Processes of Change

  1. GRADATION—to bring to grade (level) by erosion, transportation, and deposition by water, wind, ice
    1. DEGRADATION—the general lowering of the land by erosive processes, mostly by running water
    2. AGGRADATION—the process of building up a surface by deposition, mostly below sea level
  2. DIASTROPHISM—process by which the crust of the earth is deformed producing continents and ocean basins, plateaus, and mountains, and flexures and folds of strata, and faulting
  3. VULCANISM—refers to volcanic activity, including all natural processes resulting in the formation of volcanoes, volcanic rocks, lava fields, etc.