What Is Soil Erosion?| Simple Definition

Soil erosion is the natural process by which a field’s topsoil is carried away by physical forces such as wind and water. Soil erosion is caused by the same factors that cause other types of erosion: water, ice, wind, and gravity. Soil erosion is more common in areas where the ground has been disturbed by agriculture, grazing animals, logging, mining, construction, or recreational activities.

Soil erosion occurs primarily when the dirt is exposed to high winds, heavy rains, and running water. In some cases, human activities, particularly farming and land clearing, expose soil to erosion.
Soil erosion is the gradual movement and transport of the upper layer of soil (topsoil) by various agents, most notably water, wind, and mass movement, resulting in long-term deterioration.

Table of Contents

Soil Erosion-Key Points

Soil erosion is the natural process of topsoil eroding, but human activity has accelerated the process.
It is typically caused by the removal of vegetation or any activity that dries out the ground.
Soil erosion is caused by a variety of factors, including farming, grazing, mining, construction, and recreational activities.
Soil erosion causes more than just land degradation. It has resulted in a significant increase in pollution and sedimentation in rivers, which clogs the water bodies and reduces the population of aquatic organisms.
Floods occur as a result of degraded lands’ loss of water-holding capacity.

Causes of Soil Erosion

Water
Wind
Ice
Gravity

How to prevent Soil erosion?

Plant grass and shrubs
Add mulch or rocks
Use mulch matting to hold vegetation on slopes
Put down fiber logs
Improve drainage
Build retaining walls
Reduce watering if possible
Avoid soil compaction

What is Weathering?

Weathering is the breakdown or dissolution of rocks and minerals on the Earth’s surface. Weathering agents include water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, and temperature changes.

Summary

Soil erosion is the natural process by which a field’s topsoil is carried away by physical forces such as wind and water.
Soil erosion is caused by the same factors that cause other types of erosion: water, ice, wind, and gravity.
Soil erosion is the gradual movement and transport of the upper layer of soil (topsoil) by various agents, most notably water, wind, and mass movement, resulting in long-term deterioration.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Physical weathering?

Physical weathering also known as mechanical weathering is caused by the effects of changing temperatures on rocks, causing the rock to break apart. Water is sometimes helpful with the process.

2. What is Chemical weathering?

Chemical weathering occurs when rainwater mixes with mineral grains in rocks to form new minerals (clays) and soluble salts.

3. Is CO2 a pure substance?

Carbon dioxide is a pure substance. A pure substance must be composed of just one type of molecule, or it may be an anionic or metallic solid composed exclusively of the atoms in the empirical formula, although not always of the same type of atom.

4. What is Mechanical weathering?

Mechanical weathering, also known as physical weathering and disaggregation, causes rocks to disintegrate. Water, whether liquid or solid, often has an important role in mechanical weathering.