Agents of Erosion Notes Erosion Caused byRunning Water

Agents of Erosion Notes

Erosion Caused by…Running Water Erosion is… The process by which soil & sediment are transported from one location to another. The running water of the Colorado River cut down into the rock and formed the Grand Canyon over millions of years.

Flood Control (Levee) Overflow from rivers/streams (running water) can be controlled by a barrier called a _______. It is the Levee buildup of sediment deposited along the channel of a river. People often use sandbags to build an artificial levee to control serious flooding.

Deposition in Water (Delta) Deposition is… The process in which material is laid down or dropped. When a river empties into a large body of water, like a lake or an ocean, the current slows. The river often deposits load of sediments in a fan-shaped delta pattern called a ____. It is made mostly of mud ______.

Deposition on LAND (Alluvial Fan) When a fast moving mountain stream flows onto a flat plain, the stream slows down and deposits sediment. The sediment forms an __________. Alluvial fan They form on _____ Dry land whereas deltas form in the streamor mouth of a _____ river ______.

Erosion Caused by WAVES waves crash into When ____ rocks over long periods of time, the rocks are broken down into smaller and smaller pieces until they become sand. Waves play a major role in building up (constructive) and breaking down (destructive) the shoreline ___________.

Erosion Caused by WAVES Winds that result from hurricanes _______ and __________ Severe storms produce large waves that cause dramatic shoreline erosion. A tremendous amount of ______ is energy released when waves break. A crashing wave can break solid rock and throw broken rocks back against the shore. As a result of these actions, rock is broken down into smaller pieces that eventually sand become _______.

Erosion Caused by WAVES Some coastal landforms created by wave erosion are: • Sea stacks • Sea arches • Sea caves • Headlands • Wave-cut terraces

WIND Erosion Wind causes sand-sized particles to bounce and move the sand grains into one another. The skipping and bouncing movement of sand-sized particles in the direction the wind is blowing is called _______. saltation Wind can deposit extremely fine material. Thick deposits of this sediment are called loess _____. The wind can carry this fine material long distances from its source.

WIND Erosion When wind hits obstacles, plants like _____, or rocks, the wind slows down. This slows down erosion. These obstacles cause heavier material (like sand) to be deposited (constructive) mound forming a _______. These mounds of winddeposited sand are called dunes _______.

ICE & GLACIER Erosion glacier A ______ is an enormous mass of moving ice. They form in areas that are so cold that snow stays on the ground year-round. Because glaciers are so gravity massive, ______ causes them to flow slowly.

ICE & GLACIER Erosion valley A ______ glacier (a type of alpine glacier) forms in valleys in mountainous stream areas created by ____ erosion. They flow downhill and widen and straighten U the valleys into _____ shapes from the original ______ shapes. V

ICE & GLACIER Erosion Continental glaciers are huge continuous masses of ____. The largest Ice continental glacier in the world covers almost all of Antarctica _________. smooth These glaciers ______ the landscape by scraping and eroding features that were around before the ice appeared. They can flatten mountains.

Erosion caused by GRAVITY Movement of water and ice is affected by _____, gravity and it also causes rocks and soil to move downslope. Sometimes gravity causes rapid mass movement of rock that can be the most destructive ________ and very dangerous.

Erosion caused by GRAVITY A _____ Rock-fall happens when loose rocks fall down a steep slope. landslide is the sudden A _____ and rapid movement of a large amount of material downslope. slump is the most A ____ common type of landslide. This happens when a block of material moves downslope curved over a ______ surface.

Erosion caused by Gravity mudflow A _______ is a rapid movement of a large mass of mud. This happens when a large amount of water mixes with soil and rock. Mudflows (destructive) can carry trees, houses, and cars. Slow mass movement occurs frequently than more ______ rapid mass movements. An example of slow mass creep movement is _____. Plants and animals can loosen rocks and soil and cause the rocks/soil to slowly travel downhill.