why can water be a geologic force?

Answer 1

While it is obvious that water is a major component in erosion and weathering, there are several other ways that water plays a role in geologic processes.

In erosion, water moves sediment and carves out canyons, depositing that sediment to form river deltas and beaches. Freezing water expands producing mechanical weathering of rocks. Chemical dissolution of some rocks produces karst and caves, and changes some rocks into clay.

Because water can dissolve almost any substance to some degree, it also plays a major role in chemical weathering and carries dissolved salts into the ocean where during some geologic periods the salts have been deposited in thick layers of salt, anhydrite, gypsum, and other minerals. Circulation of sea water through mid-ocean spreading ridges can create deposits of minerals and metals.

Water also plays a role in isostacy. The weight of the ocean water actually pushes the crust below it deeper into the aesthenosphere. As water accumulates or melts away from glaciers on the continents the continental plates either rise or sink. One of the reasons that parts of the coast of the Eastern US and the Gulf Coast of the US are sinking is because of isostatic rebound. When the glaciers covering most of North American melted about 10,000 years ago, they caused the central and northern part of the continent to begin rising. Because these parts of the continental plate are rising, the parts closer to the ocean are sinking.

Water also plays an important role in volcanism. As water trapped in sediment is subducted under continental plates, it heats up and its presence lowers the melting point of some minerals, creating magma and feeding volcanic activity along subduction zones.

Finally, water plays a major role in regulating climate. Not only do ocean currents move and distribute heat around the planet, but water vapor is the most significant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Our planet would not be as warm as it is if not for the vast amounts of water vapor in our atmosphere.

Water even plays a role in metamorphic processes, allowing many minerals to form from both sedimentary rock and igneous rock as temperature and pressure increase due to burial and plate movement. In sedimentary rocks water often carries the minerals that cement the clasts of both carbonates and siliceous materials, creating sandstone, limestone, shale, and other sedimentary rocks.

Finally, water supports lifeforms. The largest quantity of carbon on the planet is contained in carbonate rocks, which were primarily created by living organisms. Some carbonate rocks are formed by precipitation of carbonate minerals from water. The organisms that live in water, and depend on water have created major geologic features on the planet. Consider how many mountain ranges are composed of limestone rocks, which are the remains of living organisms that once lived in the oceans. Water contained deep within rocks may be the habitat of many micro-organisms that play a role in changing the mineral composition of the rock around them.

Answer 2

Water is one of the two major geomorphological agent; which are air and water. Lava eruption and earth quakes may also be taken into account but water and air remain the supreme.

Rain fall, snow fall, movement of glaciers, sea waves striking the coastal areas (especially cliffs etc.), tsunamis---all of them are H2O (the Water) in one shape or other.

The melted snow comes to the streams which come together to make the tributaries of the rivers and then rivers by themselves ---- in every form they carry an enormous load of debris and deposit with to unload them at the destination.
The glaciers grind the the under-lying surface, finally gets melted by sun and the debris it created during its movement go along the freezing water to some lake or (as said above) finally to the sea; where new rocks (the sedimentary rocks) are formed. This changes the topography of the sea bed.

Thus water flow change the shape and face of the Earth.

Ocean waves strike and break the cliffs (and a sort of land fall/slide) occurs----all that is geological.

Geomorphology is a branch of the science we call The Geology. What do you think?

I have not touched air, volcanic activity and earth quakes, do you need that as well?

Answer 3

because almost all things are soluable in water such as even your hardest rocks, seismic shift alters water by causing a tsunami. so it is definatly a geological force. just to put this simply. Think about it. a Lahar (volcanic flood) water and volcanic debris is a geologic force, tsunami, rivers, streams, and the ocean itself.

Answer 4

Of course it can be a geological force? Where do you think the Grand Canyon came from?

Answer 5

Water, in its erosive activity, has changed the shape of many landforms. It also, on a very small scale, seeps into cracks in rocks, and upon freezing, breaks the rocks. Water in the oceans forms barrier beaches, as it erodes other parts of the shore. It forms inlets that were not there previously. The chief action of water on the earth is erosion.

Answer 6

do no longer beat your self up for no longer expertise the creationist point of view. Creationism isn't a technological expertise any further than evolution is a faith or Darwin a prophet (2 of their absurd claims). technological expertise takes time and endurance to comprehend. solutions do no longer come elementary, and theories become incorrect or in choose of replace. cutting-area geology does furnish the suited motives for the methods that shape the Earth. lower back interior the Nineteen Sixties, an American creationist Henry Morris tried to teach how the Biblical flood shaped the Earth of right this moment. Morris believed his history in hydraulic engineering no longer at as quickly as made him an authority in geology. yet many have faith his suggestions some six day creation and a brilliant Flood teach the Bible's scientific accuracy. do no longer assume logical motives from advocates of creationism. yet i'm biased. .