| − | '''Erosion''' is - according to the [[USDA]] terminology - ''"the wearing away of the [[land]] surface by running water, waves, or moving ice and wind, or by such processes as [[mass wasting]] and [[corrosion]] (solution and other chemical processes). The term "geologic erosion" refers to natural erosion processes occurring over long ([[geologic]]) time spans. "Accelerated erosion" generically refers to erosion that exceeds what is presumed or estimated to be naturally occurring levels, and which is a direct result of human activities (e.g., [[cultivation]] and [[logging]])."<ref>[http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/NRI/1997/summary_report/glossary.html List of USDA terminology]</ref>''
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