
Erosion - Education | National Geographic Society
Mar 14, 2025 · Rainfall produces four types of soil erosion: splash erosion, sheet erosion, rill erosion and gully erosion. Splash erosion describes the impact of a falling raindrop, which can scatter tiny soil particles as far as 0.6 meters (two feet). Sheet erosion describes erosion caused by …
Erosion - Education | National Geographic Society
Erosion is the process where rocks are broken down by natural forces such as wind or water. There are two main types of erosion: chemical and physical. Chemical erosion occurs when a rock’s chemical composition changes, such as when iron …
Walter's Travels - Weathering and Erosion - Education
Mar 14, 2025 · Why do you think we often learn about weathering and erosion together? What are some natural forces that cause weathering and erosion to occur? What is the difference between mechanical and chemical weathering?
Weathering - Education | National Geographic Society
Once a rock has been broken down, a process called erosion transports the bits of rock and mineral away. No rock on Earth is hard enough to resist the forces of weathering and erosion. Together, these processes carved landmarks such as the Grand Canyon, in the U.S. state of Arizona. This massive canyon is 446 kilometers (277 miles) long, as ...
Sedimentary Rocks - National Geographic Society
Oct 19, 2023 · The most important geological processes that lead to the creation of sedimentary rocks are erosion, weathering, dissolution, precipitation, and lithification. Erosion and weathering include the effects of wind and rain, which slowly break down large rocks into smaller ones.
The Rock Cycle - National Geographic Society
There are three main types of rocks: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. Each of these rocks are formed by physical changes—such as melting , cooling , eroding, compacting , or deforming —that are part of the rock cycle .
Canyon - Education | National Geographic Society
Jul 3, 2024 · The overall pattern of erosion and layering reveals the rate of water flow, from both the river and rain, through a canyon. Geologists estimate that the Grand Canyon, for example, is being eroded at a rate of 0.3 meters (one foot) every 200 years.
Waterfall - Education | National Geographic Society
Oct 19, 2023 · Erosion is just one process that can form waterfalls. A waterfall may form across a fault , or crack in the Earth’s surface. An earthquake , landslide , glacier , or volcano may also disrupt stream beds and help create waterfalls.
Landform - National Geographic Society
Jan 7, 2025 · Mountains, hills, plateaus and plains are the four major types of landforms. Minor landforms include buttes, canyons, valleys and basins. Tectonic plate movement under Earth can create landforms by pushing up mountains and hills. Erosion by water and wind can wear down land and create landforms like valleys and canyons. Both processes happen ...
The resulting erosion at the base of a waterfall can be very dramatic, and cause the waterfall to "recede." The area behind the waterfall is worn away, creating a hollow, cave-like structure called a "rock shelter."