Environmental Hazards Essay

350 Words2 Pages
Individual Work Sylvia Spikes Everest University Briefly describe each one of the three major causes of soil erosion and how they can be corrected. These types of soil erosions and its particles are being picked up and carried away by water. The energy of falling raindrops could cause theses erosions to happen when soil is left bare and unprotected. 1.) Splash Erosion is the first stage of the erosion process. It is when raindrops come in contact with the loose soil surface typically falling at 20-30 feet per second breaking up the soil and causing the upper layer of soil to become clogged and hard. During this process when this is done it causes the soil to be unable to produce plants and vegetation. 2.) Sheet Erosion is when the rain water travels over the ground during a rainfall removing the soil in thin layers. As it travels it picks up the most important nutrients needed to grow plants. The soil is dislodged or disturbed by the raindrops. Sheet erosion most likely happens when water puddles up as soon as it rains. To correct the splash and sheet erosion you must protect the ground surface by planting vegetation, use mulch, or compost blankets. You must protect the soil by using either one or two of these things to keep the soil particles from being disturbed. Grass is a great erosion control because when it gets wet and no matter how much or how hard it rains, the grass will only lie flat acting as a blanket that the water can just flow without harming the soil. 3.) Gully Erosion is when smaller water flows turn into little streams that cut into the soil and have greater energy to pick up and remove soil causing it less able to regrow plants and vegetation. Gullies must be repaired with earthmoving equipment. References: Richard T Wright & Dorothy F. Boorse; Environmental Science Toward A Sustainable Future
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