Click on the image for a larger picture and more info. Erosion is the loosening and the removal of earth materials by water, ice or wind. In Louisiana, erosion is most often associated with running water in streams,rivers and bayous or waves along the coast.
Erosion often involves a number of things.
Weathering, is essential to break rocks down to particles small enough to be removed. Then mass wasting and overland runoff carry the particles to streams where they may be transported out of the area. Undercutting of stream banks and plucking of materials from the bottom of a stream may also be involved. Erosion may include the process of abrasion which is caused by friction and impact of grains being transported by the stream. Stationary objects and whatever is being transported are reduced in size by grinding during water movement.