TYPES OF EROSION

© Copyright 2004 - 2005.  M. J. Krech. All rights reserved.

WHAT ISEROSION?

Erosion is the movement of weathered rocks and soil particles from one place to another.

THERE ARE FIVE AGENTS OF EROSION.

• GRAVITY• GLACIERS• WIND • WATER• WAVES

GRAVITY

EROSION CAUSED BY GRAVITY IS CALLED

MASS WASTING.

RAPID MASS WASTING

One type of rapid mass wasting is

LANDSLIDE

which is the tumbling of dry soil and rocks downhill

RAPID MASS WASTING

Another type is

MUDFLOW

where rain mixes with the soil to form mud which moves downhill

RAPID MASS WASTING

Another type is

SLUMP

where a huge block of rock slides rapidly down a hillside.

SLOW MASS WASTING

One type of slow mass wasting is

EARTHFLOW

where a mass of soil and plant life begin to slowly move downhill after a heavy rain.

SLOW MASS WASTING

Another type is

CREEP

where soil particles move slowly downhill.

This is the slowest.

GLACIERS

A

GLACIER

is a large mass of moving ice and snow.

GLACIERS

Glaciers move rocks by

PLUCKING

where ice freezes around a rock and moves it along as the glacier moves.

GLACIERS

Glaciers also move rocks by

ABRASION

where rocks are loosened and moved by the glacier, causing scratches on the bedrock.

WIND

Wind moves soil by

DEFLATION

where wind removes loose material from the land.

Here smaller sand grains are blown away from around larger rocks.

WATER

Running water is the major cause of erosion.

Water picks up and carries loose particles of soil as it moves downhill.

WATER

Water starts out in tiny grooves called

RILLS

WATER

Rills become wider and deeper,

called

GULLIES

WATER

Gullies turn into

STREAMS

which turn into

RIVERS.

WAVES

Waves carry off small rocks and sand from the beach.

EROSION

What is the agent of erosion in this picture?

A.

EROSION

What is the agent of erosion in this picture?

B.

EROSION

What is the agent of erosion in this picture?

C.

EROSION

What is the agent of erosion in this picture?

D.

EROSION

What is the agent of erosion in this picture?

E.

THE END

F.BONUS:List at least three types oferosion inthis pictureand how youknow.

© Copyright 2004 - 2005.  M. J. Krech. All rights reserved.