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Erosion and Weathering
Erosion occurs when natural forces break up the earth’s surface and carries the material away. Erosion
of the earth occurs constantly. There are several causes of erosion:
Water – rushing water in rivers, wave action of lakes and oceans, flooding
Wind – sediment in the wind wears away rocks
Ice – glaciers move downhill carrying large and small sediment
Human activity – deforestation and construction
Erosion cannot exist without weathering. Weathering is the process of breaking down rocks into smaller
pieces. Erosion is different from weathering because it actually moves the material away from the
source. There are two types of weathering:
Physical weathering – when things like rocks or plants physically break rocks apart
Chemical weathering – When chemicals from substances such as rain and acids dissolve minerals in the
rock