What cause erosion?

-- Jihan Antrobus (antrobus@oswego.edu), February 28, 2001

Answers

Erosion can be caused by a number of things. When rocks are weathered, the tiny sediments may be carried away by wind, or water. For example, when raindrops fall on existing sediments, the tiny mud, clay, silt, and sand particles can easily be carried away by the water. These sediments can also be moved by organisms including humans.

-- Heather Derrigo (hderrigo@oswego.edu), February 28, 2001.

Erosion is caused by many different things. Erosion is defined in the book by the set of processes that loosen soil and rock and move them downhill or downstream, where they are laid down as layers of sediment. Of course this happens over time, and can occur many different ways. Rain and wind can move this loose rock and soil. Animals and also humans can move it. When moved it will build up to form new layers of sediment.

-- Erin Varley (varley@oswego.edu), March 05, 2001.