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Soil Erosion Definition

Soil erosion moves pieces of Earth's surface. Soil is a natural mixture of clay, sand, and other materials found on the ground.

View Lesson on Changing the Shape of Land
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Changing the Shape of Land

LESSON MATERIALSmove

Fun Facts

  • You can prevent soil erosion if you avoid overwatering the soil.
  • Natural and manmade objects can block wind and water from eroding soil.
  • Plants' roots hold soil in place, slowing erosion.

Why Do We Need To Know About Soil Erosion

Learning about soil erosion helps us see how it affects farming. It’s important for farmers to stop erosion to save their farms and their way of making a living. This isn’t just for farmers, though. People who work in environmental science, building things like roads and bridges, and designing outdoor spaces need to know about it too, to stop erosion.

Also, knowing about soil erosion is useful for jobs in forests, planning cities, selling land, and tourism. It shows that plants are essential for keeping soil in place. Stopping erosion is key to keeping towns safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can wind change the shape of the land?
Wind can carry soil across a distance, such as sand dunes forming or being blown away. This is called wind erosion.
How can water change the shape of the land?
Water can carry tiny pieces of the Earth’s surface downstream, like how the Grand Canyon was formed by the flowing water of the Colorado River.
What are some examples of erosion?
Wind breaking down rocks and carrying the particles away is an example of erosion. You can also see how over time a river carries soil downstream and makes rocks in the river smoother.
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