---
title: "Types of soil erosion"
subject: "Engineering Geology II"
chapter: 5
key: "semester_4/engineering_geology_ii:soil-erosion-types"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/engineering_geology_ii/soil-erosion-types
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Types of soil erosion

Engineering Geology II · Chapter 5: Geological Hazards

- Asked in: 2068 Magh, 3 marks; 2077 Chaitra, 2 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [Lesson 9: Soil erosion (Types and agents of soil erosion)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JGbA_oXjfI) — Genius Class 8
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/engineering_geology_ii/soil-erosion-types
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_4/engineering_geology_ii/chapter-5

## Question

Describe the types of soil erosion. (List out the types of mass movement and soil erosion.)

## Short answer

Soil erosion types are splash, sheet, rill, guly, stream bank, wind, tunnel (piping), and glacial erosion. Control includes vegetation, terracing, check dams, and contour fanning.

## Answer

**Soil erosion** is the detachment and removal of soil particles by water, wind, ice or gravity.

#### Types of soil erosion
1. **Splash (raindrop) erosion:** impact of raindrops detaches particles from bare soil.
2. **Sheet erosion:** thin uniform layer of topsoil removed by surface run-off over the whole slope; hard to notice.
3. **Rill erosion:** small, narrow channels (a few cm deep) formed by concentrated flow; can be removed by ploughing.
4. **Gully erosion:** deepened rills, widened into deep channels that cannot be crossed by machinery; common on Siwalik and loose soils.
5. **Stream (river) bank erosion:** cutting of banks by flow and undercutting of the toe.
6. **Wind erosion:** in dry, bare land.
7. **Tunnel (piping) erosion:** sub-surface flow carries particles, forming pipes.
8. **Glacial erosion** by moving ice.

#### Types of mass movement
Fall, topple, slide (rotational, translational), spread, flow (debris flow, mud flow), creep and complex movement.

Control: vegetation, terracing, check dams, drainage, contour farming, bio-engineering.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is sheet erosion?
   A. Pipes formed by sub-surface flow
   B. Thin uniform layer of topsoil removed by run-off over the whole slope
   C. Deep channels that machinery cannot cross
   D. Removal of soil by wind in dry land
   Answer: B. Sheet erosion removes topsoil evenly and is hard to notice. (Key point: Sheet erosion)

2. Which erosion forms deep channels that machinery cannot cross?
   A. Splash erosion
   B. Sheet erosion
   C. Gully erosion
   D. Rill erosion, which is a few cm deep
   Answer: C. Gullies are deepened, widened rills; rills can be removed by ploughing. (Key point: Rill vs gully)

3. What causes splash erosion?
   A. Concentrated flow in small channels
   B. Sub-surface flow forming pipes
   C. Moving ice
   D. Raindrop impact detaching particles from bare soil
   Answer: D. Raindrop impact on bare soil starts the erosion process. (Key point: Splash erosion)

## Related in Engineering Geology II

- [Mass movement and its mechanism](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Amass-movement-mechanism) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 5, asked 11×
- [Factors of mass movement](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Afactors-of-movement) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 5
- [Properties of rock mass and discontinuities](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Arock-mass-properties) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 6, asked 3×

## Related in other subjects

- [Soil erosion causes and preventive measures](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Aerosion-causes-prevention) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 4
- [Define mass movement and its classification](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Adefine-mass-movement-and-its) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 6, asked 5×
- [Soil stabilization, equipment, mass haul characteristics](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Asoil-stabilization-definition-equipment-mass-haul) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 3
- [Mass haul diagram and soil cement base](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Amass-haul-soil-cement-base-construction) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 3