Erosion, entrainment, and sedimentation of particles in geophysical systems may be natural or anthropogenic processes, taking place over a range of time scales. This includes soil and bed erosion in aeolian, fluvial, and dense particulate flows, covering a wide range of disciplines. Consequently, a multitude of different research foci have evolved, ranging from environmental reconstruction to grain size sorting effects and exploration of natural resources; from biochemical cycles and agriculture to the reconstruction of surface processes on earth and other planets (e.g. Mars).

Depending on the objective and perspective, the entrainment of sediment and its movement and fate, despite its connecting nature, is described differently. This limits the assessment of the role of eroded material further down the path of its movement, e.g. the global C cycle, local or regional problems of water pollution. Although some efforts have been undertaken in the different geosciences, still no coherent perspective on describing these processes is available. Such a coherent description would enable a comprehensive analysis of the role of sediment and erosion connecting different spheres and spaces throughout time.

The lack of universal agreement on sediment might benefit from more exchange between the different geoscience communities. Therefore this session aims on bringing together geologists, geomorphologists, hydrologists, soil scientists and all other scientists working on entrainment, erosion and sedimentation by wind, water and dense flows, independent of the environment.