Photograph by Richard Barnes, National Geographic https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/erosion/
Solar Erosion
The sun itself is actually an instrument of erosion! As rocks heat up, they expand. Expanding rocks can sometimes crack and crumble away.
Far-Flung Dust
Wind is a powerful force. It can carry huge amounts of dust over long distances. In the winter and spring of 2004, winds eroded 45 million tons of dust from a spot called the Bodele Depression in the desert of northern Chad all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to Brazil.
a buildup of something.
to stick to or support.
geographic feature created by wind.
modern farming methods that include mechanical, chemical, engineering and technological methods. Also called industrial agriculture.
the art and science of cultivating land for growing crops (farming) or raising livestock (ranching).
large group.
a slope of land adjoining a body of water, or a large elevated area of the sea floor.
long, narrow strip of sandy land built up by waves and tides that protects the mainland shore from erosion.
to beat and cause damage.
the process in which a living organism wears away at rock or another hard substance.
absorption of, or reaction with, carbon dioxide.
chemical produced as carbon dioxide dissolves in water.
underground chamber that opens to the surface. Cave entrances can be on land or in water.
a soft mineral. Also called limestone and calcium carbonate.
attraction between atoms, ions or molecules that enables the formation of chemical compounds.
process of rocks changing their chemical composition as they erode.
process that involves a change in atoms, ions, or molecules of the substances (reagents) involved.
rock composed of fragments of older rocks that have been transported from their place of origin.
all weather conditions for a given location over a period of time.
wearing away of earth or sand on the beach by natural or man-made methods.
outer boundary of a shore.
crack in a rock.
growing in quantity or strength.
the flat, low-lying plain that sometimes forms at the mouth of a river from deposits of sediments.
process of silt and sediment building up in an area.
area of land that receives no more than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of precipitation a year.
dark, hard layer of yellowish or blackish oxides formed on exposed rock surfaces in windblown, arid regions.
individual or distinct.
to fall apart and disappear.
to break up or disintegrate.
to break up or disintegrate.
time of year with little precipitation.
(1930-1940) term for the Great Plains of the U.S. and Canada when severe dust storms forced thousands of people off their farms.
weather pattern of wind blowing dust over large regions of land.
soil or dirt.
having to do with money.
to put at risk.
person who plans the building of things, such as structures (construction engineer) or substances (chemical engineer).
to wear away.
process of preventing or reducing erosion by wind and water.
person who cultivates land and raises crops.
able to produce crops or sustain agriculture.
industry or occupation of harvesting fish, either in the wild or through aquaculture.
a mass of soil and plants torn from a coast.
material that is able to flow and change shape.
ecosystem filled with trees and underbrush.
often.
very cold.
wire frame filled with rock.
method by which the Earth changes.
time of long-term lowering of temperatures on Earth. Also known as an ice age.
hand tool with a partly curved blade, used for carving.
removal of soil along drainage lines by surface water runoff.
environment where an organism lives throughout the year or for shorter periods of time.
line of bushes and trees forming a boundary.
tropical storm with wind speeds of at least 119 kilometers (74 miles) per hour. Hurricanes are the same thing as typhoons, but usually located in the Atlantic Ocean region.
process of a substance or solution chemically combining with water.
process in which a compound is split into other compounds by reacting with water.
long period of cold climate where glaciers cover large parts of the Earth. The last ice age peaked about 20,000 years ago. Also called glacial age.
to display or show.
small indentation in a shoreline.
structure displaying large, bright lights to warn and help ships navigate coastal waters.
method of creating coastal land by using stones and marine grasses to trap soil, sand, and mud.
downward movement of rock, soil, and other material.
inorganic material that has a characteristic chemical composition and specific crystal structure.
event in the physical environment that is destructive to human activity.
half of the Earth between the North Pole and the Equator.
chemical process of a substance combining with oxygen to change the substance's physical and molecular structure.
process of rocks and earthen materials breaking apart and being transported without changing their chemical composition.
tool used for cutting, lifting, and turning the soil in preparation for planting.
to make smooth and shiny by rubbing.
vulnerable or tending to act in a certain way.
very small stream.
process of soil removal by water running through little streamlets, or headcuts.
area of grass, trees, or shrubs near a river bank.
natural substance composed of solid mineral matter.
red or orange coating that forms on the surface of iron when it is exposed to oxygen and moisture. Also called iron oxide or ferric oxide.
small, loose grains of disintegrated rocks.
mound of sand created by the wind.
region and name for some countries in Northern Europe: Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.
to rub harshly, often to polish.
increase in the average reach of the ocean. The current sea level rise is 1.8 millimeters (.07 inch) per year.
column-shaped rock formation created by waves eroding parts of coastal cliffs.
process of accumulating small solid deposits.
removal of soil in thin layers by the forces of rain and stream flow.
line of bushes and trees forming a boundary.
type of plant, smaller than a tree but having woody branches.
end of a glacier.
top layer of the Earth's surface where plants can grow.
substance in which a gas, liquid, or solid is evenly distributed in another medium.
soil displacement by the impact of a falling raindrop.
severe weather indicating a disturbed state of the atmosphere resulting from uplifted air.
abnormal rise in sea level accompanying a hurricane or other intense storm. Also called a storm tide.
waves as they break on the shore or reef.
to temporarily stop an activity.
movement of tectonic plates resulting in geologic activity such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
movement of plates beneath the Earth's surface that causes one part of the landscape to rise higher than the surrounding area.
erosion of permafrost by the combined thermal and mechanical action of moving water.
study of the shape of the surface features of an area.
the most valuable, upper layer of soil, where most nutrients are found.
tropical storm with wind speeds of at least 74 miles (119 kilometers) per hour. Typhoons are the same thing as hurricanes, but usually located in the Pacific or Indian Ocean region.
depression in the Earth between hills.
process in which rushing streams and rivers wear away their banks, creating larger and larger valleys.
all the plant life of a specific place.
measurement of the rate and direction of change in the position of an object.
rock that has been shaped by wind-driven sand, dust, or ice particles.
chemical compound that is necessary for all forms of life.
moving swell on the surface of water.
movement of air (from a high pressure zone to a low pressure zone) caused by the uneven heating of the Earth by the sun.
structure that serves to interrupt an air current or flow of wind.
Articles & Profiles
- SF Gate: How to Control Erosion Around a House Foundation
- SoftSchools.com: Physical Weathering Examples
- National Parks Service: What’s the Difference Between Weathering and Erosion?
- Agriculture Victoria: Gully Erosion
- National Park Service: Grand Canyon—Geologic Formations
- LiveScience: Glaciers Erode Land Faster Than Thought
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