What does avulsion describe in a geological context?

Avulsion describes a geological event where there is a sudden removal of land, typically due to natural forces such as flooding, river changes, or landslides. This process can lead to significant and rapid changes in the landscape, where a river may change course, depositing sediment elsewhere and effectively “removing” land from where it previously existed. This dynamic can reshape ecosystems, affect land ownership, and impact human infrastructure.

In contrast, other processes like gradual erosion involve a slow and continuous wearing away of soil and land over time, while sediment build-up refers to the accumulation of material, which is the opposite of what happens during an avulsion. A minor land shift does not capture the sudden and drastic nature of avulsion, which emphasizes the rapidity and significant effects of the land being removed rather than small, incremental changes.