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Erosion

 

 

What is erosion?

Erosion happens when stream water wears away material from the stream channel (soil, mud, stones). It carries away this material (or transports it).

Imagine you are the stream water - walk along and pick up a backpack full of soil/stones, and then carry it away - you are eroding.

If it has been raining, there is more water and it is faster flowing. This means the stream has more energy and can erode more.
The faster flowing water erodes mud/soil from the stream banks and transports it away.
After rain, the stream water erodes away the soil from around the tree roots.
 The stream water makes them smooth - erosion wears away the surfaces.
Muddy water
The stream water is sometimes muddy after a rainfall - why?

Tree roots
Why can we see the tree
roots along the stream banks?

Smooth pebbles
Many of the pebbles in the stream have quite smooth surfaces - why?

Find the hotspots on each picture for the answers.