Weathering and erosion are natural processes that shape and reshape Earth’s surface. They usually happen very slowly, so you may not see changes from day to day. But over time, they can lead to the formation of new islands, carve out canyons and wear down mountains. Weathering and erosion are why coastlines look the way they do. Their patterns can help us predict what land will look like in the future. For example, the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts has more islands now than it did in 1984. Some of its beaches lose over a foot of shoreline every year. Which of these best describes weathering and erosion?

A
They are tools people use to change landforms and create new ones.

B
They only affect one landform: islands.

C
They cause tiny changes to Earth’s surface that become enormous over time.

D
They significantly change the surface of the Earth every few days.