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[Jitian Vision] Is this how the Grand Canyon of the United States was “carved”?
2025-07-25
Suzhou-1 Satellite (Jitianxing A-03) and Jilin University-1 Satellite (Jitianxing A-01) are the first two satellites in the next-generation optical remote sensing constellation developed independently by Jitianxingzhou. Equipped with independently developed optical cameras featuring high time efficiency, high geometry, and high spectral performance, the satellites offer both conventional and in-motion imaging capabilities, with a ground-based panchromatic, multispectral, and hyperspectral resolution of 3 meters and a swath width of 15 kilometers. In this episode, Jitianxing takes us to northern Arizona, USA, to explore the wonders of water-cut rock, a masterpiece carved over millions of years by the Colorado River, resulting in the world-famous Grand Canyon.
Geological Base: The "Innate Conditions" of Soft Rock
The formation of the Grand Canyon was a long and fascinating tug-of-war between water and rock, beginning with a unique geological foundation. The 3-meter-resolution images from the Jitian Shuangxing satellite clearly reveal the distinct layers of rock on either side of the canyon, composed primarily of relatively soft sandstone and shale. These sedimentary layers, compacted from ancient sand and silt, are relatively soft, providing a natural entry point for the Colorado River's erosion. This layered structure also creates favorable conditions for the river to continue its deep incision.
The Power of Water: From V-Shaped Grooves to Feathered Networks
Although the Colorado River is not a massive river with abundant water, it has achieved the feat of carving through thousands of meters of rock through its enduring resilience and sophisticated erosive mechanisms. The core of its incising power lies in the vast quantities of sand and gravel carried by the water. In the turbulent river, which can flow at speeds exceeding 8 meters per second, these hard particles act like natural abrasives, continuously eroding and grinding the riverbed bedrock, carving deep "V"-shaped grooves into the canyon floor.
The canyon's vast width is due to the force of lateral erosion. Images from the Jitian Double Star satellite reveal a dense network of feather-like erosion gullies on either side of the main canyon, resembling giant ribs. These are the work of countless tributaries and streams: they cut downward and erode laterally along the natural joints and fissures of the rock formation. This continuous lateral erosion strips away the rock walls, causing rock collapse and allowing the canyon to expand laterally.
Environmental Assistance: The Invisible Power of Weathering
The harsh environment of the high desert plateau is a powerful ally of water erosion. The dramatic diurnal temperature swing (often reaching 30°C) causes water seeping into rock crevices to repeatedly expand during the day and freeze at night. The intense stresses generated by these freeze-thaw cycles continuously crack and disintegrate the rock mass. Salt weathering (pressure generated by salt crystallization) in the arid environment further accelerates rock fragmentation.
Plateau Uplift: A Key Driver of Depth
The Grand Canyon's astonishing depth would be impossible without the steady, slow uplift of the Colorado Plateau. Geological research shows that since approximately 70 million years ago, this vast plateau has been rising at a rate of approximately 0.3 meters per thousand years. This process is crucial: it allows the incising Colorado River to remain "suspended" relative to the rising plateau surface, like a chisel being continuously raised, allowing it to continue carving deeper. The rate of river incision nearly synchronized with the uplift of the plateau, ultimately creating this world-class rift valley, over 1,600 meters deep and with vast plateau platforms on both sides. From the bird's-eye view of the Jitian Twin Stars, the level plateau surfaces on both sides of the canyon are direct evidence of this overall regional uplift, rather than fault subsidence.
Viewed from space, a seemingly ordinary river, carrying gravel, converging tributaries, and the erosion imparted by the plateau environment, patiently carves through rock layers deposited over hundreds of millions of years on the continuously rising landscape. These minute erosive forces eventually converge over time to form a breathtaking "rock abyss." The Grand Canyon is a vivid textbook on geodynamics. It silently demonstrates the profound truth of water wearing away rock, and further highlights the vastness of geological timescales and the insignificance of human cognition. Gazing at this epic poem written by water and stone, we gain a glimpse into the exquisite and enduring nature's shaping of Earth's surface.
The Jitian Twin Satellites will continue to capture traces of geological evolution in every corner of the Earth, fostering a deeper understanding of the formation mechanisms of natural wonders and providing a more nuanced representation of the macroscopic processes of geodynamics through image data. Adhering to the principle of openness and sharing, the Jitian Starship provides customized imagery, professional data interpretation, and full-process technical support for fields such as agriculture, environmental protection, emergency response, and urban planning. Whether it is monitoring farmland, tracking forest fires, optimizing urban layout, or assisting in disaster relief, Jitian Xingzhou is committed to providing accurate data support for various industries, allowing the value of remote sensing technology to take root in a wider range of fields.
