Geocentric Science

5 Articles About Weathering & Erosion

1

Glaciers

Glaciers are large masses of ice that flow downwards due to gravity. Glaciers are an important agent of erosion and have played a key role in shaping the Earth’s surface. Although, we only find glaciers at high elevations and in polar regions today, glaciers covered New York State until about 10,000 years ago (the end of the last Ice Age). Glaciers are responsible for the formation of the Great Lakes, the Hudson River Valley, along many other features. Glaciers modify the landscape as they

2

Mass Wasting/Landslides

Mass wasting is defined as the downhill movement of sediment due to gravity. There are several important forces that determines whether or not an object will move. There is a downward force and an opposing frictional force (upward force). Depending on which force is greater (the downward force or the frictional force), will determine if the object or sediment will move. If the frictional force is greater than the downward force, the object remains stationary. How does the slope of a hill affec

3

Running Water: Surface Runoff, Streams, & Rivers

Refer to the diagram Relationship of Transported Particle Size to Water Velocity on page 6 of the Earth Science Reference Tables Once rain or other forms of precipitation hits the Earth’s surface, it can either infiltrate (seep into the ground), evaporate, undergo transpiration (water vapor released by plants), or become runoff. All of those potential paths play an important role in the water cycle. Image from Wikipedia Runoff is precipitation that does not infiltrate or evaporate. Fa

4

Stream Features and Velocity - A Quick Review

Running water plays a huge role in shaping the Earth’s surface and is considered a powerful agent of erosion. Streams and rivers slowly change the surrounding landscape by weathering and eroding the underlying bedrock. Running water also has the power to quickly modify the Earth’s surface (especially during flooding events). Common stream features include: meanders, oxbow lakes, meander scars, point bars, cut banks, floodplains, natural levees, deltas, and alluvial fans. Additionall

5

The Agents of Erosion

Erosion is the removal and transportation of rock or sediment. There are five natural agents (methods) of erosion driven by gravity. Mass wasting/Landslides Running Water and Groundwater Ocean Currents Wind Glaciers Humans