Question

What are some ways in which human activities affect the rate of erosion globally?

Answer 1

Hint: Soil erosion is the removal of the top layer of the soil caused by the working of agents of erosion like water, air, plants, animals and humans.

Complete answer:
The global rate of soil erosion has increased by almost 50 times of the initial rate because of human activity. Human practices that have led to the increase in soil erosion are:
- Overgrazing:
Overgrazing is the intense grazing of livestock animals for long periods of time. The grazing plants are not given sufficient time to recover. Overgrazing prevents the proper growth of plants and this in return slows down the percolation of water through the layers of soil. The soil structure is damaged because of the removal of the layer of nutrients from the soil. The grazing animals flatten the soil and compress the soil resulting in the removal of air from the soil. This makes the soil dry and is blown away by the wind.
- Deforestation:
Deforestation is the cutting down of an area of vegetation and trees and using that area for non-forest use. The deforested trees are used for lumber, fuel and other industrial applications. The leftover cleared land is used to set up industries or are used as grazing land for livestock. Deforestation removes nutrients and minerals from the soil. It increases the rate of soil erosion as a large amount of area is exposed to rainfall and wind.

Note:
Urbanization has resulted in an increase in the level of soil erosion. The raw materials required for the construction of roads have to be mined from the soil which loosens up the soil making it susceptible to erosion.
Climate change has made hydrological events like rainfall unpredictable. The intensity of rainfall cannot be accurately determined and thus proper measures for the prevention of soil erosion cannot be taken.