.
Erosion sounds like a complicated word, doesn’t it? What in the world is erosion?
Well we’re going to tell you everything you need to know, and you’ll be a superstar in your next Geography test!
There are different forces around us, like wind, water and ice, and these forces are the very things that cause erosion.
Basically erosion is where land is worn away by these different forces.
If you think of water erosion, next time you go onto the beach, look for really smooth stones.
These smooth stones have often been tossed and turned around in the sea by waves which make them smooth. So, erosion can change the way that things look, even things like mountains, coastlines and valleys too.
We mentioned those forces that are working around us all the time, like wind, water and ice. These forces are the very things that actually cause erosion.
There are other forces too. Erosion can take years and years, and sometimes it can happen really quickly, like in the case of a flood. It all depends on which force is working away the hardest.
The main force of erosion is actually water. It causes the most erosion on Earth. It is also one of the most powerful forces on the planet. But how does water cause erosion and what type of water causes erosion?
Read on to see how.
Wind is actually also quite a big force in erosion, and this is definitely more noticeable in dry areas. As wind moves along, it picks up loose particles and dust along the way.
But how does the erosion happen? Well this is when the particles go crashing into the land and break off more particles.
Flash floods, rivers and streams, slowly but surely erode rock. This erosion will carve out caves and crevices. The minerals in the water are almost like sandpaper on the rock, slowly, slowly scrubbing it away.
Sediment – tiny pieces or rocks, mud, clay, minerals and other small debris.
Erosion – a process where something constantly wears away
So now you know everything about erosion. It’s pretty interesting, isn’t it, how it can change everything around us!