Certified Storm Water Operator Practice Exam

Major erosive forces are water and ___________.

1. Fire

2. Earth

3. Wind

4. Heat

The correct answer is: Wind

Water and wind are recognized as major erosive forces in nature. Both play significant roles in shaping landscapes through the processes of erosion and sediment transport. Water is responsible for a variety of erosional processes, including surface runoff and river flow, which can carry sediments and break down rocks. Wind, on the other hand, is particularly effective in arid and semi-arid regions, where it can transport loose particles over significant distances, leading to the erosion of soil and rock surfaces. Wind erosion can create features such as dunes and can significantly impact agricultural lands by removing topsoil. The other options do not possess the same direct erosive effects. Fire, while it can alter landscapes and affect soil stability, does not directly erode materials in the same way that water and wind do. Earth typically refers to the solidity and mineral content of the ground, which is not an erosive force by itself. Heat influences weathering but is not a primary erosive agent like water and wind.