What is the process called when rocks carried by water wear away the landscape?

The process where rocks and other materials carried by water wear away the landscape is known as erosion. Erosion involves the movement of material from one location to another, primarily due to the action of water, wind, or ice. In the case of water, as it flows over surfaces, it can carry away particles of soil, rock, and other debris, leading to the gradual wearing down of landforms.

This process is essential in shaping the physical features of the Earth, creating valleys, canyons, and other geological formations over time. While corrasion, which is sometimes used synonymously, specifically refers to the mechanical wearing down of surfaces by particles carried in water, it is a subset of the broader erosion process. Weathering, on the other hand, refers to the breaking down of rocks and minerals in place without movement, and deposition involves the laying down of eroded materials in a new location rather than their removal from the landscape. Therefore, erosion accurately captures the concept of landscape wear due to rocks and materials transported by water.