What is known as sheet erosion?

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A very slow-acting form of erosion whereby a thin film of water—sheet wash—transports soil particles by rolling them along the ground. See Chaplot and Bisonnais (1998) Soil Till. Res. 46 and A. Goudie (2004).


Reference entries

sheet erosion

in A Dictionary of Environment and Conservation Length: 19 words


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Solution

Sheet erosion:The homogeneous removal of soil in thin layers induced by rainwater that does not permeate the ground is known as soil erosion.It occurs when rainwater that does not invade the earth moves soil particles evenly across the soil surface.It occurs in many habitats, such as coastal plains, hillslopes, river valleys, and beaches.Sheet erosion is the uniform loss of soil in thin layers that occurs when rainwater does not permeate into the ground and carries soil particles evenly across the soil surface.

What is it?

Sheet erosion is the planar removal of surface soil by the action of either raindrop splash, shallow flows of surface of water, or even by wind.

Rill erosion is usually linked with sheet (water driven) erosion as the shallow flows of water driving sheet erosion tend to coalesce and thus increase both in velocity and scouring capacity.

Additional information on the mechanisms of water erosion is given on the soil health site

What is known as sheet erosion?
What is known as sheet erosion?

Sheet erosion and rill erosion of a cropped paddock following an intense thunderstorm

Impact

Sheet and rill erosion by definition removes the topsoil, the most productive asset of farms and the land. As a consequence plant growth is reduced and sustainability compromised.

Transported materials are often high in nutrients and fine particles. They damage down-slope sites through turbidity, sedimentation and eutrophication.

Management

The primary requirement to avoid sheet erosion is to build and maintain vegetative cover of the soil and ensure the maintenance of high infiltration rates into the soil profile.

What Does Sheet Erosion Mean?

Sheet erosion is used to describe a form of erosion that takes away surface material in a manner that is more or less even across the surface of a large area. It can be contrasted with erosion, which happens along a well defined channel or line and creates or increases ravines and gullies.

Safeopedia Explains Sheet Erosion

Sheet erosion is caused by rainfall, especially the force of raindrops impacting onto bare soil with none or minimal plant life present to absorb impact. This dislodges soil and when spread evenly over the surface of the soil can erode soil in sheets. This can happen with the first impact of rain hitting the soil and can also happen when water does not channel, but rather moves evenly down a slope.

: erosion that removes surface material more or less evenly from an extensive area as contrasted with erosion along well-defined drainage lines that produces or enlarges gullies or ravines

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Cite this Entry

“Sheet erosion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheet%20erosion. Accessed 18 Dec. 2022.

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

Sheet Erosion

Although often difficult to recognise, sheet erosion is responsible for extensive soil loss in both cultivated and non-cultivated environments. Sheet erosion occurs as a shallow 'sheet' of water flowing over the ground surface, resulting in the removal of a uniform layer of soil from the soil surface.

Sheet erosion occurs when rainfall intensity is greater than infiltration (sometimes due to crusting).

  • Rarely seen but accounts for large volumes of soil loss.
  • Sheet erosion rarely flows for more than a few meters before concentrating into rills.
  • Soil particles are only transported not detached.
  • Typically results in the loss of the finest soil particles which contain the bulk of the available nutrients and organic matter.
  • Difficult to observe in the field, sheet erosion is often only recognised when eroded soil is deposited along a fenceline.

Prevention and Control

Sheet erosion can be prevented by maintaining plant cover (preventing splash erosion) and maximising infiltration of ponded water through the maintenance of soil structure and organic matter. Organic matter acts as a glue, stabilising pore spaces which transmit surface water deeper into the soil and thus reduce the volume of ponded water available for erosion.

  • Prevent splash erosion.
  • Maintain ground cover.
  • Maintain organic matter.
  • Prevent surface soil compaction.
  • Protect surface soils with geotextiles or mulch.

What is sheet erosion answer?

sheet erosion, detachment of soil particles by raindrop impact and their removal downslope by water flowing overland as a sheet instead of in definite channels or rills.

What is sheet erosion example?

One example of sheet erosion is when loose soil that covers a hill is washed down a slope by rainwater that flows consistently. Another example of sheet erosion is when a layer of soil that was freshly plowed or evened out starts to erode evenly from a flow of water.

What type of erosion is sheet erosion?

Sheet and rill erosion Sheet erosion occurs when a thin layer of topsoil is removed over a whole hillside paddock—and may not be readily noticed. Rill erosion occurs when runoff water forms small channels as it concentrates down a slope.

What causes sheet erosion Class 10?

Sheet erosion is caused by the force of raindrops impacting on bare soil (Ellison 1944) and dislodging particles of earth. This force is dependent on the speed of fall (a function of the length of fall and the wind-speed) and the weight (a function of the diameter of drops).