explain different types of soil erosion?
Answers
Explanation:
Soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil, it is one form of soil degradation. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice (glaciers), snow, air (wind), plants, animals, and humans. In accordance with these agents, erosion is sometimes divided into water erosion, glacial erosion, snow erosion, wind (aeolean) erosion, zoogenic erosion and anthropogenic erosion.[1] Soil erosion may be a slow process that continues relatively unnoticed, or it may occur at an alarming rate causing a serious loss of topsoil. The loss of soil from farmland may be reflected in reduced crop production potential, lower surface water quality and damaged drainage networks.
Human activities have increased by 10–50 times the rate at which erosion is occurring globally. Excessive (or accelerated) erosion causes both "on-site" and "off-site" problems. On-site impacts include decreases in agricultural productivity and (on natural landscapes) ecological collapse, both because of loss of the nutrient-rich upper soil layers. In some cases, the eventual end result is desertification. Off-site effects include sedimentation of waterways and eutrophication of water bodies, as well as sediment-related damage to roads and houses. Water and wind erosion are the two primary causes of land degradation; combined, they are responsible for about 84% of the global extent of degraded land, making excessive erosion one of the most significant environmental problems worldwide.[2][3]
Intensive agriculture, deforestation, roads, anthropogenic climate change and urban sprawl are amongst the most significant human activities in regard to their effect on stimulating erosion.[4] However, there are many prevention and remediation practices that can curtail or limit erosion of vulnerable soils.
Types of Soil Erosion
One of the most important things that we can do to ensure the health of our crops and nearby ecosystems is to reduce soil erosion. The different soil erosion types are explained below.
Rain Drop or Splash Erosion
The erosion due to the impact of falling raindrops on soil surface leading to the destruction of the crumb structure is known as the raindrop or splash erosion.
Sheet Erosion
It is the uniform removal of soil in thin layers from the land surface caused by the wind. Land areas with loose, shallow topsoil overlie compact soil are most prone to sheet erosion
Rill Erosion
Rill erosion is a form of water erosion in which the erosion takes places through numerous narrow and more or not so straight channels called streamlets, or head cuts. Rill is the most common form of erosion, which you can also observe during heavy rain.
Gully Erosion
Gully erosion occurs due to the runoff of surface water causing the removal of soil with drainage lines. Gullies when started once, will move by headward erosion or even by slumping of side walls unless and un-till proper steps will be taken in order to stabilize the disturbance.
Stream Bank Erosion
Bank erosion is nothing but washing up away from banks of a stream or a river. It is different from the erosion of the bed of a watercourse, that is referred to as scouring. This type of erosion is also termed as Stream Bank Erosion.