Question

Uniform soil erosion by running water is
a. Gully erosion
b. Rill erosion
c. Riparian erosion
d. Sheet erosion

Answer 1

Hint: Soil erosion is a form of soil degradation in which the upper layer of the soil is displaced. Dynamic activities of erosive agents such as water, ice, air, human activities, etc. can lead to soil erosion.

Complete answer:
Let us first know about the soil erosion and its types-
• So as said above, soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil due to various dynamic activities of erosive agents. Based on the erosive agent involved, erosion can be divided into water erosion, snow erosion, glacial erosion, anthropogenic erosion and zoogenic erosion. Water erosion can majorly be divided into following types of erosion-
• Splash erosion- In this, falling raindrops lead to formation of small craters in the soil, ejecting soil particles.
• Sheet erosion- In this, there is removal of uniform soil layer by running water. It occurs when the soil is saturated or the rate of rainfall is greater than the infiltration rate of water into the soil and involves transport of loosened soil particles down the slope.
• Rill erosion- When small channels of water flow are created,as a result of concentration of water flowing over the soil surface into smaller streams, it is called rill erosion.
• Gully erosion- In instances such as during or immediately after heavy rainfall, when runoff water accumulates and flows at a high pace in narrow channels, thus creating gullies and removing soil to a considerable depth, it is called gully erosion.
• Riparian zones are the areas bordering rivers and other surface water bodies. One of the main causes of contaminant and sediment load to streams, land loss hazards, and riparian wildlife habitats degradation.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: Increasing vegetative cover on the land is the most effective known strategy for preventing soil erosion as it helps prevent both water and wind erosion. Terracing, which has been practiced by people all over the world for thousands of years, is one of the effective ways to control erosion. Proper monitoring and modelling of erosion can assist people in better understanding the causes of erosion and come up with better restorative and preventive strategies for erosion.