AP BIOLOGY

ECOLOGY

HUMANS AND THE BIOSPHERE

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Soil ____ is the wearing away of surface soil by water and wind.
A
elimination
B
degrading
C
erosion
D
stopping
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Erosion is the geological process in which earthen materials are worn away and transported by natural forces such as wind or water.

Detailed explanation-2: -Scalding. Scalding can occur when wind and water erosion removes the top soil and exposes saline or sodic soils. Raindrop impact alone can result in large amounts of soil being moved. However water or wind moving over the surface will remove more soil, and contribute to sheet, rill and gully erosion.

Detailed explanation-3: -Wind erosion is a common cause of land degradation in the arid and semi arid grazing lands of inland Queensland. It is one of the processes leading to desertification. Significant wind erosion occurs when strong winds blow over light-textured soils that have been heavily grazed during periods of drought.

Detailed explanation-4: -Topsoil is the uppermost layer of the Earth’s surface layers. Top soil is soft and light and can be carried away easily. Water and wind cause the topsoil to be removed. This process of carrying of top soil by wind and water is called as soil erosion.

Detailed explanation-5: -Soil erosion is a naturally occurring process that affects all landforms. In agriculture, soil erosion refers to the wearing away of a field’s topsoil by the natural physical forces of water (Figure 1) and wind (Figure 2) or through forces associated with farming activities such as tillage.

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