Erosion is the process of wearing away of the Earth's surface by water, wind, ice, and other geological activities. When erosion happens, it is often referred to as "denudation" or "exudation". Denudation refers to the complete stripping away of soil and rocks from an area, while exudation refers to the partial wearing away of the surface. Erosion can also be referred to as "degradation", which refers to the process of breaking down and removing organic matter, soil, and rocks.