Erosion and Weathering

This article will highlight the definitions and difference between Erosion and Weathering. Tap to learn more.

What is Erosion?

Erosion refers to any process that removes material from one location on Earth’s surface and redeposits it in another location. Erosion includes both water transportation (by rivers, waves, glaciers) as well as mass wasting (landslides, rock falls). In a strict sense, weathering refers only to the physical breakdown of rock by agents such as rainfall, temperature changes and freezing-thawing cycles.

Causes of Erosion

Erosion can occur in response to tectonic forces, such as continental drift, mountain building, and plate tectonics. Erosion can also occur via biological means by the action of living organisms such as the breakdown of soil organic matter into humus by microorganisms or weathering agents such as bacteria. Erosion can be accelerated by human activities such as construction or mining.

What is Weathering?

Weathering is a term that is used to describe processes that take place on the surface of solid rocks. Weathering breaks down rocks, soil and minerals at or near Earth’s surface. Weathering includes water transportation (by rivers, waves, glaciers) as well as mass wasting (landslides, rockfalls). Weathering is also a process that can alter the chemical composition of the rock.

What are the Causes of Weathering?

Tectonics refers to forces at work on the surface of Earth’s crust causing it to bend, fracture and break up into smaller pieces. These forces include volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Excessive tectonic activity can cause significant physical weathering. Ice Plows: Glaciers are large bodies of ice moving slowly across the surface of a landmass, such as a continent or a highland area This causes erosion by abrasion and plucking as the ice plow scrapes away at the rocks lying in its path.

Erosion and Weathering: Differences

Erosion and Weathering both occur at or near Earth’s surface.

Erosion is a general term that can refer to erosion by water, mass wasting or a combination of the two. On the other hand, Weathering refers exclusively to the physical breakdown of rocks at or near Earth’s surface.

Both erosion and weathering can break down rocks and soil, but it is important to note that weathering does not transport sediments; this is an important difference between weathering and erosion.

Erosion can be caused by tectonic forces whereas weathering cannot.

Erosion can be accelerated by human activities such as construction or mining whereas weathering cannot be altered human activity. Weathering is also a process that does not alter the chemical composition of rock.

Weathering can be accelerated by biological organisms which causes biological weathering whereas erosion cannot.

Erosion takes place on Earth’s surface, and transport of sediments by water or mass wasting are not natural processes.

Because acidic rain and pollution cause erosion, increased winds and changes in precipitation patterns will increase the rate of erosion. However, if the land is not being eroded to begin with, climate change will have little to no effect on rates of erosion.

Erosion can occur on all types of landforms; however, weathering only occurs in certain types of geological formations.

Conclusion

Ecosystems in general are among the most vulnerable to changes in climate. Eroded areas, once again, will become less hospitable for plant and animal life. If erosion is severe enough, these areas could become deserts. Erosion is a natural process that takes place on Earth’s surface, but it can also be encouraged by human activities such as construction or mining. However, weathering cannot be altered by human activity.