What is meant by accretion?

Accretion refers to the process of land buildup that occurs from the deposition of materials carried by water, such as sediment and soil. This natural process contributes to the formation of land in areas like riverbanks, deltas, and coastal regions, where water flows deposit materials over time, leading to an increase in land mass.

In the context of land and environmental studies, understanding accretion is important, as it plays a crucial role in shaping ecosystems and habitats. This process differentiates it from other concepts like erosion, which involves the loss of land, or the rise of water levels, which may be influenced by factors such as climate change or weather patterns. Additionally, the movement of tectonic plates relates to geological changes over larger time scales and does not directly involve the gradual buildup of land from water-borne materials.