Erosion-1.Pdf
R E S O U R C E L I B R A R Y E N C Y C L O P E D I C E N T RY Erosion Erosion is the geological process in which earthen materials are worn away and transported by natural forces such as wind or water. G R A D E S 6 - 12+ S U B J E C T S Earth Science, Geology, Geography, Physical Geography C O N T E N T S 9 Images For the complete encyclopedic entry with media resources, visit: http://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/erosion/ Erosion is the geological process in which earthen materials are worn away and transported by natural forces such as wind or water. A similar process, weathering, breaks down or dissolves rock, but does not involve movement. Erosion is the opposite of deposition, the geological process in which earthen materials are deposited, or built up, on a landform. Most erosion is performed by liquid water, wind, or ice (usually in the form of a glacier). If the wind is dusty, or water or glacial ice is muddy, erosion is taking place. The brown color indicates that bits of rock and soil are suspended in the fluid (air or water) and being transported from one place to another. This transported material is called sediment. Physical Erosion Physical erosion describes the process of rocks changing their physical properties without changing their basic chemical composition. Physical erosion often causes rocks to get smaller or smoother. Rocks eroded through physical erosion often form clastic sediments.
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