What does 'erosion' refer to?

Erosion refers to the process through which various natural forces, particularly wind, water, ice, or gravity, move soil and sediment from one location to another. This process can lead to the wearing away of landforms and the reshaping of landscapes. It is a crucial environmental process that can contribute to the formation of rivers, valleys, and coastlines, and can also significantly impact ecosystems and human activities.

The option addressing the creation of new land masses refers to deposition, which is different from erosion, as it involves the accumulation of sediment rather than its movement. The legal claim to property is irrelevant to the concept of erosion, as it pertains to property rights rather than physical processes affecting land. Improving soil quality for agriculture relates to agricultural practices and soil management, not to the natural processes of erosion. Thus, the definition of erosion clearly aligns with the process of transporting soil and sediment, making that the correct answer.