The breakdown of rocks, soil, and minerals through contact with the Earth’s atmosphere, waters, and biological organisms is a crucial geological process. This process, coupled with the subsequent movement of the resulting material by natural forces and the eventual settling of that material in a new location, shapes the Earth’s surface over time. An example includes the gradual crumbling of a mountain range due to rain and wind, followed by the transport of sediment downstream by a river, and the eventual accumulation of that sediment on a river delta.
Understanding these processes is fundamental to a wide range of disciplines, including geology, geography, and environmental science. It allows for the prediction of landscape evolution, the assessment of natural hazards such as landslides and floods, and the management of resources like soil and water. Historically, observations of these phenomena have informed agricultural practices and civil engineering projects.
