THE FUTURE

Red Rocks Amphitheatre as we know it today is the result of billions of years of geological processes.  It all began as layers of sediment piled up, compacted and were eventually solidified.  About 100 million years ago, these massive ancient plates compressed together, uplifting the Rocky Mountains.  Since then, many different forces have begun to change the shape of Red Rocks resulting in what we see today.  Physical, mechanical and chemical weathering processes have all worked their part in order to shape the rocks.  These processes, including erosion, have smoothed the rocks and continue to weather the physical features.

Looking 1000 years into the future there will probably not be very much noticeable change to the area.  Considering the Earth is over 4 billion years old, geologically speaking 1000 years is not very much time at all.  All of the processes described in past blog posts will continue to affect the physical development and destruction of the area, however the results will not be very noticeable.  The rocks will continue to wear down, however it will most likely be on a small level.

10,000 years into the future, the landscape will look vastly different from what we see today.  Large chunks of the monolith will have broken off from centuries of intense weathering.  It will most likely be too short of a time before more uplift is able to occur, however, it is not out of the question.  The change of seasons will affect the rocks through frost weathering, and vegetation will begin to grow through the cracks.  The pressure of roots from future vegetation will also begin to deteriorate the amphitheater. Red Rocks will be recognizable, however if it is not kept up by humans and nature takes its course, it will be overgrown and look like ancient ruins after centuries of weathering.

In 10,000 years the perfectly shaped red rocks seats will no longer be able to hold concert goers.  Frost weathering will crack the laid cement and other weathering processes will crack and mangle the rows.  Years of weathering will eventually carry everything man-made to the bottom of the hill.

Vegetation such as this may be a common site throughout the inside of the amphitheater.  Pressure from the roots of trees and shrubs will weather the rocks causing changes in the landscape.

1,000,000 years into the future Red Rocks Amphitheatre will be dust in the wind.  Perhaps remnants of the monoliths will exist, but much of the current rock in the seating area and stage will be washed miles east toward Denver by erosion   Rocks will be uplifted through faulting, others will be broken down by physical and mechanical weathering. Though it will look much different, it will actually be fairly similar to what it is today.  The rocks will still be mostly all sandstone and gneiss, however anything that is currently exposed will be broken down exposing new (old) layers of rock.

Sources:
http://www.redrocksonline.com/ABOUTUS/HistoryGeology.aspx
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3408/3341945290_05d4b22791_z.jpg
http://redrockcanyonopenspace.org

Weather and Climate

Denver, Colorado is often known for having 300 sunny days each year; Red Rocks Amphitheater is located  in Morrison, Colorado, just 15 miles west making it a great location to enjoy the Colorado climate.  However this does not mean that it will be sunny everyday and the difference can be recognized by understanding weather and climate.  Climate is what can be expected, the average condition of the atmosphere over a long period of time.  Weather on the other hand, is the atmosphere's condition you can get at any given moment.  Weather can change in an instant where as climate is the expected conditions.

A view from the top of the rocks shows an average day in Colorado.  The view may be representative of the climate, average conditions of the area, however does not necessarily represent the weather at any given moment.

Climate can be classified using Köppen's general scheme which is a letter based system to classify different areas of the earth.  This link to the Koeppen Classification Chart, will show how any given area can be classified into a 3 letter group using this system.  In order to classify Red Rocks Amphitheater we can look to chart for answers.  Being a dry climate the first letter in the classification is 'B'.  From here we go on to identify the area as a steppe rather than a desert, meaning the second letter is 'S'.  For the final letter we can identify the area as cold over hot, otherwise known as "k".  This means that the semi-arid climate of the Red Rock's Area can be classified as 'BSk' using Köppen's method.

Weather has the ability to change in an instant.  A concert at Red Rock's Amphitheater last summer shows how thunderstorms can come pouring rain out of nowhere.  The simple combination of moisture and unstable air, which rises rapidly, have the ability to form monstrous thunderstorms.

Thunderstorms come from a specific type of cloud known as cumulonimbus.  However, there are many different types of clouds each defined by their altitude, shape and precipitation. Cumulonimbus are mid to low level clouds.  These clouds will appear puffy and are very large; they are also often known for bringing intense precipitation with them

There are a wide variety of clouds which can each be classified by unique characteristics.  When classifying clouds it is important to note their altitude  appearance and if they are giving off precipitation.  Clouds can form individually, but it is not uncommon to see many types when looking into the sky.

SOURCES:

http://clasfaculty.ucdenver.edu/callen/1202/Climate/Weather/Weather.html

http://az100346.vo.msecnd.net/content/images/rockandbus/venues/redrocksamphitheatre/primary.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HFqg3c6-8mhOXngck1glRHL_sM5jejKPvsuRGJ8DS5fdDpYNOtw5QPpvrb4CZrHpqfrjgCCLwUT-QrSDxEUlpc96x-QHPW60rR12AaSQt8K3oMcw-9gMLdNDlT5bzjQBfiO1paQFqbPo/s1600/Cloud+chart.jpg

http://clasfaculty.ucdenver.edu/callen/1202/Climate/EarthTempClim/EarthTempClim.html

Rock Recycling

The process of weathering, the breakdown or decay of rock, forms the physical geography all around us.  Weathering is not to be confused with the common term, erosion which is the transport of weathered material.  However, these two processes can work together in order to create magnificent physical features.

Large fractures in rock are known as joints.

Physical weathering, otherwise known as mechanical weathering, is known as the disintegration of rocks and minerals by a physical or mechanical process.   Many different types of weathering exist and examples of these processes can be found throughout the Red Rocks Amphitheatre and the surrounding areas. 

Joints can be identified as regularly spaced fractures or cracks in the rocks.

A common form of weathering found in the area is known as frost weathering.  This process most often occurs in high altitudes, such as the Rocky Mountains, where water freezes and thaws often.  Water will seep into joints, freeze, and expand by up to 11%.  This expansion exerts force on the surrounding areas and results in weathering.

With snowfall comes melting and refreezing, resulting in expansion and weathering.

Another common form of weathering in the area is known as basal weathering.  The name basal weathering is due to the weathering around the base of a rock.  This process occurs over centuries as running water slowly weathers the base of a rock, with the weathered material carried away through erosion.

Basal, as well as other forms of physical and chemical weathering  can be found at Red Rocks.

A process of chemical weathering, (biological) organic acids can also weather rock.  When vegetation such as mosses and lichens grow on rock they leach chemicals weakening and weathering the material.  Another from of chemical weathering; salts can create cavernous weathering on vertical faces, these large holes on the side of the rock are known as tafoni.

A third type of physical weathering which occurs in the area is weathering through the pressure of roots.  As plants grow, their roots extend downward into cracks and fractures in the Earth.  The pressure of this growth causes the cracks to expand resulting in larger fractures.

The more vegetation on a rock surface, the more weathering will occur. Root pressure fractures can be seen throughout Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

With weathering constantly occuring, the weathered materials are eroded away and deposited; eventually becoming soil.  Over time the soil will settle into distinctive horizontal layers, based upon climate, living organisms and configuration of land surface, forming a soil profile.

This soil profile from Red Rocks shows O-K horizons

Each soil horizon has properties of its own based upon physical, chemical and organic composition

                                                       

Soil can be looked at as a closed cycle.  All of the materials will be recycled within the system forming new rocks which return to soil and eventually repeat the process.


Sources:
http://clasfaculty.ucdenver.edu/callen/1202/Soils/Soils.html
http://images.cdn.fotopedia.com/flickr-3828340682-hd.jpg
http://denver.ettractions.com/storage/attraction/thumb/red-rocks-denver-rocks.jpg
http://marlimillerphoto.com/images/WE-18.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6592126337_04f2141718_z.jpg

Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a geological phenomenon located just west of Denver in Morrison, Colorado.  These magnificent rocks were formed as a result of layers of sediment which once settled at the seafloor of an ancient ocean.  Over the course of millions of years these layers of sediment were compressed, eventually forming massive chucks of rock. Over 100 million years ago these rocks were uplifted into what would have been the Ancestral Rockies.  After millions of years of weathering these ancient mountains have begun to wear away through the process of erosion, thus exposing the rocks as we see them today.  This region is also known as the Fountain Formation consisting mainly of sandstone.

A view of Red Rocks Park 

The amphitheater is formed from 3 main rocks: Ship Rock on the south face, Stage Rock directly behind the stage and Creation Rock (Pictured Below) on the north face.  This unique rock formation is the world’s only known naturally-occurring, acoustically perfect amphitheater.  From inside the venue the countless layers of sediment can be seen.  These countless layers of sediment tell the story of the millions of years it took to form the monoliths which we currently see.  With its long history it is no surprise that dinosaur bones can also be found throughout the region.

"Creation Rock" as seen from inside of the venue - Notice the layers of sediment

Perhaps one of the most interesting features of Red Rocks, an unconformity line can be found just above the venue.  Picture below is an unconformity line showing a gap of 1.4 billion years! This weekend I even had the privilege to see this amazing feature first hand.  To the left is the Fountain Formation “Red Rocks” as we know them today, which is formed from compacted sand and gravel that is 300 million years old.  To the right is Precambrian Gneiss, gray metamorphic rocks, stained red, which formed 1700 million years ago.  This occurrence could be the result of a tilt in the rocks, which later eroded, allowing new layers of sediment to form on top.  

The Great Unconformity of Red Rocks Amphitheatre 

 My pup Gaia and I checking out the unconformity up close

It has already been a treat to begin to explore the physical geogprahy of Red Rocks Amphitheatre.  Its  features are a true testament to the incredible power of nature and its ability to literally move mountains.  

Sources:

All photographs were taken by myself, except the final photo was by a group of strangers who I gave a little geology lesson about the unconformity too.

http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/parks/romo/

http://www.redrocksonline.com/ABOUTUS/HistoryGeology.aspx

http://geology.about.com/od/geoprocesses/a/unconformities.htm

http://geology.about.com/od/geology_co/ig/redrocks/

Introduction

My name is Andrew Roth and I am a student at University of Colorado Denver.  For my project this semester I will be examining the geographical features of the Red Rocks Amphitheater, located in Morrison, Colorado.  I am an avid music fan and enjoy hiking which makes Red Rocks the perfect place for me.  I like to see concerts there as much as possible during the summer season and would love to learn more about its unique geographical features. I intend to use this blog to explore how the Red Rocks Amphitheater came to be as we know it today