Erosion channel

Erosion channel

Erosion channel in a grain field after heavy rainfall (2018)

The erosion channel (also rune or gully ) is a geomorphological characteristic that is created by flowing water. This forms deep furrows down to small valleys. They can be from one to a few tens of meters wide and take the size of small rivers. Furthermore, erosion channels can arise from the effects of glaciers .

In agriculture gullies arise in the course of acute land degradation (soil erosion) . With intensive watering of the soil, salts like lime remain in the soil. Solid and calcified soil prevent the water from seeping away, e.g. B. from precipitation. This collects in furrows and washes nutrients with it. They can also cause considerable economic damage to agriculture.

Another name for erosion channels is Schlenke or Runse , which is used to describe especially young forms as a result of anthropogenic landscape overprinting ( deforestation , overgrazing ). A system of gullies and furrows on slopes as a result of surface erosion caused by precipitation is also known as rickets .

Web links

Commons : Erosion channels  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ gully erosion. In: Lexicon of Geosciences. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, accessed on February 2, 2018 . 
2. ↑ Runs. In: Lexicon of Geography. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, accessed on February 2, 2018 . 
3. ↑ Glazihydrologie. In: Lexicon of Geography. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, accessed on February 2, 2018 . 
4. ^ Franz Seyfert and Heinz Runge: Agricultural meteorology . Deutscher Landwirtschaftlichsverlag, 1964, p. 108 .