Agents, Forces, and Results

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Erosion Erosion – moving of rock material from one place to a new location – Three processes must take place: detachment of particles lifting them transporting them – Agents of erosion: flowing water moving ice waves gravity wind – Sand is composed of small pieces of rock that have been: weathered from a parent rock eroded deposited somewhere else

Wind Wind – wears away rocks and is responsible for the creation of deserts such as the Sahara and the Gobi - Most effective in moving loose material – Main effects: 1.Wind lifts small particles and moves them away. 2.Suspended particles may cause erosion on solid objects by abrasion (rubbing). – Occurs in areas where there is not enough rainfall to support vegetation res_in_Wadi_Al-Hitan.jpg

Water Water – most influential force in erosion – Moves materials – Transports large objects with fast moving streams – Wears away rocks: rivers lakes oceans rosion_below_Scarsoch_Bheag_- _geograph.org.uk_-_ jpg

Waves Waves – relentless pounding Erodes: softer/weaker rock first harder/more resistant left behind Can take over 100 years to erode a rock to sand Energy of waves and chemicals contained in the water erode the rock off the coastline. ck_Head_-_geograph.org.uk_-_ jpg

Mass Movement Mass Movement – downward movement of rock and sediments, due primarily to the force of gravity – Streams and glaciers move material from higher  to lower  elevation – Occurs continuously on all slopes » slow moving and sudden movement until equilibrium is reached ry_-_geograph.org.uk_-_ jpg

Ice Ice – moves and carries rocks, grinding the rocks beneath the glacier – Plucking occurs when water enters cracks under the glacier. freezing breaking off pieces of rock that are then carried by the glacier – Abrade (abrasion) cuts into the rock under the glacier smoothing polishing the rock surface shaped_valley_at_the_head_of_Leh_valley,_Ladakh_(2).JPG

Deposition Deposition – laying down of sediment that has been transported by a medium such as wind, water, or ice – Process of erosion stops: when the moving particles fall out of the transporting medium and settle on a surface – Speed of the medium slows or the resistance of the particles increases, the balance changes and causes deposition – Speed can be reduced by large rocks, hills, vegetation, etc.

 Wind speed can be related to variations in heating and cooling.  Transportation of particles in wind: – Fine particles in suspension hundreds of km from its original source in the desert – Heavier material may be blown along the ground. – Material is deposited when the wind changes direction or loses its strength.

Running water enters a large, fairly still body of water and its speed decreases Running water enters a large, fairly still body of water and its speed decreases SPEED As the speed of the water decreases, the water's ability to carry sediment also decreases. Deposited in streams, rivers, and oceans: Running water deposits sediments where the slowing water can no longer move them. Largest particles are deposited near the shore. Increasingly smaller particles settle out farther from the shore where the water is calmer.

Glacial flows of ice Glacial flows of ice – become slower when the ice begins melting – Deposits left by glaciers: – Outwashes are deposits similar to those left by rivers. – Large chunks of broken rock deposited at the base and sides of the glacier as it melts and recedes are called Moraines. – When the glacial ice melts, smaller material is carried by the rivers.

WEATHERING WEATHERING – Think of weather wearing rock down. EROSION EROSION – Think of a road and traveling. DEPOSITION DEPOSITION – Think of depositing money into a bank.