Landforms

Unit Standards 5.E.3A.1 Construct how different landforms and surface features result from the location and movement of water on Earth’s surface through watersheds (drainage basins) and rivers. 5.E.3A.2 Develop and use models to describe and compare characteristics and locations of the landforms on continents with those on the ocean floor (including the continental self and slope, the mid ocean ridge, the rift zone, the trench, and the abyssal plain). 5.E.3B.1 Analyze and interpret data to describe and predict how natural processes (such as weathering, erosion, deposition, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, or storms) affect Earth’s surface.

What is erosion? Erosion- the transportation of weathered rocks

What is erosion? Weathering and erosion work together to shape the land. Over time, weathering and erosion can turn a sharp, rocky peak into a smooth, round one.

What is erosion? Causes of erosion: Flowing water- rain water carries particles into streams and rivers. The moving water then flows downhill and carries them along. Eventually, the particles are dropped off in a new place.

What is erosion? Causes of erosion: Waves and wind- Waves and wind pick up small pieces of rock and put them somewhere else. Gravity moves rocks downhill. Glaciers carve through land as they slide over it.

What is erosion? The Grand Canyon in Arizona shows how powerful a river can be. The canyon is 446 kilometers (277 miles) long.

What is erosion? It has an average depth of 1.6 kilometers (1 mile). This huge space was carved out by the Colorado River.

What is erosion? Rivers and streams pick up bits of rocks and soil as they flow over the land. Some of the pieces get deposited, or dropped off, on the banks. Others get carried to the mouth of the river.

What is erosion? Deposition- the dropping off of weathered rock.

What is erosion? Deposition by water builds up deltas, riverbanks, and beaches. Deposition by wind forms sand dunes and deserts.