How does wind and water cause erosion?

Answer 1

Water and wind can cause erosion the a variety of ways, but the overall answer is friction. Water can cause erosion by a) liquid water beating a way at the rock and slowly carving into it over a long period of time b) liquid water picking up sediment and depositing it elsewhere c) liquid water seeping into cracks in the rock and later freezing (thus expanding the water) and prying apart the rock or d) frozen water coming down an incline in the form of a glacier, thus cutting into the rock underneath and carrying rock long distances. Wind mainly causes erosion by picking up small grains of sand or sediment and throwing them into solid rock. This constant pummeling essentially sands down the rock and grinds away at, often leaving behind exotic and colorful rock formations.

Answer 2

Wind can cause erosion by carrying and depositing particles like sand or dust over time, which wears down rocks and land surfaces. Water can erode surfaces by carrying sediment and debris, like rocks and soil, and abrasively wearing down landscapes over time through processes like flow and scouring. Both wind and water erosion can reshape the earth's surface by gradually wearing down materials and transporting them to new locations.