Erosion and Weathering

Erosion & Weathering

ESOL Environmental Science

​Erosion

​Movement of sediment/topsoil because of environmental factors like water, wind, gravity, or ice

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​example: when it rains a lot, there can be a "mudslide"

​Weathering

The breakdown of rock layers because of environmental factors like water, wind, ice, growing plants, and animals.

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​example: the ocean hitting the land can create "sea arches"

Multiple Choice

EROSION or WEATHERING: Three friends are hiking up Stone Mountain. They notice that a tree's roots are growing in to the rock, causing it to break.

• EROSION

• WEATHERING

​Types of Weathering

• ​Physical - breakdown of rocks in to soil by forces of nature

• ​Chemical - a chemical reaction causes the rock to break down

• ​Biological - breakdown of rocks due to plants/animals

Multiple Choice

Erosion most likely happens when...

• Bare soil is exposed to the environmental elements

• A forest is planted

• The soil is plowed on a farm

• The land is covered in grass

Multiple Choice

How are weathering and erosion related?

• weathering is the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces and erosion is when soil is moved to another place

• weathering and erosion are the same process but the name weathering is used if it happens because of the weather

• erosion is the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces and weathering is when soil is moved to another place

• weathering is not related to erosion

Multiple Choice

Which is the BEST way to prevent erosion from increasing on a mountain?

• Cut down as many trees as possible so they can see the dirt and monitor it from eroding

• Pour water on the side of the mountain because mud doesn’t erode as fast as dry dirt

• Plant fast growing grass so that the roots will hold the soil in place.

• Grow plants on the steepest slope they can find because steep slopes don’t erode.