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

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

3. 5 Agents Gravity Running Water (most overall erosion)
Glaciers (most powerful)
Wind (least powerful)
Plants/Animals

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

5. Gravity
Get image of mass wasting

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

7. The Grand Canyon

8. Rill & Gully Erosion
Gully
Rill

9. Stream Erosion

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

11. Stream Deposition
Deposition occurs downstream (towards the mouth)

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

13. Water
Image of a calm stream

14. Water
Image of turbulent river

15. Water

16. Water

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

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

20. Glacier

21. Glaciers
Image of alpine glacier

22. Yosemite Valley

23. Yosemite Valley

24. 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

25. Wind

26. Wind Erosion – Arches Nat’l Park

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