Soil Erosion

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Soil Erosion
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3 Types of Erosion

• Wind erosion Wind erosion is the removal soil
  particles 9small pieces) by the force and energy
  of the wind. These soil particles are transported
  and deposited when the wind energy drops.

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• Water erosion Water erosion is caused by the
  energy of rain falling on the soil surface and by
  the force of runoff.
• Gravity erosion Movement of soil occurs on steep
  slopes under the influence of gravity. The
  materials move from higher to lower grounds due
  to their weight.

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Causes of Soil Erosion

• Land use Humans play a major role in soil
  erosion through their use and abuse of natural
  resources,
• Examples are deforestation, grazing, faulty
  farming systems, high crop intensity, housing
  construction, mining etc.

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• Climate The two most important climatic factors
  having a direct effect on erosion are
  precipitation and wind velocity.

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• Soil The susceptibility of a soil to erosion is
  influenced by its characteristics.
• Think of the differences of sand and clay which
  would be most easily moved by water or wind? Why?

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• Hydrology Infiltration (water filtering into the
  ground), flow velocity (speed), and subsurface
  (below the surface) water flow are important
  parts of soil erosion.

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• Landforms Slope, slope length, and the shape of
  the slope are important parts that affect erosion
  processes for all types of soil erosion.

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Erosion Control

• You must find the reasons why look at
  the characteristics of rainfall.
• including the amount of rain,
• intensity,
• energy load (how hard it falls),
• seasonality,
• the formation course of waters runoff.

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Wind Erosion during the Dustbowl
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Water Erosion

• Heavy run-off created a large eroded canyon in
  this hillside.

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Water Erosion in Ethiopia

• Sediment-laden river running through a city
  (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) many miles downstream
  from the eroding soils.

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Water Erosion in Maine
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Maine Stream Run-off
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Run off from the Mississippi River
Because the Mississippi River drains much
agricultural land, it has high sediment (soil)
content. The mud spilling from the river into the
Gulf of Mexico is clearly visible in this
picture. 
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Terrace Farming

• A way to stop erosion is with terrace farming.

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87 of Erosion is caused by water and wind!
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Not all erosion occurs on Earth

• Water erosion on a crater on Mars!