Related Words

Erosion: The movement of soil or rock from one area to another by the action of the sea, running water, moving ice, precipitation, or wind.

Erosion (Erodibility) Index (EI): The erosion (sometimes called erodibility) index is created by dividing potential erosion (from all sources except gully erosion) by the T value, which is the rate of soil erosion above whic . . . View Full Definition

Rill Erosion: An erosion process in which numerous small channels, typically a few inches deep, are formed. It occurs mainly on recently cultivated soils or on recent cuts and fills.

Wind Erosion Equation: An equation used to design wind erosion control systems, which considers soil erodibility, soil roughness, climate, the unsheltered distance across a field, and the vegetative cover on the ground.

Gully Erosion: Also called ephemeral gully erosion, this process occurs when water flows in narrow channels during or immediately after heavy rains or melting snow. A gully is sufficiently deep that it wou . . . View Full Definition

Wind Erosion: The detachment and transportation of soil by wind. Wind erosion is a cropland management concern in the Plains states.

Sheet Erosion: The removal of a thin, relatively uniform layer of soil from the land surface caused by runoff.

Geologic Cycle: The sequence through which rock material passes in going from its sedimentary form, through diastrophism and deformation of sedimentary rock, then through metamorphism and eventual melting a . . . View Full Definition

Geomorphic Cycle: An idealized model of erosion wherein a plain is uplifted epeirogenically, then dissected by rapid streams (youth), then rounded by d0wnslope movements into a landscape of steep hills (matur . . . View Full Definition

Dendritic Drainage: A stream drainage pattern that resembles the veins of a leaf in map view. Occurs mainly where the rocks below have a uniform resistance to erosion.