Erosion

__**//What is Erosion?//**__ Erosion is the wearing away of rocks and soil by a chemical or physical process. Physical processes would be things such as precipitation, rivers, wind, and changes in temperature. Chemical processes include acid rain and gases containing pollutants.[1]

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Erosion effects Aquatic Life by entering the water and having many negative effects. When the sediment enters the water it can block an aquatic animals' gills or the part of an animal that filters the water to feed the animal.[2] Sediment can cover the bottom of the river too, and kill the fish eggs buried by trapping the eggs under dirt.[5] Another bad effect is that when sediments darken the water aquatic plants get less sunlight through the water to use the process photosynthesis. When plants are not able to photosynthesize they don't have food because that is the process plants use to make their food.[2] When plants can't keep themself alive they start to decompose and then bacteria takes away dissolved oxygen from animals like fish. [5]
 * //__How does Erosion effect Aquatic Life?__//**

The roots of trees prevent soil erosion. Holding this soil is important because when the tree is gone, cut down, or dead, there's nothing to hold the soil in place. That soil without roots to hold it in place can be washed away by rain. The soil could then flow through water ways changing and darkening the water. [3] The Gray Area could be having a problem with erosion because the sediment from Clear Cut Forest could be washing down into the nearby rivers such as Upper Rafta River when it rains. The sediment could be getting into the river and causing the fish to die.[4]
 * //__What does Erosion have to do with trees?__//**

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Overgrazing can cause erosion when too many animals graze a certain part of land. When animals graze on the land, the soil becomes loose so when it rains, that loose soil can erode into rivers and streams.[4] Animals can, also, trample the plants holding the dirt on the land. When the plants get severly trampled they often don't live anymore and don't hold the dirt from running into the river.[5]
 * //__What does erosion have to do with overgrazing?__//**

[|Erosion Video] [10]

 * __//Types of Erosion//__**


 * **__Wind Erosion__**- Erosion caused by wind is known as aeolian or eolian erosion. Most wind erosion occurs in deserts and is partially the cause for the formation of sand dunes. Wind erodes mostly sand and rocks. [6] Wind erosion is a serious problem on about 75 million acres of land in the United States. Almost 5 million acres of farming land are damaged each year by wind erosion. The wind moves the most fertile portion of the soil. Dust gets into the air and causes it to become polluted. The dust in the air makes it much harder to see. Visibility problems can cause automobile accidents and is not healthy for humans and animals. [7]
 * __**Ice Erosion-**__The erosion can be caused by the freezing of water/liquide in a crack or hole. This freezing cause's the area around the hole to break into small peices. This erosion can also be caused by Glacier's . When glaciers move over a surface they take large amount's of land with them. Ice erosion happen's every winter. [6]
 * **__Wave Erosion-__** Waves that form in large areas of water can harm the coast. In storms, waves can become very large and powerful. The force that a wave can pack is up to 2000 pounds per square foot. When a wave hits the coast it has so much energy and chemical content, therefor, that is what breaks down the rocks and packed down sand on the coast when it hits.[6]

Source: [1] Erosion. 2003. Science Online. [|http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE40&SID=5&iPin= FDEE0665&SingleRecord=True.] [2] Nonbiological Marine Pollution. Sediment. 2007. Science Online http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE40&SID=5&iPin=OFPO0009&SingleRecord=True [3] Fowler, Marilin Telephone interveiw. December 16,2008 [4] Barrett, Madeline. Environmental Detective Notebook. Cincinnati: Madeline Barrett, December 2008. [5] Schuchter, Alex. Environmental Detective Notebook. Cincinnati: Alex Schuchter, January 2009 [6]Rosenburg, Matt. Erosion. 2009. January 6,2009 http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/erosion.htm [7] Wind Erosion.Oznet. January 7,2009 http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/fieldday/kids/wind/erosion.htm [8] Erosion By Streamflow.KidsGeo.com.January 7, 2009 [|www.kidsgeo.com/ images/river-erosion.jpg] [9] __Forest Harvest.__ Minnesota Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. January 9,2009 [10] Durdle Door- Past and Future. kblsvideo.2008.