Denudation is the total action of all processes by which exposed rock is worn away and the resulting sediments are transported to the sea or closed inland basins.
Denudation therefore acts to lower all continental surfaces to a flat featureless landscape.
However, tectonic forces are constantly building new landforms for denudation processes to wear down. Landforms shaped by running water are described as fluvial landforms and are shaped by fluvial processes , such as overland flow and stream flow . Fluvial landforms dominate the continental land surfaces, and are heavily exploited for agriculture. All fluvial action begins first by removal of particles on upland surfaces by soil erosion , whereby overland flow picks up and removes soil particles. This process occurs everywhere precipitation occurs.