Science Common Sense

1134 - What changes occur to sand, stones, and soil in the natural environment due to water flow and wind.

Imagine you're outside watching the forces of nature. Here's what happens to sand, stones, and soil when water flows and wind blows:

Water Flow:

1. Erosion: Water washes away sand, stones, and soil, carrying them away to new places. This can create holes, valleys, or even canyons.
2. Sedimentation: As water slows down, it deposits the carried sand, stones, and soil in new areas, creating beaches, deltas, or layers of sediment.
3. Deposition: Water can also deposit small particles, like sand and silt, at the bottom of rivers, lakes, or oceans, forming new layers of soil or sediment.

Wind:

1. Deflation: Wind blows away loose sand, stones, and topsoil, creating hollows or dunes.
2. Attrition: Wind wears down stones and rocks, breaking them into smaller pieces that can be carried away.
3. Deposition: Wind can also deposit sand, stones, and soil particles in new areas, creating dunes, sand drifts, or loose soil layers.

These natural processes shape our landscape, creating new landforms and changing the texture of our soil and ground.