Different Types of Erosion in Geography

Erosion is the wearing away of surfaces as a result of abrasive processes. In geography, we refer to erosion as the abrasion of the Earth's surface. This surface is made up of various materials, including rock, soil, metals and other natural materials. When natural forces act upon them, they can be worn away over time. Such forces include water, wind, ice and even gravity.

When erosion occurs, loose particles or dissolved materials are transported from their place of origin along with other materials. Some materials dissolve through physical, chemical and biological processes, either as part of erosion or because erosion accelerates other geographical processes. The loosened material may then be deposited elsewhere, so erosion involves both removal and movement.

Although this provides a basic definition of erosion in general, we can take a look at specific types of erosion to better understand their causes and consequences.

Erosion can take various forms, depending on its causes or the material that is being eroded, as well as other factors. It is for this reason we can differentiate erosion in geography into different types. The most common types of erosion in geography are the following:

• Wind erosion: is produced by the wind, which generally moves from high-pressure to low-pressure areas. Depending on its force, eroded materials can be transported long distances from one place to another.
  
  
• Water erosion: is caused by rainwater (pluvial erosion) and water flows (fluvial erosion). These transport worn rock particles and deposit them at lower altitudes. The movement of waves (marine erosion) uses their kinetic energy to transport particles to other places.
  
  
• Anthropic erosion: erosion that is generated by human beings and their activities.
  
  
• Glacial erosion: is caused by blocks of glacial ice that move down slopes. Over time, glaciers erode the underlying rock surface, making it erosion by the force of gravity since the downward movement of ice and other particles is gravitational.
  
  
• Soil erosion: involves the loss of soil and can be caused by the types already mentioned.

Several forms can act on the same landscape at once. For example, rain can loosen soil that is then carried away by runoff. Let us now look in more detail at these examples of erosion according to their type.

Also known as eolian erosion, wind erosion is caused by the wind. It is particularly important in areas which experience strong winds and which have soils made up of very small particles. This is the case with sandy soils, where erosion can be exacerbated by intensive grazing during times of drought. Sparse vegetation leaves more particles exposed, making it easier for the wind to pick them up.

Wind erosion also contributes to the exposure of the soil surface. It can generate exposed and smooth areas on impermeable soils. Due to the absence of a soil surface, its low permeability and its generally high salt concentration, it is difficult to carry out revegetation of the area.

Furthermore, wind erosion tends to be more pronounced in sandier areas. These areas do not retain as much water and are considered to have low fertility. It is less prominent in crop-growing areas with coarse textures. In these areas, larger soil aggregates are formed that are too thick and heavy to be transported by the wind, even if it is strong.

Sandstorms are caused by the wind picking up loose sand or sandy soil which is lighter than most other types of soil. Learn more with our article on how sandstorms are formed.

Water plays an important role in the erosion of rocks since it wears down and transports eroded materials from one place to another, and different types of water erosion can be distinguished. These include fluvial, marine and pluvial water erosion. These erosive processes can be facilitated by human activity or occur naturally. In all cases, water from rivers, oceans and rain carries materials from their point of origin to a different area. The amount and size of material moved depend on the force and flow of the water.

• Fluvial erosion (river erosion): river erosion can cause discoloration in river beds. As it flows from valleys to the oceans and seas, the erosive process generates a large accumulation of sediments that are deposited in new areas. Learn more about how sediment affects geographical areas with our article on how river deltas are formed.
  
  
• Marine erosion (sea erosion): another form of water erosion is caused by waves and currents from the sea. This force provided by coastal waters erodes and modifies the land. This also generates eroded particles that are deposited and change the coastline of the area in question. Marine erosion is distinct from iceberg formation, which occurs when ice breaks away from glaciers or ice shelves; learn more about how icebergs are formed.
  
  
• Pluvial erosion (rain erosion): is caused by rainwater. This increases river size, increases fluvial erosion and wears down mountain walls, as well as eroding soils of all types. With acid rain, wear is not only physical, caused by the friction of water; chemical reactions can also corrode surfaces.

Learn more about how soil erosion and rain can combine to make something known as mud rain or rain dust.

Anthropic erosion is caused by human activities such as agriculture, industry, infrastructure construction, overgrazing, deforestation, and the transportation of people and goods, among many others. As a consequence of these actions, the loss of the surface layer of the soil occurs, so that an artificial soil is created that is highly influenced by this human activity. When vegetation is removed or the ground is disturbed, soil is left more exposed to wind and water, which can speed up its removal.

Learn more about how human activity impacts our ecosystems with our article explaining the different types of environmental degradation.

Soil erosion is the wearing away of the surface layer of soil. It is caused by wind, water, crop cultivation or deforestation, among other factors. In this case, it is not the soil that is causing the erosion, but it is the soil which is being eroded. This type of erosion may also be due to temperature, gravity, chemical reactions and other factors.

It is the process by which the vegetation that protects the soil disappears, leaving it exposed and vulnerable to physical agents. An example is exposure to precipitation, which can loosen soil to the extent that landslides are created. If the eroded soil contains chemicals such as fertilizers or insecticides, erosion can carry them into rivers and streams, releasing potentially harmful substances. Other effects derived from soil erosion include the reduction of soil quality due to the loss of nutrients from organic matter. This makes it difficult for vegetation to grow. Maintaining plant cover can help hold soil in place and reduce its exposure to rain and wind. Learn more about soil erosion and its consequences by investigating what soil science is.

As its name indicates, glacial erosion is caused by glaciers, large accumulations of ice formed from compacted snow. They are typical of mountain regions and some coastal areas. If the ice base begins to melt, the glacier slides over the substrate, eroding it as it passes. When this happens, it collects materials along the way, such as grains of sand and large rocks. This erodes the bedrock, as well as the ice itself, and breaks up the glacier. By scraping and carrying rock fragments, glaciers can carve valleys and leave deposits behind when the ice retreats.

Learn more about how glacial movement and its subsequent erosion affects geographic landscapes with our article on what is a glacial moraine?

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