Tutorial:Volcanic Erosion

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Tectonic and volcanic erosion
Volcanic and tectonic activity can trigger erosion events. Erosion events linked to tectonic and volcanic activity may be direct, for example the destruction of volcano cones, or indirect from the triggering of other erosion processes such as mudflows.

Direct erosion events
Pyroclastic flows can be immensely destructive. Consisting of hot rock and ask travelling at high speed they can destroy by direct impact and by burning vegetation and other organic materials in their path.

Indirect erosion events
The indirect effects of volcanic and tectonic activity are more varied. Both may trigger landslides and mudslides, and where water is involved from the melting of glaciers or the breaching of lakes, mudflows can also occur.

In coastal regions wave cut notches and raised beaches may also result from tectonic activity and resulting changes in relative sea-level although the actual agents of erosion are mechanical and chemical.



The result of these erosion processes may be [unconformities>Main.Glossary.U.Unconformity] in the final sedimentary sequence whereby the exposed surface is eroded by either direct or indirect erosion events linked to the tectonic or volcanic activity immediately prior to the deposition of further sediment (ash, lava, mudflow etc.).

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