Erosion & Deposition

Chapter 8
Changing Earth’s Surface
Chapter 8 Section 1
 Wearing Down and
Building Up

 Erosion- the process by which natural

forces move weathered rock and soil
from one place to another
 Example- landslide, gravity, running
water, glaciers, waves, wind
 Sediment- material moved by erosion
 Deposition- occurs where the agents of
erosion lay down sediment; changes
the shape of the land
 Weathering, erosion, and deposition act
together in a cycle that wears down
and builds up Earth’s surface
 What happens to
sediment as a result of
erosion and deposition?

Erosion moves sediment from

one place to another.
Deposition lays down sediment
in new locations, building
new landforms.
 Mass Movement

Gravity
 Landslides


 Gravity is the force  Landslides are the

that moves rock and most destructive
other materials kind of mass
downhill
movement
 Gravity causes mass
movement, any one  Occurs when rock and
of several process soil slide quickly
that move sediment down a steep slope
downhill

 Mass movement
includes landslides,
mudslides, slump,
and creep
 Mass Movement

Mudflows
 Slump


 Mudflows are rapid  Slump occurs when a

downhill movement mass of rock and
of a mixture of soil suddenly slips
water, rock, and soil down a slope
 Mudflows often occur  The material in slump
after heavy rains in moves down in one
a normally dry area large mass
 Often occurs in areas  Occurs when water
with clay soils soaks the base of a
mass of soil that is
rich in clay
 Creep
 Creep is the very slow downhill
movement of rock and soil
 Creep occurs so slowly, you hardly
notice it
 Creep may tilt objects at spooky angles
 Creep results from freezing and
thawing of water in cracked layers
of rock beneath the soil
 Review
 Explain the difference between erosion and deposition.
 Erosion moves sediment from one place to
another, while deposition lays down sediment in new
locations
 What force causes erosion?
 The force of gravity and the forces exerted by
running water, glaciers, waves, and wind cause
erosion
 What are four types of mass movement?
 Landslides, mudflows, slump, and creep
 Why would a landslide be more likely on a steep
mountain than on a gently sloping hill?
 On a gently sloping hill, the force of gravity cannot
pull down rock and soil quickly because of the friction
between the hill and the rock and soil. On a steep