![]() (The difference between weathering and erosion is that in the process of weathering, materials are worn away but not transported. The natural process of river erosion, in fact, created the Grand Canyon, as the Colorado River cut deep and wide through the rock over millions of years, and glacial erosion carved Yosemite National Park’s iconic landscape. Department of Agriculture to instruct farmers on how to prevent erosion.Įrosion is a geological process in which earthen materials (i.e., soil, rocks, sediments) are worn away and transported over time by natural forces such as water or wind sometimes this is sped up by poor management or other human impacts on land. Not only were vast areas of land severely damaged, but countless farm animals suffocated from the thick clouds of fine dust, and tragically, about 7,000 people perished from an illness called “dust pneumonia.” In April 1935, Congress declared soil erosion “a national menace” and established the Soil Conservation Service-known today as the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)-within the U.S. A single dust storm could transport 300 million tons of soil all the way to the East Coast. ![]() After many years of overplowing, poor land management, and drought, millions of acres of formerly productive farmland in the Midwest and Southern Plains dried up. Think of the 1930s, the era of the Dust Bowl. On the flip side, unhealthy soil can cause major trouble. Yet healthy soil is the foundation for agriculture it also plays a vital role in protecting the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat-and even our climate. But what about the dirt? It seems soil is one of the planet’s most underappreciated natural resources. When we hike through the woods, drive by a cornfield, or mow our lawns, we tend to focus on the plants: the blooming flowers, the tassel-topped stalks, and the green grass borders.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |