Erosion is the wearing away of the earths surface by the action of natural forces, for example, water, wind and glacial ice. Weathering, erosion, and deposition shape the topography and soil characteristics of earths surface. Weathering, erosion, and deposition in the texas ecoregions. These actions depend mainly on the type of soil, the climate, the vegetation cover, the speed and frequency of wind. The three major size categories of soil, from smallest to largest, are clay, silt, and sand. Wind erosion is a common cause of land degradation in the arid and semi arid grazing lands of inland queensland. A dramatic example of this was the wind erosion in kansas during the winter of 19951996, when it was relatively dry and windy.
Wind erosion is a threat to agriculture and the earths natural resources. The magnitude of water erosion depends on many factors, including the type of soil, the steepness of the slope, and the amount of vegetation in the area. Indications of tunnel erosion include water seepage at the foot of a slope and fine sediment fans downhill of a tunnel outlet. An overview of the wind erosion prediction system introduction soil erosion by wind is a serious problem in the united states and the world. Most often, wind erosion occurs on flat land in dry or sandy areas. For students to print off, complete, and turn in for a grade types of water and wind erosion exercise pdf. The presence of organic matter in the soil is vital for good water retention and growth of flora. Erosion is a natural process but is often intensified by human land use practices. Erosion and deposition by wind earth science in maine. Clay soils, even with larger material particles, are also easily eroded by water, yet clay appears to be more durable against the wind. Consistency of wind erosion assessments across land use and land cover types. The rate of removal of fine particles from the surface is the same as the rate of addition. Soil is susceptible to wind erosion when there is a reduction of plant cover, when soil surface crust. Wind energy also has great power to dislodge surface soil particles, and transport them great distances.
This leaflet explains the different types of erosion on the north coast. Types of erosion environment, land and water queensland. Wind erosion refers to the detachment, transport, and deposition of sediment by wind. Martha mamo, department of agronomy and horticulture, university of nebraskalincoln. The term wind erosion refers to the damage of land as a result of wind removing soil from an area. Wind erosion abrades surfaces and makes desert pavement, ventifacts, and desert varnish. When vegetation is sparse as a result of drought or some cropping practices or crop types, ridges and large soil clods or aggregates are frequently the only means of controlling erosion on large areas. Significant wind erosion occurs when strong winds blow over lighttextured soils that have been heavily grazed during periods of. Soil erosion of these types mainly takes place by two methods. They cut out and matchup the definitioncauses and effectswith a picture of each type of erosion and a real world example of each.
While there are many types of erosion, all have the same basic process the removal of topsoil by wind or water. Wind erosion occurs when soil particles are detached, transported, and deposited by the wind. In extreme circumstances, ancient cities can be buried by the wind movement from one area. Significant wind erosion occurs when strong winds blow over lighttextured soils that have been heavily grazed during periods of drought. Geomorphologists and other earth scientists usually consider wind erosion as a specific subdiscipline of a more broad study of aeolian also spelled eolian processes.
Sheet erosion it is the uniform removal of soil in thin layers from the land surface caused by the wind. Weathering is where rock is broken down and dissolved into tiny particles by chemical, physical and. They usually change very often and the weather forecast people talk about this kind on the tv every day. It is one of the processes leading to desertification. Wind strip cropping, one of the types of strip cropping is especially suitable for the land which is susceptible to wind erosion. Then approximately 65 tha was eroded from this valuable cropland during one winter figure 1.
There are different types of wind erosion, each based on how the particles of rock, dirt, or debris are moved from one place to another. Wind erosion happens when wind gusts blow away unsecured soil. The more sandy a soil is, the easier it is for any of the elements to make off with it. Fine sand grains are removed leaving behind coarser material. Effects of leading edge erosion on wind turbine blade performance. Erosion preceded by the destruction of the crumb structure due to the impact of falling raindrop on the surface of soil is termed as splash erosion. The main agents of erosion are water, wind and gravity.
In earth science, erosion is the action of surface processes such as water flow or wind that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the earths crust, and then transports it to another location not to be confused with weathering which involves no movement. It renders soil less productive by removing the most fertile part of the soil, namely, the clays and organic matter. Good soil is a precious resource that takes a long time to form. Part one concerns basics of the erosion process in terms of particle dynamics, threshold condi tions, particle flux, and the protective role of nonerodible elements.
Pdf soil is the most fundamental and basic natural resource for all life to survive. Patricia hain, department of agronomy and horticulture, university of nebraskalincoln. Wind erosion is the physical wear and tear done to the earths surface by wind. Roughening the land surface with ridges and clods reduces the wind velocity and traps drifting soils. Suspension, saltation, and surface creep are the three types of soil movement which occur during wind erosion. Sand dunes are common wind deposits that come in different shapes, depending on winds and sand availability.
Wind erosion wind erosion is the form of soil degradation by the action of the wind which abrades, transports and deposes soil sand particles. Soil texture is one of the major factors in determining erosion, runoff, and sediment control at sites undergoing an earth change. In wind strip cropping normal crop row should be alternated with tall crop or plant, at right angles to the direction of the prevailing winds. Texture refers to the size or combination of sizes of the soil particles. Water erosion how to control the main types of erosion. Its very important to control wind erosion of soil. Consistency of wind erosion assessments across land use. The ultimate aim of conducting the study was to examine the potential detrimental effects of leading edge erosion and consequently, the need for continued development of erosion mitigation strategies. Wind erosion wind erosion is the detachment and movement of. As the soils are loosened by the excess tillage the blowing wind removes finer particles. Erosion, removal of surface material from earths crust, primarily soil and rock debris, and the transportation of the eroded materials by natural agencies such as water or wind from the point of removal. Herrickd a department of geosciences, the university of tulsa, tulsa, ok 74104, united states. 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.
Loess is a very fine grained, windborne deposit that can be important to soil formation. It is the fairly uniform removal of soil in thin layers from the land surface, often scarcely perceptible, especially when caused by wind. Large quantities of valuable soil are eroded by flowing water and moving wind. In this activity, students look at the causes and effects of 3 types of erosion and deposition. Wind erosion removes topsoil and redistributes it elsewhere. Wind sculpts stratified rock into pedestals by wind abrasion and weathering, e. Wind erosion is a serious environmental problem attracting the attention of many across the globe. Soils with singlegrained structure structure less is more prone to wind erosion than aggregate. The loose and dissolved materials move from one location to another. It is the fairly uniform removal of soil in thin layers from the land surface, often scarcely perceptible, especially when caused by. Sep, 2012 wind erosion losses in pakistan total area 79. It is a common phenomenon occurring mostly in flat, bare areas. The main types of water erosion and how to prevent them water erosion is usually caused by rainfall and runoff on a slope.
The word erosion is derived from the latin rodere meaning to gnaw, the same root that gives us the word rodent. Kinetic energy is the primary force in wind erosion. By the end of this section the studentuser will be able to. Soil is susceptible to wind erosion when there is a reduction of plant cover, when soil surface crust is broken and when organic mater in soil has decreased. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice glaciers, snow, air wind, plants, animals, and humans. Types of winds local winds local winds are those that are created as a result of scenery such as mountains, vegetation, water bodies and so on. Wind sediments that have been transported by wind appear pitted holes and frosted glazed effective in moving small, loose material occurs in areas where there is not enough rainfall to support vegetation main effects. Soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil, it is one form of soil degradation. The removal of soil by running water and wind is known as soil erosion. Plants and their roots help hold the soil in place.
For example, in texas, these processes have formed a variety of landforms beaches, plateaus, mountains, and canyons as well as soil types fertile soil, clay rich soil, and sandy. Wind erosion and landforms in arid environments youtube. While soil can be blown away at virtually any height, the majority over 93% of soil movement takes place at or below one meter. Because erosion potential has been found to increase rapidly with increasing wind speed, estimated emissions should be related to the gusts of highest magnitude. Erosion even in deserts, the main agent of erosion is water. Causes, effects and types of erosion water, wind, glacier.
Erosion occurs when the earth wears away, by wind, ice, or most commonly, water. Wind causes small particles to be lifted and moved away. Loess is a very fine grained, wind borne deposit that can be important to soil formation. Water erosion is very simplistically speaking caused by rainfall, river flow, waves wave action, hydraulic action and abrasion, corrosion, glacier movement, thawing, etc. Part two is a procedure for evaluating winderosion effects on soil loss and, subsequently, on crop yields. Tables listing the prevailing wind erosion direction by month for many locations in the united states are available see nrcs weq web site address at the end of this document. Effects of leading edge erosion on wind turbine blade. Covering soil with plants is one way to reduce wind erosion. However, wind gusts may quickly deplete a substantial portion of the erosion potential. Water and wind erosion are two main agents that degrade soils find, read and cite all the research you. Suspension occurs when very fine dirt and dust particles are lifted into the wind. Generally, there is a balance between these two processes.
Identify and describe the types of wind and water erosion. Dunes migrate by erosion of sand by the wind on the gentle upwind slope and deposition and sliding on the slip face. These soil particles may or may not leave the field or area from which they were eroded. The soilforming process and the erosional process of running water and wind are continuous. Wind can carry small particles such as sand, silt, and clay. This is a fun way to have students really think about erosion and depos. Remediation actions include breaking open existing tunnels, revegetation, and increasing soil organic matter.
Types of erosion geological erosion natural accelerated erosion because of poor management ding darlington 1947. Erosion is the process of carrying bits of rocks and other materials. There are two types of erosion called water erosion and wind erosion. Features produced by wind erosion geography alevel revision. It is a dynamic, physical process where loose, dry, bare soils are transported by strong winds. The critical wind erosion period is that part of the year when agricultural fields are particularly vulnerable to wind erosion. Use the additional resources to enhance understanding.
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