soil erosion by water
Answers
One of the main causes of soil erosion is water erosion, which is the loss of topsoil due to water. Raindrops fall directly on topsoil. The impact of the raindrops loosens the material bonding it together, allowing small fragments to detach. If the rainfall continues, water gathers on the ground, causing water flow on the land surface, known as surface water runoff. This runoff carries the detached soil materials away and deposits them elsewhere.
There are some conditions that can accentuate surface water runoff and therefore soil erosion. For example, if the land is sloped, there is a greater potential for soil erosion due to the simple fact that gravity pulls the water and soil materials down the slope. Also, water will have an easier time running across the surface, carrying topsoil with it, if the ground is already saturated due to heavy rains or the soil lacks vegetation to keep the soil in place.