erosion
From Glossary of Meteorology
The movement of soil or rock from one point to another by the action of the sea, running water, moving ice, precipitation, or wind.
Erosion is distinct from weathering, for the latter does not necessarily imply transport of material. Where human agency has increased erosion beyond the normal geologic rate, it is termed accelerated erosion. Wind erosion is a very important factor in the continued redistribution of earth surface material. Two measures of this effect are used by geologists, capacity of the wind and competence of the wind.
Compare corrasion, corrosion, eolation.
