What are agents of erosion?

EROSION The transport of material on the surface of earth

Transporting agents Gravity Wind Running water (streams) Waves Glaciers

GRAVITY The force that drives all erosion (*** It is not the main agent of erosion it is the force behind all the others) Pulls water, rocks, and sediments down slopes oregon landslide Landslides, avalanches (snow), mass movements, slumping, and creep

Materials on a slope Are unstable- friction holds them there but gravity is pulling on them- When the gravitational force exceeds the frictional force they slide down- leaving a pile of unsorted sediments called TALUS

MASS MOVEMENT When large areas of rocks and sediments are pulled down a slope Called mass wasting

LANDSLIDES/ AVALANCHES

AVALANCHES

SLUMPING

HILLSIDE CREEP

Wind Dominates in Dry climates because wind can transport dry sediments easier than it can transport wet ones. Usually only smaller sediments (clay, silt, sand) are moved Creates cross bedding

How can you tell wind direction with sand dunes? windward side- direction wind was blowing from Leeward side – direction wind was blowing to. building of the dunes

Running Water Water moving over the surface of the Earth Streams & rivers **The main agent of erosion on earth today ** Carved out the Grand Canyon

Glaciers As glaciers (large masses of ice on land) move over the surface they scratch and push rocks underneath them Capable of transporting the largest sediments (boulders)