Wind erosion is occurred when pieces of the earth are worn away by the strong winds. The nature and the relative weight of these causes are different. In this study, wind and water erosion rates were simultaneously measured and compared over 2 yrs for a small rangeland watershed in the santa rita experimental range in southern arizona. The relative erosion rates of wind and water erosion have rarely been studied simultaneously and are poorly quanti. Erosion rates under extreme conditions are provided for both water and wind erosion, giving context to the magnitude of erosion. Tables listing the prevailing wind erosion direction by month for many locations in the united states are available see nrcs weq web site address. Wind erosion can be a threat to agriculture productivity and the sustainability of the earths natural resources. It is one of the processes leading to desertification. Erosion control soil erosion has been a problem in indiana since the early pioneers first cleared forest land. Revise wind erosion models more accurately portrays the physical processes of wind erosion estimates wind erosion based on wind velocity, rainfall characteristics, soil roughness. When this occurs, the sediment itself is a pollutant land erosion is a natural process caused.
Example of rill erosion and redeposition of sediment at the base of the slope source. Wind moves across the land in a turbulent, erratic fashion. Introduction purpose during the construction process, soil is highly vulnerable to erosion by wind and water. Epic wind erosion model 461 the value of y is approximated by y 0. 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. Why its important earths external processes shape its surface.
Deep, eroded gullies were commonplace as recently as 30 to 40 years ago. Rock and soil suddenly slip down a slope in one large mass. An educational programme for the subject wind erosion. The cause of erosion described here is rock broken apart by freezing water, which is a process of mechanical weathering 3. Soil may blow into, within, and out of a field in several directions in a single storm. Regions of low precipitation, high temperatures, and elevated wind velocity are most prone to. Weathering the breakdown do the materials of earths crust into smaller pieces. Dredging streams to ease this problem is costly and wreaks havoc on aquatic plant and animal communities. After reading this article you will learn about wind erosion. Erosion is the wearing away of the earths surface by the action of natural forces, for example, water, wind and glacial ice. Wind erosion is a common cause of land degradation in the arid and semi arid grazing lands of inland queensland. Erosion rates are greater than ever before in history, averaging about 30 tlhalyr worldwide.
The main causes of wind and water erosion are the simplification of cropping systems, deforestation, and overgrazing. Erosion by the action of water, wind, and ice has produced some of the most spectacular landscapes we know. Az1293 revised 1211 soil erosion control after wildfire. Controlling wind erosion the main principles for controlling wind erosion are similar to those for controlling water erosion.
Impact of a growing population on natural resources. An overview of the wind erosion prediction system introduction soil erosion by wind is a serious problem in the united states and the world. Wind erosion generally occurs in areas with little or no vegetation, often in areas where there is insufficient rainfall to support vegetation. Two cake pans enough soil to fill the cake pans a 2 x 4 piece of wood or another item to set the pans on at an angle sprinkle can or spray. It occurs in dry bare areas when wind blows and moves the dirt around. The loose and dissolved materials move from one location to another. Climate change impacts on wind and water erosion on us. Water erosion is the wearing away of the soil surface by water from rain, runoff, snowmelt, and irrigation.
Wind erosion refers to the detachment, transport, and deposition of sediment by wind. Soil erosion by wind is a serious problem in the united states and the world. What are the differences between wind erosion and water. Innovative uses of compost erosion control, turf remediation, and landscaping united states environmental protection agency epa530f97043 october 1997. Rainwater in the form of runoff is the main driver of water erosion. Integrated erosion tool version 1 arcmap addin running csipcr model and data web services for water and wind erosion prediction simulation. Causes, effects and types of erosion water, wind, glacier. Soil erosion is a major threat to soil health and agricultural productivity, with 10 million ha of cropland lost each year to erosive processes. Soil atlas of europe map showing the risk of water erosion in the 27 member states of the european union fact sheet no. Wind erosion is the process of soil detachment and transport by forces generated by the wind.
The process by which water, ice, wind or gravity moves. Erosion is the wearing away of the land surface by running water, wind, ice, or other causes. Compare erosion by water, wind, ice, and gravity and the effect on various landforms. Processes and principles of erosion and sedimentation. Some of the processes, such as landslides and avalanches, represent hazards. The critical wind erosion period is that part of the year when agricultural fields are particularly vulnerable to wind erosion. Water erosion the widespread occurrence of water erosion combined with the severity of onsite and offsite. Rangeland soil qualitywater erosion pdf stream bank erosion pdf erosion control pdf gully erosion examples.
Soil erosion is a naturally occurring phenomenon wheresoil particles are displaced and carried away by water, wind or other agents. The erosion of surface soil by wind renders the soil less productive by removing the most fertile part of the soil, namely, the clays and organic matter. This erosion is the dominant form of soil degradation troeh et al. 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. Since 1982, the combined wind and water erosion on agricultural cropland in the united states has been reduced by more than 43%, from 3. Natural erosion occurs primarily on a geologic time scale, but when. Soil erosion by water and wind is an important agent of land degradation that impacts nutrient availability, forage production and food security, and poses serious. 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 erosion is usually caused by the force of water falling as raindrops and by the force of water. The areas most easily eroded by water are rolling to steeply sloping areas found mostly in southern indiana. In this study, wind and water erosion rates were simultaneously. Significant wind erosion occurs when strong winds blow over lighttextured soils that have been heavily grazed during periods of drought. Comparative rates of wind versus water erosion from a.
Water erosion is very simplistically speaking caused by rainfall, river flow, waves wave action, hydraulic action and abrasion, corrosion, glacier movement, thawing, etc. It is a dynamic, physical process where loose, dry, bare soils are transported by strong winds. Percolation of water into the soil profile is reduced, making it difficult for seeds to germinate and for the roots of surviving plants to obtain moisture. Soil erosion by wind and water is the single most serious cause of soil loss and degradation. Weathering is where rock is broken down and dissolved into tiny particles by chemical, physical and. Soil erosion processes soil and water conservation. Erosion by wind soil and water conservation management.
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