For example, when humans cut down too many trees and plants, the soil is left bare and loose and therefore more easily moved by water. Water erosion removes the surface of the earth. Its rate ranges from very slow to very fast, depending on various factors such as soil type, prevailing weather conditions, and local topography.
The process of water erosion involves discrete phases, from the impact of raindrops to the development of gully erosion. Each phase has its specific processes and characteristics. These phases result in the different types of water erosion.
Types of water erosion
1. intermediate rill erosion
Inter-rill erosion describes the movement of topsoil by rainfall and the resulting surface runoff. It is also referred to as raindrop erosion. While it is primarily caused by rainfall, inter-rill erosion can be accelerated by factors such as slope, topography, vegetation cover, and climate.
READ: What is a sand dune: formation and types of sand dunes.
This type of erosion is the first and most critical step in the overall process of water erosion. It depends largely on the type of precipitation that occurs at a particular time or place. Inter-rill erosion includes the following subtypes of water erosion:
Spray erosion - When raindrops fall on the ground, they may have sufficient kinetic energy so that their impact can cause the detachment and movement of small soil particles.
Clod erosion - When heavy rain falls on bare soil, the water flows down a gently sloping terrain as a clod, detaching soil particles in somewhat uniformly thin layers.
Runoff - When precipitation exceeds the infiltration rate of the soil, the excess water runs off as surface runoff. Precipitation may be in the form of heavy rain or snowmelt. The turbulence of surface runoff has the potential to cause more erosion than the initial impact of raindrops.
2. rill erosion
Rill erosion results from the concentrated flow of water in small streams. These small streams are usually triggered by rainfall and carry soil with them. Rill erosion is the second phase in the overall process of erosion.
3. gully erosion
Gully erosion describes the detachment and transport of soil by larger streams of water. It digs gullies at least one meter deep into the soil. It is virtually impossible to smooth these gullies through normal agricultural mechanisms.
4. bank erosion
Riparian erosion occurs when fast-flowing streams and rivers cut into the banks. This type of water erosion often occurs at the lower end of stream tributaries. It also occurs in streams with a more shallow gradient. Bank erosion can cause large masses of soil to slide off and damage surrounding fields.