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Soil Science and Erosion Fundamentals Flashcards

6 cards from real CEPSCI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. What are the three types of soil particles, listed from largest to smallest?

    Answer: Sand, silt, clay

    Soil texture is determined by the relative proportions of sand (0.05–2 mm), silt (0.002–0.05 mm), and clay (<0.002 mm) particles.

  2. Which soil textural class is generally considered most erodible by water?

    Answer: Silt and fine sand

    Silt and fine sand particles are large enough to be detached by raindrop impact but small enough to be transported easily in runoff, making them highly erodible.

  3. What is 'raindrop splash erosion' (interrill erosion)?

    Answer: Erosion caused by the impact of raindrops detaching soil particles and splashing them into suspension

    Raindrop impact breaks up soil aggregates and detaches particles, making them available for transport by surface runoff — this is the first stage of water erosion.

  4. The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) estimates:

    Answer: Average annual soil loss from a field based on rainfall, soil erodibility, slope, cover, and management factors

    The USLE combines the R (rainfall erosivity), K (soil erodibility), LS (slope length and steepness), C (cover and management), and P (support practice) factors to estimate erosion rates.

  5. What is soil compaction, and why is it a concern on construction sites from a stormwater perspective?

    Answer: Compaction reduces soil porosity and infiltration capacity, increasing stormwater runoff volume

    Heavy equipment compacts soil, reducing pore space and hydraulic conductivity, which means more rainfall becomes runoff rather than infiltrating — increasing erosion and stormwater discharge volumes.

  6. What is 'rill erosion' and how does it differ from sheet erosion?

    Answer: Sheet erosion removes a uniform thin layer of soil; rill erosion involves concentrated flow that carves small channels into the soil surface

    Sheet erosion is the relatively uniform removal of thin soil layers, while rill erosion begins when runoff concentrates into small channels, greatly increasing erosive power and sediment delivery.

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