The forces are: Wind, Water and Ice
Here is why they can cause erosion:
Wind- It can cause physical weathering as it carries away the granular components of a rock. As the wind carry the particles and hurl them towards certain rock or landform, causing particles of them to be loosened which would cause them to be further eroded under the exposure of other weathering agents such as water and acid. Loosened grains on slope can also increase the opportunities of landslide to occur further eroding the land.
It can also remove the topsoil and sediments to cause the land to be exposed and unprotected. This favors weathering to carry out and soil erosion to occur. The land might then turns into badland where plants are mostly unable to grow and become unsuitable for habitation.
Some examples are ventifacts and tafoni.
Water- It is the strongest force to cause erosion. The first reason why it has a great impact is because it can cause chemicle weathering. As water seep into the soil and rock, the cause the particles to be loosened. Some rocks, granite, for example, its component would dissolve or turn into weaker minerals under water. As particles loosened, it greatly favors erosion to occur.
The second reason is its strong impact by physical weathering. Sheet erosion,for example, raindrops break apart the soil structure and water would carry away the soil as an travelling agent. It's imapct can also be seen from landslides,where a vast amount of soil particles are carried down slope through water.
Some examples are gully and rivers.
Ice- Ice can cause physical weathering to a large extent. It can force the cracks of the rock to break open as it freeze and increase in volume. Glacier, is also a powerful eroding agent as it can cause abrasion,where chunks of ice wear away and breaks the rock.
Hope it helps !
