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HWY 60 Rill Erosion EarthCache

Hidden : 9/4/2014
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

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Geocache Description:

This is a busy HWY, stay up on the hill and away from the HWY?


What is Erosion?

Erosion is the process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural processes such as wind or water flow, and then transported and deposited in other locations. In this particular area at GZ, Water has caused most of the Erosion here.

Types of Erosion:

Splash Erosion: Small soil particles are detached and sent airborne through the impact of raindrops on soil.

Sheet Erosion: Raindrops break apart the soil structure and it's moved down-slope by water that flows overland as a sheet rather than definitive channels. This occurs frequently during cloud bursts.

Rill Erosion: This process develops small, short-lived, concentrated flow paths. These paths create a sediment source and delivery system for hill-slope erosion. Areas where precipitation rates exceed soil infiltration rates are more prone to this type of erosion.

Gully Erosion: Water flows in narrow channels during or directly following heavy rains or melting snow. The gullies can erode to considerable depths.

Valley or Stream Erosion: Continual water flow alongside land (along a linear feature) creates this type of erosion. It extends downward, deepening a valley, and head-ward, extending the valley into the hillside. This occurs most frequently in times of flooding.

Bank Erosion: Over time, banks of rivers and streams are naturally worn down.

Freezing and thawing: Cold weather causes water trapped in tiny rock cracks to freeze and expand, breaking the rock into several pieces.


**Logging requirements**
DO NOT POST ANSWERS IN YOUR LOG.
Send the following answers to me via email.

#1) The text "GC5CAAH HWY 60 Rill Erosion" on the first line

North hill observations

#2) Look north, down the hill, what is helping to stop erosion in one area (Not the trees)?

#3) Do you see any rill erosion happening along the north hill?

South hill observations

Walk the hill to the South taking measurements of how deep the rill erosion is along here.
Now compare those with the “big one” at waypoint “big one”

#4) Give me two measurements of other rill erosion depth (other than the big one)

#5) How deep is the big one?

#6) The “big one is still a rill erosion but it will soon be classified into a different type of erosion, what type? (Read the description above)

#7) What will happen over time to this hill if the erosion is not stopped?

 

Congratulations to Team Ozark for FTF

I have earned GSA's highest level:

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