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Erosion Facts & Worksheets

Erosion is the process by which the surface of the Earth, such as soil or rocks, get worn away and are transported to another location by water or wind.

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Erosion is the process by which the surface of the Earth, such as soil or rocks, get worn away and are transported to another location by water or wind. Erosion is a natural process, but can be greatly accelerated by human activity.

See the fact file below for more information on the erosion or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Erosion worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

WHAT CAUSES EROSION?

  • Erosion starts with weathering. It is when the soil is broken down into smaller pieces and they become loose in the earth’s surface. The moving agents, wind and water will transport these smaller pieces of soil to another place, thus causing erosion. When a speck of dust gets into our eyes, the wind’s ability to move the sand to another distant place is evident.
  • However, the most potent tool for erosion is water. Water, such as rainfall and streams, washes away the topsoil causing the soil to be infertile. Rivers can create a significant amount of erosion over time.
  • A glacier that flows down a slope is a powerful erosive agent. It helps change the shape of the land. It erodes rocks and sediment, moves it to another place, and leaves it there.
  • Overgrazing, overcropping, an deforestation are some of the human activities that can cause erosion.
  • WEATHERING is the breaking down of soil into small pieces and EROSION occurs if these small pieces of soil and rock move from one place to another. DEPOSITION is the process by which sediment is deposited in a new location.
  • Land and water forms canyons, hills, lakes, and rivers slowly and steadily through erosion. These are a billion years in the making. Weathering, erosion, and deposition are the forces that work together to grind down the earth’s surface and create these land and water forms.
  • Gravity cannot be underestimated in the formation of the earth’s surface. The agents of erosion do not move on their own, but with the help of gravity. Rain falls to the ground, and mud caused by rain moves from the highest to lowest points down the side of a mountain or hill.

EFFECTS OF EROSION

  • Soil erosion has a significant effect on the agricultural industry. When the topsoil was washed away from an area, it lost the most nutrient-rich layer and reduced the soil quality. Poor soil quality can cause limited crops yield This means the farmer will need to use fertilizers and pesticides.
  • The use of chemicals in farming can cause water pollution. When the soil that has been contaminated is washed away, it can enter rivers and streams and can contaminate drinking water.
  • Sediment that accumulates down the slope due to erosion can obstruct the flow of water in rivers, streams, and drainage canals, leading to flooding.

HOW TO CONTROL EROSION?

  • Soil is one of the most important assets in agricultural operation that produces the food we eat. Losing it through erosion can seriously impact our lives. There area lot of ways to control erosion. Here are five of them:
  • Contour Plowing
    • Contour Plowing is done to slow down the flow of water and the soil that it carries. Because the erosion usually takes place on a slope, farmers follow the contours or curves of the land instead of planting the crops up and down the slope.
  • Crop Rotation
    • This is used to maintain the good quality of the soil and prevent pests from destroying the plants. It means planting crops in a different spot each year.
  • Terrace cultivation
    • This is planting on terraces or steps built on the slope of the mountainsides. The wide flat rows are built to act as a ridge that helps slow down the water and the soil that it carries.
  • Mulch Cropping
    • This is the use of straw, compost, pine needles, and sometimes decorative rocks as mulch. It is spread over the surface of the soil to reduce the impact of raindrops striking the soil and to cover it from the wind.
  • Natural Vegetation
    • This is done by allowing trees, shrubs, and other kinds of plants to grow naturally. The roots of these plants and trees hold the soil together and make it more stable. It lessens the movement of the soil throughout the ground. It is the simplest and most effective way to avoid erosion.

Erosion Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the erosion across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Erosion worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the erosion which is the process by which the surface of the Earth, such as soil or rocks, get worn away and are transported to another location by water or wind. Erosion is a natural process, but can be greatly accelerated by human activity.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Erosion Facts
  • Erosion Catalysts
  • Erosion Control
  • Erosional Support
  • Why? Oh Why?
  • About Erosion
  • Weathering vs. Erosion
  • Effects of Erosion
  • Q & A Portion
  • Erosionfects
  • Dear Disaster, From Erosion

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Link will appear as Erosion Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 23, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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