erosional

Erosional is an adjective relating to erosion, the process by which soil, rock, and other surface materials are worn away and transported by natural forces. In geomorphology, erosional processes remove material from landscapes and relocate it, often creating distinct landforms over time.

Erosion differs from weathering; weathering acts in place, while erosion involves movement of material by agents such as water, wind, ice, and gravity. Common agents include running water that carves valleys and canyons, coastal waves that undercut cliffs, wind that shapes dunes and desert pavements, glaciers that abrade rock through ice and debris, and gravity that drives mass wasting downslope.

Erosional landforms include canyons, cliffs, sea cliffs, badlands, arches, hoodoos, mesas, fjords, and glacial valleys. The landscape personified as erosional is one shaped predominantly by the removal and transport of material rather than its deposition, though most natural terrains show a combination of both processes over time.

Rates of erosion depend on climate (precipitation, temperature), relief, lithology and soil properties, vegetation cover, and land use. Human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, and poor agricultural practices can accelerate erosion, while conservation measures—vegetation restoration, terracing, contour farming, riprap, and other stabilization methods—can reduce it. Understanding erosional processes is important for interpreting past environments, managing soils, and planning for coastal and riverine safety and sustainability.