocean would have the strength to erode the rock forming the Grand Canyon.
Only an ocean would have the strength to erode the rock forming the Grand Canyon.
All of the above options are valid reasons why scientists think the Grand Canyon was once covered by an ocean. The sedimentary rock layers found in the canyon were formed under the sea, and seepage of seawater through the canyon floor has been observed. Additionally, the Grand Canyon is located in an area that likely experienced flooding from coastlines, and it would take the strength of an ocean to erode the rock formations found in the canyon.
Scientists think that the Grand Canyon was once covered by an ocean for several reasons:
1. The sedimentary rock type forming the layers of the canyon formed under the sea. This means that the rock was originally deposited in a marine environment.
2. Seawater has been found seeping up through the canyon floor. This suggests that there are still remnants of the oceanic environment present within the canyon.
3. The Grand Canyon is located along coastlines that likely flooded in the past. This indicates that the area was once submerged under water.
4. Only an ocean would have had the strength to erode the rock and create the immense size and depth of the Grand Canyon. The powerful forces of waves, currents, and tides are capable of carving through solid rock over millions of years.
Scientists believe that the Grand Canyon was once covered by an ocean based on several pieces of evidence.
Firstly, the sedimentary rock type forming the layers of the canyon indicates that they were formed under the sea. Sedimentary rocks are typically formed from the accumulation and compression of sediment that settles on the bottom of bodies of water like oceans.
Secondly, there have been instances where seawater has been found seeping up through the canyon floor. This suggests a connection between the canyon and the ocean.
Thirdly, the location of the Grand Canyon along coastlines that likely flooded supports the idea that it was once submerged under an ocean. The presence of coastal features in the surrounding area also indicates a marine history.
Lastly, the sheer size and depth of the Grand Canyon suggest that only the force of an ocean would have been able to erode the rock formations to such an extent. Rivers and other types of erosion are typically not powerful enough to create such a massive canyon.
In summary, scientists believe that the Grand Canyon was once covered by an ocean due to the sedimentary rock layers, seeping seawater, coastal location, and the strength of the erosion needed to form the canyon.