Erosion and Weathering

Erosion Erosion is the natural process of wind, water, or ice wearing away soil. Erosion becomes dangerous when humans cause erosion to happen faster than it should in nature. If erosion becomes serious enough, it can damage buildings, crops, or roads.

Erosion Damages Houses Erosion is particularly prevalent in coastal areas. Coastal erosion can cause damage to property by removing the soil that supports the building. In this example the sand beneath the house is eroded away until the house crashes.

Erosion Damages Crops Erosion can also destroy cropland to make it unsuitable for farming. With nothing to hold the soil down, wind can blow away the good top soil. Bad Soil Good Top Soil

Weathering Weathering is the changing of land by water. Weathering often results in large rocks being broken down into smaller rocks or soil. Weathering can also result in canyons and similar formations formed by moving water.

Weathering Changes Surfaces Over time, weathering can change the surface of the land. Rivers can cut canyons into the land, as seen in the example below. This process takes a very long time, but can create places like the Grand Canyon.