Geomorphological and paleogeographic aspects of the soil erosion problem

Abstract

Soil erosion is an active geomorphic process and requires a close attention of geomorphologists who investigate into present-day relief-forming processes and into the history of the relief's evolution. Spatial differences and changes in time can be traces in the erosion and deposition on slopes both unchanged and changed by the man's activity. Morphological structure of the slope's surface, form, quantity and character of elementary units the slope consists of are also of importance. Soil erosion brings about the deposition of deluvium. Studies of the deluvium of the past epochs require knowledge of erosion processes, especially that of soil erosion types, rates and factors. Under natural conditions the slope wash and associated deposition are restricted to dry steppes and semideserts. Human activity enlarged the scope of the process which became now azonal. In the course of the Pleistocene there were some epochs of active soil erosion and deluvial deposition similar to the present-man-induced-conditions in the processes rate and spatial scope.