Soil development is the major way in which soil changes with time, but there are other changes that can take place over time. Erosion, forest clearing, and forest succession would be some examples of other ways in which soil could change over time. These processes would all cause a depletion in the top layer unless […]

There are various factors that influence the formation of soils. For example, the parent material’s role as a basis for soil formation can be discussed as one of the soil forming factors as it is one of the most important factors in the ecological system. Parent material, which consists of mineral and organic materials, provides

Soil forms continuously, but slowly, from the gradual breakdown of rocks through weathering. Soil can be formed in a number of different ways including chemical or physical means which often take place simultaneously. Weathering can be a physical, chemical or biological process: Physical weathering: breakdown of rocks from the result of a mechanical action. Temperature

The deposition of sediment is the natural process by which particles of solid material are transported by wind, water and ice and deposited in a new place. The term deposition can also apply to minerals and salts dissolved in water and carried to places they were not previously present or towards sites where they do

Erosion is a natural process in which Earth’s surface is worn away by the elements. Rainfall is the major erosive force on Earth’s land surfaces, causing rivers to erode valleys, transport sediment and reshape the landscape, but wind is also an important driver of erosion. The work of the other two agents of erosion waves

Landslides are among the most common types of geologic hazards. A landslide is an event in which a mass of rock, soil and/or debris moves down a slope. The velocity at which the landslide travels is dependent on the cohesion between the grains or particles that make up the landslide (cohesion is how well grains

Mass movements are typically associated with the greatest loss of life, whether natural or man-made. These movements of mineral material are often composed of rock fragments ranging from mud to boulders, however not all types of mass movements are necessarily composed of rock. That means, air, water or ice do not carry debris with them

Weathering processes are geologic processes that break down rocks, minerals and soils into smaller fragments. Weathering is the process in the cycle of erosion or ‘spreading’ of sediments or rocks. It is the opposite of deposition with respect to solid–liquid equilibrium. Weathering is most commonly driven by physical abrasion, chemical dissolution, acid dissolution, biological activity,

Biological activity is primarily responsible for the water-transfer processes involved in rock and soil erosion and sedimentation. It is also involved in many of the chemical reactions contributing to weathering and erosion, although less conspicuously than physical and chemical agents. Only a few or even a single trace of some ions or salts may be