Geomorphic Processes

Water erosion is the primary cause of soil erosion, as water runoff can carry away soil particles, especially on sloping land.

Drainage is the process of removing excess water from soil, typically through the use of ditches, tiles, or other drainage systems.

Terraces, contour bunds, and check dams are all types of soil conservation structures used to reduce soil erosion and conserve water.

A delta is formed when a river carrying sediment reaches a larger body of water, such as an ocean, lake, or sea. The sediment is deposited at the mouth of the river, forming a fan-shaped landform.

A delta is formed by the deposition of sediment carried by a river as it enters a larger body of water.

Interception is the process by which forests intercept rainfall, reducing the impact of heavy rainfall on soil erosion. The canopy of trees breaks the fall of raindrops, allowing water to infiltrate the soil more slowly and reducing runoff.

Infiltration is the process by which water moves from the soil surface into the groundwater. This process is facilitated by the presence of vegetation, which helps create pores and channels in the soil that allow water to penetrate more easily.

Runoff is the process by which water flows over the land surface and into streams, rivers, and lakes. This process occurs when the rate of rainfall exceeds the rate of infiltration, causing water to accumulate on the surface and flow downhill.

Precipitation is the process by which water moves from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface. This process occurs when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water droplets or ice crystals and falls to the ground.

Evaporation is the process by which water moves from the Earth's surface into the atmosphere. This process occurs when water molecules absorb energy from the sun and gain enough kinetic energy to escape from the liquid phase and transition into the gaseous phase.

Leaching is the process by which contaminants are dissolved and carried away from soil by water.

Geomorphic symbols are geologic symbols that represent the geomorphic features of an area, such as mountains, valleys, and rivers.

Glaciers and ice caps form through the process of accumulation, ablation, and calving. Accumulation is the process by which snow accumulates and compresses into ice. Ablation is the process by which ice melts or sublimates. Calving is the process by which large pieces of ice break off from a glacier or ice cap and fall into the ocean.

A valley glacier is a glacier that flows through a valley. Valley glaciers are found in mountainous areas all over the world.

A piedmont glacier is a glacier that spreads out at the end of a valley and forms a fan-shaped deposit. Piedmont glaciers are found in Alaska, Greenland, and Antarctica.