erosional
Caused by weathering
Erosional describes processes or features related to erosion—the wearing away of rock, soil, or other material by water, wind, ice, or gravity.
Geologists speak of erosional landforms shaped by these forces, erosional surfaces where material has been stripped away, or erosional cycles that reshape terrain over time.
The word appears almost exclusively in scientific contexts.
Deep river-cut gorge
- gullyChannel carved by flowing water
- ravineDeep, narrow valley
- butteIsolated flat-topped hill
- mesaFlat-topped steep-sided elevation
arroyo · badlands · gorge · valley · cliff · escarpment · plateau · chasm
Shallow surface wound
- attritionGradual reduction through loss
- denudationRemoval of surface covering
- downcuttingVertical channel erosion
- headwardToward the cranium
incision · scouring · sapping · undercutting · deflation · plucking · exfoliation · corrosion
Decline in condition
- wearingHaving clothing on
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
- sculptingShaping material into forms
carving · shaping · gouging · hollowing · retreat · lowering · stripping · exposure
Cavity in pavement
- sea archWave-eroded rock formation
- sea stackIsolated coastal rock formation
- notchV-shaped incision
- overhangSection projecting beyond support
scarp · meander · oxbow · delta · alluvial fan · talus · scree · cave
Relating to rivers
- glacialOf frozen rivers
- aeolianCaused by moving air
- coastalOf the shoreline
- waveOscillating motion through medium
ice · wind · water · freeze-thaw · thermal stress · chemical weathering · tidal · hillslope
canyon
Deep river-cut gorge
mesa · arroyo · badlands · gorge · valley · cliff · escarpment · plateau · chasm · hoodoo
abrasion
Shallow surface wound
- attritionGradual reduction through loss
- denudationRemoval of surface covering
- downcuttingVertical channel erosion
headward · incision · scouring · sapping · undercutting · deflation · plucking · exfoliation · corrosion · solution
degradation
Decline in condition
- wearingHaving clothing on
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
sculpting · carving · shaping · gouging · hollowing · retreat · lowering · stripping · exposure · dissection
pothole
Cavity in pavement
overhang · scarp · meander · oxbow · delta · alluvial fan · talus · scree · cave · grotto
fluvial
Relating to rivers
wave · ice · wind · water · freeze-thaw · thermal stress · chemical weathering · tidal · hillslope · gravitational
erosionaldepositional
Relating to material accumulation
constructional · sedimentary · accumulative · constructive · accretionary
- river erosionWater wearing away earth
- soil erosionLoss of topsoil
- beach erosionShore loss from water
- soil erosion controlPreventing terrain degradation
- coastal erosionLand loss at sea edges
- coastline erosionSea wearing away land