Which process shapes the Earth's surface by removing material?

• A. Erosion
• B. Weathering
• C. Deposition
• D. Lithification

Answer: (A)

Erosion is the process that shapes the Earth's surface by removing material from one area and moving it to another. It acts through agents like flowing water, wind, ice, and gravity, which wear away rocks and soil and carry fragments downstream, downslope, or along the coast. Weathering stays in place, breaking rocks into smaller pieces or dissolving minerals, but doesn’t move them. Deposition occurs after material has been transported, as it settles out and accumulates in new locations. Lithification is the later stage where loose sediments become solid rock through compaction and cementation. So the action that actively removes material and reshapes the landscape is erosion, driven by the movement of pieces away from their original location.