Streams, along with stream erosion, play important parts in the development of the land all over the world. Many important events happen from the result of erosion, including the construction of waterways, erosion of mountains and other natural things, and also deposition of particles.What is Erosion?Erosion is the transportation of loose sediments or rock produced by weathering. Moving water is the primary agent for erosion, although ice, gravity, and wind can also cause it. The many kinds of erosion shape the land and make it the way it is today. If it were not for erosion, most of the land would not be the way it is at this time.Gully Erosion Gully erosion is the erosion of gullies from high velocity runoff of water. Gullies are the “bigger” or more aged form of rills. Once the process of the running water occurs, the result becomes deep gullies. When water fills these gullies, a vast amount of water flows through it, therefore carrying many particles of soil. This type of erosion forms either a scour gully or headward erosion. A scour gully is when the particles are removed from the area and deposited, then usually being disintegrated after the next water contact. Headward erosion is when the gully extends upstream as a result mostly of waterfalls undercutting the sides. The bottom picture below shows how the waterfalls form and cause damage.Rill Erosion Rill erosion is the erosion of recently cultivated soils, often associated with sheet erosion. It is identified by small channels, also known as rills, after a high intensity rainfall. The rills usually are about thirty centimetres deep. If the rainfall exceeds infiltration, a film will begin to be produced (sheet erosion). This begins to form small depressions where the excess water flows. The flowing water soon removes all loose particles, therefore causing other particles to be transported down the rill. Rill erosion is most common in agricultural land, ...
