erosion

Table of Contents

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Alaska: Mendenhall Glacier

wind erosion in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl era

Figure 2: Dissected pediment surfaces on the northeastern flank of Mount Graham, southeastern Arizona. The pediments are mantled with early Pleistocene–late Pliocene alluvium.

Figure 1: Planation surface cut across dipping Paleozoic sandstone in the James Range, central Australia.

Figure 1: A schematic representation of the biogeochemical cycle of carbon.

For Students

erosion summary

Discover

Paul Revere. "The bloody massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.," engraved by Paul Revere. Boston Massacre.

There’s a Riot Goin’ On: Riots in U.S. History (Part One)

NBA Lakers Celtics Finals Kevin Garnett shooting.

10 Great Sports Rivalries

An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.

11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

Statue of Nostradamus

Nostradamus and His Prophecies

African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.

Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement

San Francisco, California/USA-1/18/20: Womens March at Civic Center marching with signs of political protest regarding equality also embracing 2020 presidential candidates and celebrating equality

How Does the U.S. Government Define the Difference Between a Protest and a Riot?

Lake Mead (the impounded Colorado River) at the Hoover Dam. The light-coloured band of rock above the shoreline shows the decrease in water level in the first few years of the 21st century.

6 Lakes That Are Drying Up

erosion: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: May 13, 2025

Photos and Videos

Alaska: Mendenhall Glacier

wind erosion in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl era

Figure 2: Dissected pediment surfaces on the northeastern flank of Mount Graham, southeastern Arizona. The pediments are mantled with early Pleistocene–late Pliocene alluvium.

Figure 1: Planation surface cut across dipping Paleozoic sandstone in the James Range, central Australia.

Figure 1: A schematic representation of the biogeochemical cycle of carbon.

Investigate the role of water in erosion and in the greater geologic rock cycle

Colorado River geologic footprint and sandbar formation

Learn how basaltic rock composing the Columbia Plateau was once lava from a series of volcanic fissure eruptions

View an Icelandic waterfall and learn about its geologic life cycle and erosion into a smooth riverbed

Know about the force of gravity which gives stones their shape

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

glacial quarrying glacial scour What Causes Soil Erosion?How Was the Grand Canyon Formed?sarsen Treppen barranca monoculture weathering structural landform climate plate tectonics biosphere ecosystem weather fluvial process river geography Earth sciences geology

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Quiz

Cross section of Earth showing the core, mantle, and crust

The Solid Earth Quiz