Agents of Erosion and Mass Movement

Erosion Agent What Happens? Particle

Size
Velocity Landforms and Examples









Water
Rill
Erosion
Removal soil by
concentrated water



Small Medium

Gully
Erosion
Soil erosion produced by
running water



Medium Medium

Sheet
Erosion
erosion that removes
surface material more
or less evenly from an
extensive area as
contrasted with
erosion along well-
defined drainage lines
that produces or
enlarges gullies or
ravines.



Small Low

Splash
Erosion
first stage of
the erosion process. It
occurs when raindrops
hit bare soil. The
explosive impact breaks
up soil aggregates so
that individual soil
particles are 'splashed'
onto the soil surface.



Small None-
low

Wave
(Shoreline)
Erosion
1. Coastal erosion is
the wearing away of
land and the removal
of beach or dune
sediments
by wave action, tidal
currents, wave curren
ts, drainage or high
winds (see also
beach evolution).

Medium High

Agents of Erosion and Mass Movement






Glacial





Movement of soil or
rock from one point to
another by the action of
the moving ice of a
glacier.






Large Fastest




Wind




Erosion and dispersal of
topsoil by the wind
especially in dust
storms.






Small-
Med
High Human made things and natural
things being destroyed.



Anthropogenic





Originates in human
activity.





Small-
Big
Low Building a road