Why is Natural Erosion a Beneficial Process?

Erosion is the process of any natural disaster eating away the surface of the material. Large rocks, clifftops, and island boundaries can be found in these materials. This is the reason why we need to find out why is natural erosion a beneficial process and why is erosion a natural process. However, water, wind, and ice make up the force, which also can be rain, storms, and floods, responsible for this slow depletion of the soil. The long-lasting, tremendous force of wind, rain, or ocean against the substance is directly related to weathering of rocks. Furthermore, caves, mountains, valleys, and coasts have all been created as a result of erosion. Let’s begin and find what is the importance of erosion.

1. Why is Natural Erosion a Beneficial Process?

Take a look at the following points to know why is natural erosion a beneficial process:

• The reports about soil erosion between 1940 and 1949 state that natural erosion helped to feed water sources the essential nutrients which are helpful for the aquatic ecosystem.
• The erosion has helped to cleanse the soil of all the useless materials, like tree matter or nutrient-less dirt from the area.
• The soil that is left behind due to erosion becomes nutrient-rich and promotes plant growth.

2. Why is Erosion a Natural Process?

So, now you know why is natural erosion a beneficial process, let’s dive into why is erosion a natural process. Erosion is the earthly process in which the earthen materials are carried away and transported by natural forces such as wind or water. The process weathers and breaks downs or dissolves rock but does not involve movement. It helps the soil to have nutrients and fix plants to grow. It causes rocks to get smaller and smoother. (See What are Factors affecting Soil Weathering?) 

3. What is the Importance of Erosion?

• It helps in distributing nutrients amongst the soil. It helps to thrive aquatic biodiversity.
• It cleanses the soil by removing toxic material which is accumulated on the land. They have rotting vegetation and weeds.
• The most important part of erosion is to change the landscape formation. 

4. How do Humans cause Erosion?

Due to the increase in human activity and movement, the rate of erosion has also increased in many areas. This can happen in a lot of activities due to farming, ranching, cutting down forests, and building roads and cities. It has increased to about one million acres of topsoil eroding each year. (See How are Levees Beneficial to Human Settlements?)

5. Why does Erosion Occur?

There are a lot of reasons which cause erosion. It happens mostly due to water, wind, and ice. (See How do Animals cause Erosion?)

6. What are the Preventive Measures for Erosion?

• Planting more trees will help in reducing erosion. The best vegetation can be steady in the soil in case of natural erosion. If you replant the area, make sure to choose the plant that you have adapted in terms of moisture and sun or shade levels. The vegetation can be helpful for high-traffic areas. It can be helpful for shrub beds in areas where there is no vegetation or low vegetation.
• Terraces can be built as they are more effective for building and important for having a good drainage system.
• Create dams, that will help to slow the surface for runoff. It will help with the overflowing of the river. 

7. Can Waves Cause Erosion?

Waves can erode the soil along with the coast. The shape of the waves through erosion breaks down the rock and moves sand and slit. Moreover, waves can erode the land as these large waves hit rocks with immense force. The energy waves break the rock apart. The waves sometimes can make smaller cracks bigger. This is the reason the wave causes the rock to chip off. 

Waves erode the rock by scraping and as the wave crashes against the land the sediments carry off the layers of rock. Must see What causes Breaking Down of Rocks into Fragments?

8. What are the Types of Water Erosion?

The types are: 

• Splash Erosion
• Sheet Erosion
• Channel Erosion
• Stream Erosion
• Marine Erosion
• Landslide Erosion

9. Is Controlling Erosion Important?

Erosion control is very important to protect the topsoil, which may lose the ability to hold nutrients. It helps in fighting pollution and helps the smooth flow of water. It affects the ecosystem nearby which can suffer damage for a long period. It helps in fighting both the problem of erosion and sedimentation.

Again, why is natural erosion a beneficial process? Natural erosion occurs when water and wind have the erosive power to destroy the surrounding environment. It is beneficial since it carries significant amounts of nutrients that would support plant growth and survival under any conditions. It is a good process that results in fresh soil deposits in the ecosystems. If you found this article to be useful in learning about why is natural erosion a beneficial process and its advantages, then share it with your friends. (See What are the Uses of Soil?)