Erosion

By: Rand Mrema

Erosion
Erosion changes, creates and destroys form of things on the
Earths surface, through the power of wind, water and huge
rivers of ice also known as glaciers. Sometimes the process
of erosion can be slow; it can take up to hundreds of
thousands even millions of years. Sometimes the changes
are sudden. Erosion has a positive side to it. The positive
side is; it helps give us soil, which forms a beach. Erosion
also has a negative side. People have speeded up erosion in
most places. Farming can be a major cause of soil erosion
especially over-grazing. Each year the planet losses billions
of acres of rich topsoil because of over-grazing and poor
farming. Cutting down trees is also another cause of erosion.
The roots of the trees hold the soil in place, so it wont be that
easily eroded.
Causes of Erosion
Wind, water and human activities are the main cause of
erosion. The amount of soil they carry is causes by two
things, which are; speed and the amount of plants in that
area. The speed is one of the causes because the faster the
wind and/or water moves, the more soil it can erode. The
amount of plants is another causes because plants, help
protect the soil and without them, the greater the damage.
Human activities are the main cause of soil erosion because
the humans have reduced the number of trees and that has
speeded up the soil erosion process over the last decade.
Human activities such as the cutting down of trees and over-
grazing has caused erosion.
Gradient of Slope
Gradient of slope is an important part when
it comes to soil erosion. The steeper the
gradient is, the higher the rate of erosion.
This part plays an important role in water
erosion, glacial erosion and gravitational
erosion.
Soil Properties
The resistance of a piece of land to soil
erosion depends on the physical and
chemical properties of the soil. Different
types of soil have different physical and
chemical properties. The quality and the
structure play an important part in knowing
if whether the soil is at risk or not.
Climate
One of the main soil erosion causes.
Climate decides the precipitation levels and
the wind speed. More precipitation means
more surface flow, and more surface flow
means more area is likely to be eroded by
running water. Similar to the wind, the
stronger and faster the wind is, erosion will
also be high and eroded materials will be
carried further.
Where Soil Erosion Occurs
Europe
North America
South America
Africa
Asia
Australia/New Zealand
Basically, soil erosion occurs everywhere on Earth.
Ways of Preventing Erosion
Prevent soil erosion by planting vegetation,
trees, ground cover, shrubs and any other
plants. The roots from these plants will help hold
the soil in place. Soil will not be easily blown
away by wind, or washed away by the rain.
Create windbreaks, which are Hedges or fences
of trees designed to reduce erosion, especially
wind erosion. Plant them on different plots of
lands.
Ways of Preventing Erosion Part 2
Grow crops on farm lands. When land is
not being used, use cover crops because
they help prevent soil erosion by wind or
rain. Beans are often used as cover crops.
Apply mulch, which is; a protective covering
of rotting vegetable matter spread to
prevent soil erosion. The topsoil is will not
be likely washed or blown away, when its
covered by mulch.

Types of Erosions
Soil Erosion
Water Erosion
Wind Erosion
Gravitational Erosion
Soil Erosion is a Problem
Soil erosion is global issue because it happens everywhere in
the world everyday, every month, every year and every
decade because no one really cares about the soil and most
farmers that are farming in the undeveloped or developing
countries dont know the ways of preventing erosion or the
right way to farm, so they can avoid erosion. Also farmers
who farm in undeveloped countries dont have the right
materials, technology or machinery to help them farm
properly and to be able to avoid erosion. Governments from
all over the world should invest money to the undeveloped or
developing countries, to help them prevent erosion and to
educate them about erosion and the good ways to farm. This
will help us (Humans) to reach a step closer to making soil
erosion or erosion overall a yesterday problem.
How Soil Erosion Occurs
Soil erosion occurs in many different ways. It can occur by
wind, water and glacier. Soil erosion can occur by wind
because wind is one of the many ways that create erosion.
Wind causes erosion by picking up the soil on the surface
and transports it to another place. Wind erosion is mostly
found in the deserts. The more speed and power the wind
has the more soil it collects and the further it carries it. Water
can cause erosion by transporting the materials it erodes is
taken to another location and deposited there and that is how
a beach is formed. Glacier can cause erosion by transporting
the ice it takes to another location or the ice will melt and
form into a river that will go to different locations and keep
eroding more ice on the way, to form into something else.
Impacts of Erosion
Economic: Soil erosion causes the farmer or the countries trade a big loss
each year due to destruction of the crops. Governments and farmers are
forced to invest money to help prevent erosion and to have enough amount
of crops they need.
Quality of product: Soil erosion reduces the quality of the product due to
the quality of the soil available in that area and the product might not reach
the slandered required because of the damage soil erosion has done to the
soil and to the crops.
Time it takes to grow: The time it takes for plants to grow depends on the
quality of the soil. If the soil isnt that good, then the crops will take time to
grow and they crops wont be at a high quality then it use to be and that
wont be too good.
Amount of soil and Quality of Soil: Every time an area gets eroded, the
amount of soil, in that place will be reduced and the quality wont be that
good and therefore you will have to pay money to import rich soil from
another area to be able to grow crops that are high quality in that area.
Bibliography
(Last Update: 2008) What is Erosion [Online]
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EHow (Last Update: 2008) How to Prevent Soil Erosion [Online]
http://www.ehow.com/how_2078923_prevent-soil-erosion.html [accessed February
10, 2010] Dave Favis-Mortlock
Ontario (Last Update: 2008) How to Prevent Soil Erosion [Online]
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/87-040.htm [accessed February
10, 2010]
Stille, Darlene (2004) Exploring Science: Erosion. [Offline] U.S, Compass Point
Books Inc [accessed February 12, 2010]