Scientific Explanation

How Weathering, Erosion and Deposition Shaped the Park

Petrified Forest National Park was formed by weathering. The Colorado Plateau helps me prove this because waterfalls or precipitation break down the rock and lakes or ocean waves take the rocks away and break them down. Additionally, water breaks down the big rocks into smaller ones. Weathering is the process of water or other phenomena breaking down Earth material into smaller pieces; becomes sediment. A scientific principle to prove this is: small changes over a long period of time can have big effects on Earth material. The Colorado Plateau shows us that weathering occurs in Petrified Forest National Park. This is because waterfalls and precipitation like rain, snow, sleet, and/or hail breaks down rocks. Lakes or ocean waves take the rocks away and break them down. Then, over thousands of years water breaks down the big rocks into smaller ones. In summary, the Colorado Plateau proves that weathering occurs in Petrified Forest National Park.

Petrified Forest National Park was formed by erosion. The Agate Bridge helps me prove this because the river carries the inside rocks away and rivers or other reservoirs take the small rocks somewhere else. Adding to that, water expands the inside of the arch and makes it bigger. Erosion is when water or other phenomena transports Earth material from one place to another. A scientific principle to prove this  is that Earth material is constantly changed and shaped by various processes. The Agate Bridge shows us that erosion occurs in Petrified Forest National Park. This is because rock from inside the bridge gets taken away by the river.  Rivers take the small rocks somewhere else. Over millions of years water expands the inside of the bridge. In summary, the Agate Bridge proves that erosion forms Petrified Forest National Park. 

Petrified Forest National Park was formed by deposition. The rapids along the Puerco river helps me prove this because they are along the Puerco river and create fast-moving water when the rocks continue to get stuck. The rocks are sharp, and all various sizes. Deposition is the dropping or depositing of Earth materials after weathering and erosion have occurred. A scientific principle to back up this statement is that Earth material is constantly changed and shaped by various processes. The rapids along the Puerco river shows us that deposition occurs in Petrified Forest National Park. This is because as Earth material is eroded or transported along the river it will eventually get dropped or deposited. Over thousands of years the rock continues to get stuck which creates the fast-moving water we see today. In summary, the rapids along the Puerco river proves that deposition forms Petrified Forest National Park.