What characterizes sheet erosion?

Sheet erosion is characterized by the removal of thin layers of soil from the land surface due to the movement of water over it. In particular, this process occurs when rainfall creates a thin film of water that flows across the soil surface, detaching and transporting soil particles. This movement is typically uniform and occurs over large areas, hence the term "sheet," which implies a broad, flat area being affected rather than specific channels or rills being formed.

The correct answer highlights the mechanism of rain splash coupled with flowing water as the primary driver of sheet erosion. It emphasizes the process in which soil particles are detached from the ground and transported away, resulting in the loss of soil fertility and altering the landscape.

In contrast, other options describe different erosional processes. The formation of deep rills pertains to a more advanced stage of erosion called rill erosion, where concentrated water flow carves out channels. Wind erosion refers to the removal of loose soil particles through wind action, which is not relevant to sheet erosion. Lastly, accumulation of sediments in flat areas is a characteristic of sediment deposition, not erosion, and does not accurately describe how sheet erosion operates.