The rain wears tiny particles off of rocks and carries them down a slope.
Rainfall, Water, Wind, Ice, and Gravity
Water erosion, specifically from rainfall and flowing water, is the biggest cause of erosion on Earth. This type of erosion can wear away soil, rock, and other materials over time, shaping landscapes and impacting ecosystems.
Water erosion is the largest cause of soil erosion, which includes processes like rainfall, runoff, and rivers wearing away soil particles and carrying them to other locations.
Heavy rainfall can accelerate erosion because the intensity of the rainfall can increase the volume and speed of runoff water, leading to more powerful erosion of soil and sediment. The fast-flowing water can wash away loose particles, break up the soil structure, and create gullies, which can cause significant erosion over time.
Rain can cause both erosion and deposition. Erosion may occur when rainfall washes away soil and sediments, leading to the cutting of channels and formation of gullies. On the other hand, deposition can happen when rainwater carries sediments and deposits them in a different location, such as when a floodplain receives sediment during a heavy rainfall event.
The three main things that cause erosion are water, wind, and ice. Water erosion occurs from rivers, rainfall, and waves, while wind erosion happens when wind displaces soil and sediment. Ice erosion occurs through processes like glaciers moving over land.
Erosion after rainfall is a concern in desert areas because desert soils are typically dry and lacking in vegetation, making them more susceptible to erosion. Rainfall can cause flash flooding and wash away topsoil, leading to reduced soil fertility, loss of nutrients, and increased desertification in these fragile ecosystems.
Water erosion begins when rainfall flows over the land carrying sediment with it. This type of erosion is known as sheet erosion.
humans
Soil erosion in the Philippines is mainly caused by deforestation, improper land use practices like overgrazing and slash-and-burn agriculture, as well as natural disasters like typhoons and heavy rainfall. These factors contribute to the loss of vegetation cover, which increases the vulnerability of soil to erosion by water and wind.
Water causes the soil to soften up and become slippery, causing landslides. In addition, excessive rainfall leads tobsuper-saturated soil, which cannot hold up against gravity. Gravity in one form or another is the main cause of landslides, and too much rainfall weakens the soil's sub-structure.
The most common cause of erosion is water, particularly from rainfall and rivers. Water can wear down rocks and soil over time, carrying away particles and creating features like valleys and riverbanks. Human activities such as deforestation and construction can also accelerate erosion processes.