Earth is constantly changing. Rivers carve out canyons and valleys. The ocean reshapes the shore with every wave. Avalanches and rockslides alter mountain skylines. The forces behind these changes are known as weathering and erosion. Weathering describes the weakening and breaking down of materials like stone and soil. Erosion describes the movement of the broken down materials to new locations. Weathering and erosion are responsible for many of the natural formations on Earth, from sculpted mountain peaks to smooth river stones.
Weathering is when materials break down through exposure to air, water, chemicals, or living things. Weathering is different from erosion. Erosion is when part of the rock or soil is moved somewhere else. Weathering may weaken a substance, but it does not involve it falling or being swept away.
Through weathering and erosion, Earth is constantly being sculpted. Rocks, minerals, and soil break down through weathering and are swept away through erosion. Just like us, our natural surroundings never stay the same for long. Understanding forces like weathering and erosion teaches us how Earth has changed and how it will change in the future.
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Questions
What does the statement “just like us, our natural surroundings never stay the same for long” help the reader understand?
That change is pretty rare
That change is constant and everywhere
That most people are very similar to the nature around them
That no one ever changes