Erosion is what happens when soil, rock, or sediment gets slowly worn down and carried by wind, water, ice, or gravity. This process has been consistently reshaping our coasts for millions of years. While erosion is a normal part of Earth’s cycles, human activity has greatly accelerated it, risking lasting environmental consequences.
The most common form of erosion is water erosion. This occurs when rain, rivers, waves, etc. slowly wear away at land and coastlines. Usually this also transports dirt elsewhere and can create landforms like canyons. Wind erosion is a similar process to water where strong winds carry away loose soil and deposit them. Ice erosion can occur when glaciers freeze onto and gradually pull away chunks of rock, or when water seeps into cracks and expands when frozen, causing pieces of rocks to break off. These processes may seem gradual, but over time they can significantly change our earth.
Additionally, human activity has increased erosion at an alarming rate. An example of this is deforestation, which removes plant roots that would hold soil in place. This leaves the land more vulnerable to being washed or blown away. Another example could be farming practices like over-tilling which is when the soil is too disturbed, causing it to lose its structure and become unstable or powdery. As a result, erosion can lead to a loss of fertile farmland, waterways getting polluted, and risks of flooding increasing.
So why is erosion bad? Erosion, if left untended to, can affect wildlife, ecosystems, and infrastructure. When water erosion causes soil to infiltrate rivers and streams, it can cloud the water and cause harm to fish and other aquatic life. Erosion can also wear away at beaches and habitats which in turn could put homes at risk. In extreme cases, erosion can even contribute to landslides, possibly leading to injuries and displacement.
However, erosion can be reduced through conservation and sustainable practices. Some of these can be planting vegetation to promote roots that keep the soil in place, utilizing flat, nonsloped platforms called terraces for farming, and protecting our wetlands. By understanding erosion and taking steps to prevent it, we can protect the land that supports both human life and our environment
Works Cited
“Coastal Erosion | U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit.” U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit, https://toolkit.climate.gov/coastal-erosion. Accessed 14 December 2025.
Wunderlich, Robert. “Erosion.” National Geographic Education, 5 June 2025, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/erosion/. Accessed 14 December 2025.
