What causes water erosion? Erosion is caused by the impact of raindrops on bare soil and by the power of running water on the soil surface. Natural erosion rates depend on inherent soil properties, slope, and climate, which together determine the ability of the site to support vegetation.

Water moving across the earth in streams and rivers pushes along soil and breaks down pieces of rock in a process called erosion. The moving water carries away rock and soil from some areas and deposits them in other areas, creating new landforms or changing the course of a stream or river.

Water and Wind are agents of Soil Erosion as they carry away the top layer of soil causing Soil Erosion. ​Water : In heavy rain or Floods soil gets carried because of water coming with high speed and heavy force. Top layer of Soil gets carried away which makes soil infertile and causes Soil Erosion.

1. Like flowing water, flowing ice erodes the land and deposits the material elsewhere. Glaciers cause erosion in two main ways: plucking and abrasion. Plucking is the process in which rocks and other sediments are picked up by a glacier.

Landforms of coastal erosion include cliffs, wave-cut platforms, caves, arches, stacks, stumps, and headlands, amongst others.

The effects of soil erosion go beyond the loss of fertile land. It has led to increased pollution and sedimentation in streams and rivers, clogging these waterways and causing declines in fish and other species. And degraded lands are also often less able to hold onto water, which can worsen flooding.

Main agents of Erosion Are Water, Wind, Ice, and Waves. Water is the most important erosional agent and erodes most commonly as running water in streams. However, water in all its forms is erosional. Raindrops (especially in dry environments) create splash erosion that moves tiny particles of soil.

Soil erosion decreases soil fertility, which can negatively affect crop yields. It also sends soil-laden water downstream, which can create heavy layers of sediment that prevent streams and rivers from flowing smoothly and can eventually lead to flooding. Once soil erosion occurs, it is more likely to happen again.