What is soil erosion?

Soil erosion by water

Every year, millions of tons of soil are moved from one place to another without human intervention. A heavy rainstorm can wash fertile soil from a hillside into a river, strong winds can carry fine particles across entire regions, and melting ice can reshape landscapes over time. This process, known as soil erosion, occurs in three stages: soil particles are first detached, then transported, and finally deposited elsewhere by physical forces such as rainfall, flowing water, wind, or ice.

While erosion is a natural part of landscape evolution, it has become one of the most widespread forms of land degradation worldwide. Human activities such as intensive agriculture, deforestation, overgrazing, and urban development can greatly accelerate the loss of valuable topsoil. As a result, erosion threatens food production, water quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem services across the globe.

The European Soil Observatory (EUSO) identifies five major types of soil erosion: water erosion, wind erosion, harvest erosion, tillage erosion, and post-fire erosion. Each type affects landscapes in different ways and requires specific management approaches. Among these, water erosion is by far the most widespread erosion process in Europe, occurring when rainfall and surface runoff detach and transport soil particles across agricultural land, forests, and natural ecosystems.

In this MOOC, you will focus on understanding water erosion. Through examples from across Europe and global, you will learn how rainfall, runoff, soil properties, topography, land use, and management practices interact to determine erosion risk. You will also explore the environmental and socio-economic consequences of soil erosion and discover how sustainable land management can help protect one of our most valuable natural resources: soil.