Abrasion in geography refers to the process of erosion that occurs when material being transported wears away at a surface over time). It is the process of friction caused by scuffing, scratching, wearing down, and marring). Abrasion occurs as a result of two surfaces rubbing against each other, resulting in the wearing down of one or both of the surfaces). Abrasion can happen in four different ways and at different scales:

• Glacial abrasion: This is the surface wear achieved by individual clasts, or rocks of various sizes, contained within ice or by subglacial sediment as the glacier slides over bedrock).

• River abrasion: Flowing water hits the channel walls and causes erosion. Pebbles or stones in the river also cause erosion when they hit the channel walls.

• Wave abrasion: As waves break on the shore, the water, stones, and the energy of the waves cause erosion.

• Wind abrasion: The wind can transport sand and small stones, blowing them strongly against rocks and land. Over time, this causes erosion.

Abrasion leads to surface-level destruction over a period of time, whereas attrition results in more change at a faster rate). Attrition refers to the breaking off of particles (erosion) which occurs as a result of objects hitting against each other).