eroosioon

Eroosioon is the Finnish term for erosion, the process by which soil, rock, and dissolved material are removed from the Earth's surface by natural forces. The concept covers detachment, transport, and deposition of material, and can describe both ongoing processes and their manifestations in landscapes.

The main agents are water, wind, ice, and gravity. Water erosion includes rainfall impact and runoff, while wind erosion moves fine particles in arid and windy environments. Glacial erosion shapes mountains and valleys through ablation, plucking, and abrasion. Coastal erosion results from waves and tidal action, and can interact with sea-level changes and human activity.

Erosion rates depend on climate, topography, vegetation cover, soil properties, and land use. Detachment occurs when driving forces exceed material strength; transport moves particles; deposition occurs when velocity decreases. Erosion can be measured as sediment yield or soil loss, with models such as the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and its revisions used in land management and planning.

Impacts include soil fertility loss, sedimentation of rivers and reservoirs, habitat changes, and increased flood risk. Mitigation methods include maintaining ground cover, terracing, contour farming, windbreaks, buffer strips, reduced tillage, and riparian restoration. In boreal and temperate landscapes, frost action and forest management influence erosion dynamics, underscoring the need for sustainable land practices.

Etymology: eroosio derives from Latin erosio; eroosioon is the illative form used in Finnish grammar to indicate movement toward erosion or the occurrence of erosion.