Section: STEM · Earth ScienceDifficulty: Easy
Erosion
USUK
The wearing away and transport of rock and soil by wind, water, or ice.
Definition
Erosion is the geological process by which rock, soil, and other surface materials are loosened, worn away, and transported from one location to another by agents such as water, wind, ice, and gravity. It is a key component of the rock cycle and shapes landscapes over thousands to millions of years. Erosion rates depend on climate, vegetation cover, rock type, and slope gradient.
Example
“The Colorado River has carved the Grand Canyon over millions of years, removing layer after layer of rock through erosion by water and transported sediment, revealing nearly two billion years of geological history in the canyon walls.”
Synonyms
- weathering and transport
- geomorphic erosion
- surface erosion
Antonyms / Opposites
- deposition
- sedimentation
Images
CC-licensed · free to useLoading images…
Video
Related Terms
- Weathering
- Sediment
- Rock Cycle
- Deposition