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Week 8 -Discussion

Week 8 -Discussion

Q Using this simplified model (Links to an external site.), explore the relationship between soil erosion, slope, crop selection, and rainfall. (Note that you can zoom in on the graphs). Answer the following in your discussion post: Important: As you explore this model, please make sure that you stop and reset the simulation between different scenarios or keep the simulation running for about 10 years before starting your comparison if you don't reset. If you change the criteria and don't restart, the model needs to adjust and reach a new equilibrium (which takes about 10 years)! (An example of why long-term data are important)! 1. Do areas with steep or shallow topography result in higher amounts of soil detachment, transport, and deposition? 2. Based off of this model, would more soil erosion result from farming on the top of a hill and leaving the bottom bare soil or farming the bottom of the hill and leaving the top of the hill bare soil? 3. How does soil erosion vary by season for different land covers? Initial post due on Wednesday. Please respond to a classmate by the following Sunday.

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• The steeper topography with higher amounts of soil will have a higher amount of detachment, transport, and decomposition. This is due to steeper slopes of decline along with the forces of gravity and less resistance from that gravity. The shallow topography does show a decline in topsoil but is nowhere near the amount compared to the steeper topography.• I am very fortunate to have known the answer to this even before looking at the model. I live on a Christmas tree farm, and we are on top/on the crest of the mountain. Every year we are fixing our dirt roads and some planting areas due to precipitation and erosion.