Auroras, Canyons, and Waterfall formations

Written by: Caroline Kim

November 6, 2022

Some of nature's most beautiful places are so unique and admirable, but how are some of these phenomena formed? Today we’ll look into formations of auroras, canyons, and waterfalls. Some of these might be on your bucket list of places to visit!

By now you’ve probably heard of the phenomenon called the Northern Lights or Aurora. I’m sure it’s made it across many people’s bucket lists and pinterest feeds. But how does this beauty occur? Today we’ll talk about the formation and science behind nature's colorful sky lights. Essentially, these auroras occur from the collision of charged particles with the gasses in earth’s upper atmosphere (Canadian Space Agency). Earth’s magnetic poles allow for these particles to interact and create the auroras at earth’s poles (Canadian Space Agency). Different colors in auroras can be attributed to the various gasses in the earth’s atmosphere. For example, red is due to oxygen at high altitudes, green-yellow due to oxygen at low altitudes, reddish/bluish on the edges are due to nitrogen, and blue/purple are due to hydrogen and helium (Boudreau).

Next up are canyons: The Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Taroko Gorge, Todra Gorge. “... narrow valleys with steep sides… the movement of rivers, the process of weathering and erosion, and tectonic activity create canyons” (Rutledge). The river canyons create a narrow channel from pressure and carry sediment downstream; some examples include the grand canyon and antelope canyon (Rutledge). Water, freezing, and expansion all contribute to weathering, which erodes rocks, creating canyons; the very narrow canyons (slot canyons) occur when this weathering process takes place on soft rock (Rutledge). On the other hand, hard rock canyons create an open end known as box canyons (Rutledge). Tectonic plate movement, simply put, causes shifts in earth’s crust, causing various elevations and changes in landscape, one outcome being canyons (Rutledge). “By studying the exposed layers of rock in a canyon wall, experts can learn about how the climate changed, what kind of organisms were alive at certain times, and perhaps even how the canyon may change in the future” (Rutledge).

Last but not least are waterfalls/cascades: a body of water's steep fall over a rocky ledge into a plunge pool below (Waterfall). These form when water moves from an area of soft to hard rock, causing the soft rock to erode while it falls over the hard rock (Waterfall). As it carries sediment and reaches an area of hard rock, a waterfall forms when only hard rock remains: granite formations form cliffs (Waterfall). “An earthquake, landslide, glacier, or volcano may also disrupt stream beds and help create waterfalls” (Waterfalls). These waterfalls are said to help hydrologists and geologists determine fall lines and rock structure. One that I have visited is the Niagara Falls, a popular attraction and another piece of nature that makes us appreciate nature!

(PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVE BROSHA, MYSHOT)

(PHOTOGRAPH BY SUZI PRATT, MYSHOT)

(PHOTOGRAPH BY WALTER MEAYERS EDWARDS)

Sources:

Canadian Space Agency. “What Are the Northern Lights?” Canadian Space Agency, / Gouvernement Du Canada, 27 Sept. 2022, https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronomy/northern-lights/what-are-northern-lights.asp.

Boudreau, Dianne, and Melissa McDaniel. “Aurora.” National Geographic Society, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/aurora.

Rutledge, Kim, and Melissa McDaniel. “Canyon.” National Geographic Society, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/canyon.

“Waterfall.” Edited by Jeannie Evers, National Geographic Society, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/waterfall.