During the normal functioning of the world, many different natural events occur. Some of these are also called natural disasters because they affect people. Erosion can be considered both as a simple natural phenomenon and as a natural disaster because erosion caused by the displacement of eroded soil can have bad consequences from time to time, especially when it is caused by human action.
When erosion occurs spontaneously as a result of natural conditions, nature immediately intervenes and the lost soil is somehow replaced. However, it is much more difficult to regain the soil lost due to human-induced erosion. Let’s take a closer look at erosion, which is often confused with landslide, and see the answers to questions such as what are its types, how it occurs and how it can be prevented.
What is erosion as a natural phenomenon?
Erosion, also called erosion, is a geological process in which a piece of soil near the surface is eroded away by external factors. Erosion, which is divided into different types according to the causes of its formation, is a natural event that can occur due to human influence, although not very often.
So how does erosion occur?
There are many different causes for erosion to occur. Natural events such as rain and wind are among the most common causes of erosion. The soil on the upper surface of the soil piece on the earth, which cannot hold on to the bedrock, moves in the direction of the slope with the erosion of external factors.
The upper surface of each piece of land may not be easily adhered to, because the piece of land in question may be arid depending on the climatic conditions. Sometimes, however, a piece of land is deplanted by man. This increases the risk of erosion. Because the soil is much more easily affected by external factors and slides in the direction of the slope when there is no vegetation to hold onto.
Types of erosion according to the causes of its occurrence:
- water erosion
- wind erosion
- Special erosions
Water erosion:
Water erosion is one of the most common types of erosion. It is formed because the water carries the soil on its name. In terms of the way water is transported, we can talk about five basic sub-types of water erosion;
- Groove erosion
- drop erosion
- rift erosion
- runoff erosion
- Erosion from streambed
Groove erosion:
As the rain continues, it creates more wear at certain points and grooves form at these points. The groove created creates a much stronger erosion and the soil moves much faster. This type of water erosion is called gutter erosion. It can be extremely severe depending on the soil type.
Drop erosion:
Drip erosion is a type of water erosion caused by the force of raindrops falling on the ground while it rains. Sometimes the soil can splash more than 1 meter due to raindrops. Properties of rain such as precipitation angle, splash direction, width and height determine how drop erosion will occur.
Gap erosion:
If gutter erosion, once started, is not stopped naturally or by man, these grooves will grow and rift erosion will occur. These crevices can be in the form of U, V or step.
Runoff erosion:
The type of water erosion in which the water accumulated on the soil due to rain and similar reasons combines with the small pieces on the soil and creates a current in the direction of the slope and the soil moves by being caught in this current, is called surface flow erosion. Most of the time it happens insidiously, it is difficult to understand.
Erosion from streambed:
The movement of the soil as a result of the acceleration, deepening or expansion of the stream beds flowing at a constant rate on their own is called stream bed-induced erosion. It can appear in many different ways.
Wind erosion:
As the name suggests, wind erosion is a type of erosion that occurs as a result of the movement of soil pieces by the effect of wind. It does not move large pieces of land, but it makes agricultural areas unproductive because it mobilizes the sand. It is possible to talk about three basic types of wind erosion;
- Vault
- flying with airflow
- drift on the surface
Vault:
The type of wind erosion in which pieces of soil between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm are moved by the wind is called spatter. In this event, the moving soil pieces rise a little due to the wind, and fall to the ground when the wind goes away. Then they go with the wind again and fall again. So they leap away.
Flying with airflow:
The type of wind erosion in which pieces of soil 0.1 mm and smaller are moved by the wind is called airflow flyby. Depending on the soil type and wind strength, these pieces of land can sometimes be moved many kilometers away.
Surface drift:
The type of wind erosion in which pieces of soil between 0.5 mm and 1 mm are moved by the wind is called surface drift. Because of their size, these pieces of land are more dragged over the surface instead of flying. However, they can be transported very far depending on the wind strength.
Special erosions:
- tunnel erosion
- Pointed Top Erosion
- preserved column erosion
- mass movements
Tunnel erosion:
As a result of erosion, when there is soil fragments that are attached to the roots of plants on top and that are not attached to any roots under a wet piece of soil, while the top of the soil remains stable, the bottom moves and the phenomenon we call tunnel erosion occurs.
Pointed top erosion:
Soil movements experienced on volcanic hills are called spire erosion. The main reason is the wind. After the pointy hill erosion was experienced, the region got this name because it looks like a pointed hill.
Protected column erosion:
In protected column erosion, which we often encounter in volcanic lands, the upper hard rock is not eroded, but the entire area around it is eroded, except for a small area below it. Fairy chimneys are the best-known example of preserved column erosion.
Mass movements:
Mass movements are not actually erosion per se, but erosion acts as a kind of trigger. Due to its slope, the soil that is already slippery moves more effectively when there is erosion.
What exactly is the difference between erosion and landslide?
While erosion is the movement of the part of the soil near the surface due to external factors, landslide is the sliding of a whole piece of soil due to much stronger external factors. Erosion may not always be a natural disaster, but it is a major natural disaster as it occurs due to landslides, floods and heavy rains.
So what should we do, how can erosion be prevented?
We will love green, we will protect nature, we will kiss the bear; We have no other choice. The richer the vegetation on a surface, the more places the soil has to hold on, so that it does not slip due to external factors such as rain and wind. A piece of land with rich vegetation on it is not easily affected by external factors.
We answered questions such as what is erosion caused by the sliding of the soil surface due to external factors, how it occurs, what are its types, how can it be prevented. The day we understand nature and live according to it, we will have no problems, oh humanity.
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