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38-796: 112,500 acres (45,500 ha) of the region were designated as the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness in 1984. An even greater area was protected within Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in 2000. The Vermilion Cliffs are composed of the resistant red sandstone beds of the Lower Jurassic Moenave and Kayenta Formations. They are made up of deposited silt and desert dunes, cemented by infiltrated carbonates and intensely colored by red iron oxide and other minerals, particularly bluish manganese . They are in

76-503: A branch of planetary science but with a much older history. Geology is broadly the study of Earth's structure, substance, and processes. Geology is largely the study of the lithosphere , or Earth's surface, including the crust and rocks . It includes the physical characteristics and processes that occur in the lithosphere as well as how they are affected by geothermal energy . It incorporates aspects of chemistry, physics, and biology as elements of geology interact. Historical geology

114-586: A field of a magnetic dipole currently tilted at an angle of about 11° with respect to Earth's rotational axis, as if there were an enormous bar magnet placed at that angle through the center of Earth. The North geomagnetic pole ( Ellesmere Island , Nunavut , Canada) actually represents the South pole of Earth's magnetic field, and conversely the South geomagnetic pole corresponds to the north pole of Earth's magnetic field (because opposite magnetic poles attract and

152-509: Is brought back into the Earth are convergent boundaries and those where plates slide past each other, but no new lithospheric material is created or destroyed, are referred to as transform (or conservative) boundaries. Earthquakes result from the movement of the lithospheric plates, and they often occur near convergent boundaries where parts of the crust are forced into the earth as part of subduction. Plate tectonics might be thought of as

190-522: Is distinct from human geography , which studies the human populations on Earth, though it does include human effects on the environment. Methodologies vary depending on the nature of the subjects being studied. Studies typically fall into one of three categories: observational, experimental, or theoretical. Earth scientists often conduct sophisticated computer analysis or visit an interesting location to study earth phenomena (e.g. Antarctica or hot spot island chains). A foundational idea in Earth science

228-402: Is forced into the asthenosphere melts, and some portion of the melted material becomes light enough to rise to the surface—giving birth to volcanoes. Atmospheric science initially developed in the late-19th century as a means to forecast the weather through meteorology , the study of weather. Atmospheric chemistry was developed in the 20th century to measure air pollution and expanded in

266-459: Is generated by electric currents due to the motion of convection currents of a mixture of molten iron and nickel in Earth's outer core : these convection currents are caused by heat escaping from the core, a natural process called a geodynamo . The magnitude of Earth's magnetic field at its surface ranges from 25 to 65 μT (0.25 to 0.65 G). As an approximation, it is represented by

304-456: Is referred to as the "regeneration site" because some of the trees that grow here survive to produce the next generation of mature canopy. Beyond the regeneration site trees grow strong and tall. Dominant vegetation includes cottonwood, willow, ash, and tamarisk. This zone is the fringe between riparian and desert uplands, often sharing vegetation like rabbitbrush , Indian ricegrass , arrowweed , and sand dropseed . Other vegetation found in

342-408: Is the application of geology to interpret Earth history and how it has changed over time. Geochemistry studies the chemical components and processes of the Earth. Geophysics studies the physical properties of the Earth. Paleontology studies fossilized biological material in the lithosphere. Planetary geology studies geoscience as it pertains to extraterrestrial bodies. Geomorphology studies

380-420: Is the notion of uniformitarianism , which states that "ancient geologic features are interpreted by understanding active processes that are readily observed." In other words, any geologic processes at work in the present have operated in the same ways throughout geologic time. This enables those who study Earth history to apply knowledge of how the Earth's processes operate in the present to gain insight into how

418-441: Is the study of oceans. Hydrogeology is the study of groundwater . It includes the mapping of groundwater supplies and the analysis of groundwater contaminants. Applied hydrogeology seeks to prevent contamination of groundwater and mineral springs and make it available as drinking water . The earliest exploitation of groundwater resources dates back to 3000 BC, and hydrogeology as a science was developed by hydrologists beginning in

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456-480: The geologic record . Ancient petroglyphs , granaries, and campsites indicate that ancestral Puebloan people utilized the Wilderness between AD 200 and AD 1200. They hunted mule deer and bighorn sheep and grew corn, beans, and squash in the lower end of the canyon. Paiute people later occupied and traveled much of the area before Europeans arrived. Because no habitations or large villages have been found in

494-460: The solar wind . As the Earth is 4.5 billion years old, it would have lost its atmosphere by now if there were no protective magnetosphere. Earth's magnetic field , also known as the geomagnetic field, is the magnetic field that extends from Earth's interior out into space, where it interacts with the solar wind , a stream of charged particles emanating from the Sun . The magnetic field

532-427: The 17th century. Ecohydrology is the study of ecological systems in the hydrosphere . It can be divided into the physical study of aquatic ecosystems and the biological study of aquatic organisms. Ecohydrology includes the effects that organisms and aquatic ecosystems have on one another as well as how these ecoystems are affected by humans. Glaciology is the study of the cryosphere, including glaciers and coverage of

570-515: The 1970s in response to acid rain . Climatology studies the climate and climate change . The troposphere , stratosphere , mesosphere , thermosphere , and exosphere are the five layers which make up Earth's atmosphere. 75% of the mass in the atmosphere is located within the troposphere, the lowest layer. In all, the atmosphere is made up of about 78.0% nitrogen , 20.9% oxygen , and 0.92% argon , and small amounts of other gases including CO 2 and water vapor. Water vapor and CO 2 cause

608-538: The 1980s and are usually found in the cliffs and crags of the lower canyon. A variety of reptiles live in the Wilderness, including rattlesnake , chuckwalla , side-blotched lizard , leopard lizard , desert spiny lizard , and collared lizard . The red-spotted toad can be spotted in the canyon and four species of fish are occasionally found in the Paria River - the flannel mouth sucker , bluehead sucker , razorback sucker , and speckled dace . Vegetation in

646-500: The Earth by ice and snow. Concerns of glaciology include access to glacial freshwater, mitigation of glacial hazards, obtaining resources that exist beneath frozen land, and addressing the effects of climate change on the cryosphere. Ecology is the study of the biosphere . This includes the study of nature and of how living things interact with the Earth and one another and the consequences of that. It considers how living things use resources such as oxygen , water , and nutrients from

684-425: The Earth to sustain themselves. It also considers how humans and other living creatures cause changes to nature. Physical geography is the study of Earth's systems and how they interact with one another as part of a single self-contained system. It incorporates astronomy, mathematical geography, meteorology, climatology, geology, geomorphology, biology, biogeography, pedology, and soils geography. Physical geography

722-469: The Earth's atmosphere to catch and hold the Sun's energy through the greenhouse effect . This makes Earth's surface warm enough for liquid water and life. In addition to trapping heat, the atmosphere also protects living organisms by shielding the Earth's surface from cosmic rays . The magnetic field —created by the internal motions of the core—produces the magnetosphere which protects Earth's atmosphere from

760-435: The Earth's crust lies the mantle which is heated by the radioactive decay of heavy elements . The mantle is not quite solid and consists of magma which is in a state of semi-perpetual convection . This convection process causes the lithospheric plates to move, albeit slowly. The resulting process is known as plate tectonics. Areas of the crust where new crust is created are called divergent boundaries , those where it

798-589: The Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness can be divided into three different zones of riparian vegetation communities, which run parallel to each side of the river. Plants found closest to the water include cattails , common reeds , sedges , rushes , and horsetails . Drier soil farther from the water makes a good environment for woody vegetation which has survived the repeated flooding, such as coyote willow , cottonwood , ash , tamarisk , and seep-willow . This zone

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836-573: The Vermilion Cliffs for most of its route between Jacob Lake and Marble Canyon , and offers a great view of the cliffs. In the spring, after a good winter rain, the valley between Highway 89 and the Vermilion Cliffs will be covered with a carpet of desert mallow and other spring flowers. In the image below, Highway 89A is atop the yellow rocks capping the first step of the series, the Chocolate Cliffs , and will turn east (to

874-568: The Wave formation in Coyote Buttes. Earth sciences Earth science or geoscience includes all fields of natural science related to the planet Earth . This is a branch of science dealing with the physical, chemical, and biological complex constitutions and synergistic linkages of Earth's four spheres: the biosphere , hydrosphere / cryosphere , atmosphere , and geosphere (or lithosphere ). Earth science can be considered to be

912-671: The Wilderness and prospectors who mined gold , uranium , and other minerals. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. Many bird species are found in the Wilderness, including bald eagle , golden eagle , peregrine falcon , red-tailed hawk , great horned owl , and Cooper's hawk . Other birds seen in the Wilderness include white-throated swift , violet-green swallow , rock wren , canyon wren , killdeer , cliff swallow , black-throated sparrow , ruby-crowned kinglet , blue-gray gnatcatcher , black-chinned hummingbird , great blue heron , flycatchers and various species of duck . The Wilderness

950-409: The Wilderness include pinyon pine , juniper , boxelder , various species of cactus , and other desert flora. Hiking is the most common recreational activity in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, followed by camping, photography, and canyoneering. Hikes through Paria Canyon are popular. The White House Trailhead is the main entrance and, therefore, more popular than the other trailheads in

988-587: The Wilderness. Wire Pass Trailhead is the starting point for hiking into the canyon via Buckskin Gulch , as well as to spectacular sandstone formations such as The Wave on the slopes of the Coyote Buttes . The BLM has placed a limit on overnight camping in the Paria Canyon portion of the Wilderness in order to protect it from overuse. It is also necessary to obtain a permit for the popular hike to

1026-519: The arid Colorado Plateau region. The wilderness is composed of broad plateaus , tall escarpments , and deep canyons . The Paria River flows through the wilderness before joining the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry , Arizona. The U.S. Congress designated the wilderness area in 1984 and it was largely incorporated into the new Vermilion Cliffs National Monument proclaimed in 2000 by executive order of President Bill Clinton . Both

1064-529: The canyon, researchers believe the canyon was primarily used as a travel route. The first documented Europeans in the area were Fathers Francisco Atanasio Domínguez and Silvestre Vélez de Escalante of the Domínguez–Escalante expedition . The expedition stopped at the mouth of the Paria River in 1776 after they unsuccessfully attempted to establish a route from Santa Fe, New Mexico , to Monterey, California . The 19th century drew outlaws who hid out in

1102-575: The north end of a magnet, like a compass needle, points toward Earth's South magnetic field. Hydrology is the study of the hydrosphere and the movement of water on Earth . It emphasizes the study of how humans use and interact with freshwater supplies. Study of water's movement is closely related to geomorphology and other branches of Earth science. Applied hydrology involves engineering to maintain aquatic environments and distribute water supplies. Subdisciplines of hydrology include oceanography , hydrogeology , ecohydrology , and glaciology . Oceanography

1140-614: The old wagon route past the cliffs through House Rock Valley and up the Kaibab Plateau to Jacob Lake . Famous locations in the cliff area include Lee's Ferry , Glen Canyon and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area , The Wave , Coyote Buttes , and others. Reddish or vermilion -colored cliffs are found along U.S. Highway 89A near Navajo Bridge , and may be seen from U.S. Highway 89 close to Bitter Springs . Highway 89A runs alongside

1178-419: The origin of landscapes. Structural geology studies the deformation of rocks to produce mountains and lowlands. Resource geology studies how energy resources can be obtained from minerals. Environmental geology studies how pollution and contaminants affect soil and rock. Mineralogy is the study of minerals and includes the study of mineral formation, crystal structure , hazards associated with minerals, and

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1216-425: The physical and chemical properties of minerals. Petrology is the study of rocks, including the formation and composition of rocks. Petrography is a branch of petrology that studies the typology and classification of rocks. Plate tectonics , mountain ranges , volcanoes , and earthquakes are geological phenomena that can be explained in terms of physical and chemical processes in the Earth's crust. Beneath

1254-609: The physiographic High Plateaus Section and Canyon Lands Section of the Colorado Plateau Province . The Vermilion Cliffs were on an important route from Utah to Arizona used by settlers during the 19th Century. The area was explored by the Mormon pioneer and missionary Jacob Hamblin , who started a ranch at the base of the cliffs in House Rock Valley. Present day U.S. Highway 89A basically follows

1292-466: The planet has evolved and changed throughout long history. In Earth science, it is common to conceptualize the Earth's surface as consisting of several distinct layers, often referred to as spheres: the lithosphere , the hydrosphere , the atmosphere , and the biosphere , this concept of spheres is a useful tool for understanding the Earth's surface and its various processes these correspond to rocks , water , air and life . Also included by some are

1330-423: The process by which the Earth is resurfaced. As the result of seafloor spreading , new crust and lithosphere is created by the flow of magma from the mantle to the near surface, through fissures, where it cools and solidifies. Through subduction , oceanic crust and lithosphere vehemently returns to the convecting mantle. Volcanoes result primarily from the melting of subducted crust material. Crust material that

1368-546: The right) upon entry to the valley below, ultimately crossing the Colorado River at Marble Canyon via the Navajo Bridge . 36°48′23″N 111°44′28″W  /  36.8063889°N 111.7411111°W  / 36.8063889; -111.7411111 Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness The Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness is a 112,500 acres (455 km ) wilderness area located in northern Arizona and southern Utah , United States , within

1406-469: The wilderness area and the National Monument are administered by the federal Bureau of Land Management . The Colorado Plateau and its river basins are of immense value in the Earth sciences , specifically chronostratigraphy , as the region contains multiple terrain features exposing miles-thick contiguous rock columns that geologists and paleobiologists use as reference strata of

1444-438: Was the location of a 1996 release of captively-bred endangered California condors in an attempt to re-introduce them to the wild. Mammals found in the Wilderness include mule deer , bobcat , fox , mountain lion , porcupine , beaver , coyote , jack rabbit , cottontail rabbit , ground squirrels , kangaroo rat , and various other rodent species. Desert bighorn sheep were successfully reintroduced to Paria Canyon in

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