Erosion by Ice Ice, usually in the form of glaciers, can erode the earth and create dramatic landforms. In frigid areas and on some mountaintops, glaciers move slowly downhill and across the land. As they move, they transport everything in their path, from tiny grains of sand to huge boulders.

The transport of eroded materials from their original location is followed by deposition, which is arrival and emplacement of material at a new location.

Weathering is the breaking down or dissolving of rocks and minerals on Earths surface. Once a rock has been broken down, a process called erosion transports the bits of rock and minerals away. Weathering and erosion constantly change the rocky landscape of Earth. Weathering wears away exposed surfaces over time.

Forces like wind and water break down rocks through the processes of weathering and erosion. Forces like wind and water move the rock pieces. They mix with matter like sand to become sediment. Weathering and erosion help shape Earth’s surface.

How have humans caused erosion? Human activity has increased the rate of erosion in many areas. This happens through farming, ranching, cutting down forests, and the building of roads and cities. Human activity has caused about one million acres of topsoil to erode each year.

The effects of soil erosion go beyond the loss of fertile land. It has led to increased pollution and sedimentation in streams and rivers, clogging these waterways and causing declines in fish and other species. And degraded lands are also often less able to hold onto water, which can worsen flooding.

The process of soil erosion is both natural and man-made. It refers to the removal of the top layer of soil, in nature, this is caused by wind and water, although human activities can increase exposure to these elements. Another way humans induce soil erosion is via the agricultural process known as tillage.

For heavy erosion in areas of concentrated flow, the most effective solutions are check dams or terraces.

1. Replant Vegetation Suited to Site Conditions. Well-established vegetation can stabilize the soil in cases of light erosion.
2. Footpaths with Exposed Soil: Cover with Mulch or Gravel.
3. Terraces.
4. Build Check Dams.

Water flowing over Earth’s surface or underground causes erosion and deposition. Water flowing over a steeper slope moves faster and causes more erosion. How water transports particles depends on their size. When water slows down, it starts depositing sediment, starting with the largest particles first.

Water has erode Earth for thousands of years. This was what caused the Grand Canyon. A faster ,owing stream would cause a faster erosion due to the speed and strength of the water itself.

Erosion involved three processes: detachment (from the ground), transportation (via water or wind), and deposition. The deposition is often in places we don’t want the soil such as streams, lakes, reservoirs, or deltas.

Desert area

coastline

What type of characteristics would you expect an area that is likely to experience a high amount of erosion to have? Possible Answer: Areas with less vegetation would experience a greater amount of erosion. Vegetation acts as an anchor for soil, keeping it from being blown or washed away as easily.

1. Rainfall and temperature can affect the rate in which rocks weather. High temperatures and greater rainfall increase the rate of chemical weathering. Minerals in a rock buried in soil will therefore break down more rapidly than minerals in a rock that is exposed to air.

Weathering and erosion are two processes that together produce natural marvels. They are accountable for the formation of caves, valleys, sand dunes and other naturally formed structures. Without weathering, erosion is not possible. Weathering is the process of breaking down rocks.