What process involves the removal and transportation of sediment?

The process that involves the removal and transportation of sediment is erosion. Erosion refers to the wearing away and movement of soil, rock, and other particles from one location to another, primarily due to the action of water, wind, ice, or gravity. This process can significantly shape landscapes by removing materials from hillsides, riverbanks, and other areas, then depositing them elsewhere.

Weathering, on the other hand, refers to the breakdown of rocks and minerals into smaller pieces through physical, chemical, or biological processes, but it does not involve the transportation of those materials. Deposition is the process where eroded materials are dropped or settled in a new location, representing the end result of erosion rather than the transportation phase. Transpiration is related to the water cycle, specifically the process by which water is absorbed by plants and released as vapor, and does not pertain to sediment movement. Therefore, erosion is the correct term for the process involving the removal and transport of sediment.