Erosion

Discover erosion! Learn about water, wind, and ice shaping our Earth. Simple science for kids.

Read the passage and answer the questions. Earth's surface is always changing. Sometimes it changes very quickly. sometimes it changes so slowly that it is hard to observe.You have learned that weathering is the breaking down of Earth's surface into smaller pieces. Erosion is the process that picks up and carries away these materials.How does erosion occur? There are three major tools, or agents, of erosion. these are water, wind, and ice.Water is the most powerful agent of erosion. Rain water picks up soil and sand as it runs off. Rivers carry away rocks and soils. Over many years, rivers move enough materials to create valleys and canyons.Along the coastal areas, the waves of the ocean move sand and rocks.Wind erosion happens mostly along the ground surface. Wind carries off soil and small rocks. You have probably felt the sting of the dirt and sand when it blows against you legs or in your face.In the 1930s, large amounts of soil were lost when areas of the Plains received little rain. Plants died and could no longer anchor the soil when the winds blew. This area and time became known as the Dust Bowl.Snow and ice can form glaciers in the mountains. As they move, they act like bulldozers, picking up rocks and soil and pushing boulders along in front of them.Erosion is a natural process, but there are ways that can slow it down. One way is to plant cover crops on bare land or plant trees to slow the speed of the wind. Building terraces, raised rows of dirt, in fields helps to slow the run off of the rain.terracing in a strawberry fieldtree windscreen slows the wind What is weathering? The breakdown of materials The movement of materials The setting down of materials. What is erosion? The breakdown of materials The movement of materials The setting down of materials What is the most powerful agent of erosion? wind water gravity What landforms are caused by water erosion? volcanoes and islands beaches and mountains valleys and canyons Water is an agent of erosion. true false What is one way humans can slow the effects of erosion? Digging up crops Planting crops Cutting down trees What is another way to slow erosion? Planting trees Putting fish in a creek Eating strawberries Which of the following is created from sand erosion and deposition? (Not listed in the passage) mountains sand dunes Wind is an agent of erosion. True False Sunlight is an agent of erosion. true false We have seen evidence of erosion in our study of history this year. Which time period was the Dust Bowl in? Turn of the Century World War I Roaring 20s Great Depression