The Rapid Erosion of Mountains and Continents
Scientists today know that high elevation mountains erode very quickly. Erosional processes on mountains are initiated by weather and climatic conditions and from the steep angle slopes. Glacial ice on mountain tops produces substantial erosion. In addition, weathering processes modify rock at steep angles and cause massive rock falls and landslides. At the present rate of erosion observed on mountains and higher elevation areas today, many ask the question: Why do we still have mountains today if these mountains formed over millions of years ago? In fact, if these mountains were formed millions of years ago, the continents should be relatively flat and no high mountains would exist today. The fact that we have mountains and high elevation areas today gives great evidence that the earth is very young and that the creationist timeline of 6,000 years is very accurate. The old earth proponents will likely counter that mountains have continuously been uplifted in the past and are continuously uplifted today by tectonic forces throughout the supposed millions of years of time. However, with the rapid rate of erosion observed today, it is unlikely that we would have high mountains such as the Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, and the Alps in existence for millions of years. A timeline of a few thousand years is a much more realistic timeframe for the existence of today’s mountains on Earth.
The continental landmasses of today are considered to be billions of years old by mainstream scientists, including the base layer cratons and the upper layers of sediment supposedly deposited over millions of years. However, at the observed erosion rates of today and using the uniformitarian principle of the present being the key to the past, the continents should have been eroded flat within a few million years. We would not have mountains or even high hills if millions of years of erosion have passed away. The amount of rainfall that occurs on the earth's landmasses is extremely large and this rainfall runoff flows in to the smaller streams and gullies which connect to larger streams and finally the larger rivers which empty into the oceans. These streams and rivers carry much eroded sediment from the landmasses and drainage basins. Weathering processes in addition to rainfall include ice, extreme cold and heat, which help to loosen up exposed rock layers on the surface along with the soil and contributes greatly to the erosional process. Other events that can increase erosion dramatically and rapidly are strong storms, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions. Steep slopes are also a major factor of erosion and therefore mountains and large hills should produce more erosion than flatter areas.
The continental landmasses of today are considered to be billions of years old by mainstream scientists, including the base layer cratons and the upper layers of sediment supposedly deposited over millions of years. However, at the observed erosion rates of today and using the uniformitarian principle of the present being the key to the past, the continents should have been eroded flat within a few million years. We would not have mountains or even high hills if millions of years of erosion have passed away. The amount of rainfall that occurs on the earth's landmasses is extremely large and this rainfall runoff flows in to the smaller streams and gullies which connect to larger streams and finally the larger rivers which empty into the oceans. These streams and rivers carry much eroded sediment from the landmasses and drainage basins. Weathering processes in addition to rainfall include ice, extreme cold and heat, which help to loosen up exposed rock layers on the surface along with the soil and contributes greatly to the erosional process. Other events that can increase erosion dramatically and rapidly are strong storms, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions. Steep slopes are also a major factor of erosion and therefore mountains and large hills should produce more erosion than flatter areas.
