Where Does the “Stuff” Go? Erosion & Deposition Where Does the “Stuff” Go?

Definitions Erosion: Deposition: Removal and transport of weathered material from one location to another. Deposition: Materials are left behind in another location (final stage)

5 Agents Gravity Running Water (most overall erosion) Glaciers (most powerful) Wind (least powerful) Plants/Animals

Gravity Pulls materials down slope Forces sediment to settle during deposition Examples: glaciers, streams, landslides, mudflows, avalanches

Gravity Get image of mass wasting

Water Faster flow = More erosion Rill Erosion- small channels on the side of a slope Gully Erosion- channel becomes deep and wide (3m deep)

The Grand Canyon

Rill & Gully Erosion Gully Rill

Stream Erosion

Stream Erosion Erosion occurs upstream (towards the headwaters) Diagram of a stream system

Stream Deposition Deposition occurs downstream (towards the mouth)

Coastal Erosion/Deposition Currents, waves and tides carve out cliffs, arches, etc. Constant water movement causes constant erosion especially at shorelines

Water Image of a calm stream

Water Image of turbulent river

Water

Water

Stream Deposition Delta: build up of stream sediments at the mouth

Glaciers Can scratch, grind, polish, gouge out large sections Glaciers currently cover less than 10% of Earth’s surface, but have a huge effect

Glacier

Glaciers Image of alpine glacier

Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley

Wind Erosion Erosion by abrasion Hot dry areas w/ little vegetation to hold soil Wind barriers (breaks): trees planted perpendicular to wind, trap snow, conserve moisture

Wind

Wind Erosion – Arches Nat’l Park

Plants, Animals & Humans Animals burrow Humans excavate (garden, build athletic fields, build highways)