Flowing water is a very important agent of erosion. Flowing water can erode rocks and soil. Water dissolves minerals from rocks and carries the ions. This process happens really slowly. But over millions of years, flowing water dissolves massive amounts of rock. Moving water also picks up and carries particles of soil and rock. The ability to erode is affected by the velocity, or speed, of the water. The size of the eroded particles depends on the velocity of the water. Eventually, the water deposits the materials. As water slows, larger particles are deposited. As the water slows even more, smaller particles are deposited. The graph in Figure 10.1 shows how water velocity and particle size influence erosion and deposition.  Faster-moving water has more energy. Therefore, it can carry larger particles. It can carry more particles. What causes water to move faster? The slope of the land over which the water flows is one factor. The steeper the slope, the faster the water flows. Another factor is the amount of water thats in the stream. Streams with a lot of water flow faster than streams that are nearly dry.  The size of particles determines how they are carried by flowing water. This is illustrated in Figure 10.2. Minerals that dissolve in water form salts. The salts are carried in solution. They are mixed thoroughly with the water. Small particles, such as clay and silt, are carried in suspension. They are mixed throughout the water. These particles are not dissolved in the water. Somewhat bigger particles, such as sand, are moved by saltation. The particles move in little jumps near the stream bottom. They are nudged along by water and other particles. The biggest particles, including gravel and pebbles, are moved by traction. In this process, the particles roll or drag along the bottom of the water.  Flowing water slows down when it reaches flatter land or flows into a body of still water. What do you think happens then? The water starts dropping the particles it was carrying. As the water slows, it drops the largest particles first. The smallest particles settle out last.  Water that flows over Earths surface includes runoff, streams, and rivers. All these types of flowing water can cause erosion and deposition.  When a lot of rain falls in a short period of time, much of the water is unable to soak into the ground. Instead, it runs over the land. Gravity causes the water to flow from higher to lower ground. As the runoff flows, it may pick up loose material on the surface, such as bits of soil and sand. Runoff is likely to cause more erosion if the land is bare. Plants help hold the soil in place. The runoff water in Figure 10.3 is brown because it eroded soil from a bare, sloping field. Can you find evidence of erosion by runoff where you live? What should you look for? Much of the material eroded by runoff is carried into bodies of water, such as streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, or oceans. Runoff is an important cause of erosion. Thats because it occurs over so much of Earths surface.  Streams often start in mountains, where the land is very steep. You can see an example in Figure 10.4. A mountain stream flows very quickly because of the steep slope. This causes a lot of erosion and very little deposition. The rapidly falling water digs down into the stream bed and makes it deeper. It carves a narrow, V-shaped channel.  Mountain streams may erode waterfalls. As shown in Figure 10.5, a waterfall forms where a stream flows from an area of harder to softer rock. The water erodes the softer rock faster than the harder rock. This causes the stream bed to drop down, like a step, creating a waterfall. As erosion continues, the waterfall gradually moves upstream.  Rivers flowing over gentle slopes erode the sides of their channels more than the bottom. Large curves, called meanders, form because of erosion and deposition by the moving water. The curves are called meanders because they slowly wander over the land
Flowing water is a very important agent of erosion . Flowing water can erode rocks and soil . Water dissolves minerals from rocks and carries the ions . This process happens really slowly . But over millions of years , flowing water dissolves massive amounts of rock . Moving water also picks up and carries particles of soil and rock . The ability to erode is affected by the velocity , or speed , of the water . The size of the eroded particles depends on the velocity of the water . Eventually , the water deposits the materials . As water slows , larger particles are deposited . As the water slows even more , smaller particles are deposited . The graph in Figure 10.1 shows how water velocity and particle size influence erosion and deposition . Faster - moving water has more energy . Therefore , it can carry larger particles . It can carry more particles . What causes water to move faster ? The slope of the land over which the water flows is one factor . The steeper the slope , the faster the water flows . Another factor is the amount of water that s in the stream . Streams with a lot of water flow faster than streams that are nearly dry . The size of particles determines how they are carried by flowing water . This is illustrated in Figure 10.2 . Minerals that dissolve in water form salts . The salts are carried in solution . They are mixed thoroughly with the water . Small particles , such as clay and silt , are carried in suspension . They are mixed throughout the water . These particles are not dissolved in the water . Somewhat bigger particles , such as sand , are moved by saltation . The particles move in little jumps near the stream bottom . They are nudged along by water and other particles . The biggest particles , including gravel and pebbles , are moved by traction . In this process , the particles roll or drag along the bottom of the water . Flowing water slows down when it reaches flatter land or flows into a body of still water . What do you think happens then ? The water starts dropping the particles it was carrying . As the water slows , it drops the largest particles first . The smallest particles settle out last . Water that flows over Earths surface includes runoff , streams , and rivers . All these types of flowing water can cause erosion and deposition . When a lot of rain falls in a short period of time , much of the water is unable to soak into the ground . Instead , it runs over the land . Gravity causes the water to flow from higher to lower ground . As the runoff flows , it may pick up loose material on the surface , such as bits of soil and sand . Runoff is likely to cause more erosion if the land is bare . Plants help hold the soil in place . The runoff water in Figure 10.3 is brown because it eroded soil from a bare , sloping field . Can you find evidence of erosion by runoff where you live ? What should you look for ? Much of the material eroded by runoff is carried into bodies of water , such as streams , rivers , ponds , lakes , or oceans . Runoff is an important cause of erosion . That s because it occurs over so much of Earths surface . Streams often start in mountains , where the land is very steep . You can see an example in Figure 10.4 . A mountain stream flows very quickly because of the steep slope . This causes a lot of erosion and very little deposition . The rapidly falling water digs down into the stream bed and makes it deeper . It carves a narrow , V - shaped channel . Mountain streams may erode waterfalls . As shown in Figure 10.5 , a waterfall forms where a stream flows from an area of harder to softer rock . The water erodes the softer rock faster than the harder rock . This causes the stream bed to drop down , like a step , creating a waterfall . As erosion continues , the waterfall gradually moves upstream . Rivers flowing over gentle slopes erode the sides of their channels more than the bottom . Large curves , called meanders , form because of erosion and deposition by the moving water . The curves are called meanders because they slowly wander over the land
Erosion is always followed by
Erosion is always followed by
deposition.
deposition.