Causes of Erosion

• Water: Running water from rivers, streams, and rainfall can carry away soil and rocks, creating channels and valleys.
• Wind: Wind can pick up loose particles of soil and sand, and carry them over long distances, leading to the formation of sand dunes and the erosion of rock surfaces.
• Ice: Glaciers and ice sheets can erode the land as they move, scraping and carrying away rocks and soil.
• Gravity: Gravity causes material to move downhill, leading to landslides and the gradual downslope movement of soil and rocks.

Effects of Erosion

• Formation of Landforms: Erosion can create features such as valleys, canyons, and coastlines over long periods of time.
• Loss of Soil Fertility: Erosion can result in the loss of topsoil, which is rich in nutrients and essential for plant growth.
• Changes to Ecosystems: Erosion can alter habitats and disrupt the balance of ecosystems, affecting plant and animal life.
• Sedimentation: The material eroded by natural forces is carried and deposited elsewhere, which can impact water quality in rivers and lakes.

Preventing Erosion

• Planting Vegetation: Roots of plants help hold soil in place, reducing the risk of erosion.
• Contour Plowing: Plowing fields across the slope of the land to reduce the speed of water runoff.
• Building Terraces: Constructing terraces on steep slopes to create flat areas that reduce the speed of water flow and prevent soil erosion.
• Conserving Forests: Protecting forests helps to maintain the stability of soil and prevent erosion.

Study Guide

1. Define erosion and explain the natural forces that cause it.
2. Describe the effects of erosion on landforms, soil fertility, and ecosystems.
3. Discuss the ways in which erosion can be prevented, including methods such as planting vegetation and building terraces.
4. Give examples of landforms formed by erosion, such as valleys, canyons, and coastlines.

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