Data and maps

Soil quality index map: Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Changes in soil organic carbon content across England and Wales between 1978 and 2003: The map shows the difference in soil organic carbon content
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
The Swedish forestry model: Located in The Environmental Atlas › … › The Swedish forestry model › Video
Soil erosion (CLIM 028) - Assessment published Nov 2012: 105 million ha., or 16 % of Europe’s total land area (excluding Russia) were estimated to be affected by water erosion in the 1990s. Some 42 million ha. of land were estimated to be affected by wind erosion, of which around 1 million ha. were categorised as being severely affected. A recent new model of soil erosion by water has estimated the surface area affected in the EU‐27 at 130 million ha. Almost 20 % is subjected to soil loss in excess of 10 tonnes/ha./year. Increased variations in rainfall pattern and intensity will make soils more susceptible to water erosion, with off-site effects of soil erosion increasing. Increased aridity will make finer-textured soils more vulnerable to wind erosion, especially if accompanied by a decrease in soil organic matter levels. Reliable quantitative projections for soil erosion are not available.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Soil erosion
Soil type: Corine European soil database version 2
Located in Data and maps › Datasets
Expenditures on clean-up of contaminated sites: Located in Data and maps › Indicators
Progress in management of contaminated sites (CSI 015) - Assessment published Jul 2005: Several economic activities are still causing soil pollution in Europe, particularly those related to inadequate waste disposal and losses during industrial operations. It is expected that the implementation of preventive measures introduced by the legislation already in place would limit the inputs of contaminants into the soil in the coming years. As a consequence, most of the future management efforts will be concentrated on the clean-up of historical contamination. This is going to require large sums of public money which at present already account on average for 25% of the total remediation expenditure.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Progress in management of contaminated sites
Progress in management of contaminated sites (CSI 015) - Assessment published Aug 2007: Soil contamination requiring clean up is present at approximately 250000 sites in the EEA member countries, according to recent estimates. And this number is expected to grow. Potentially polluting activities are estimated to have occurred at nearly 3 million sites (including the 250000 sites already mentioned) and investigation is needed to establish whether remediation is required. If current investigation trends continue, the number of sites needing remediation will increase by 50% by 2025. By contrast, more than 80000 sites have been cleaned up in the last 30 years in the countries where data on remediation is available. Although the range of polluting activities (and their relative importance as localised sources of soil contamination) may vary considerably across Europe, industrial and commercial activities as well as the treatment and disposal of waste are reported to be the most important sources. National reports indicate that heavy metals and mineral oil are the most frequent soil contaminants at investigated sites, while mineral oil and chlorinated hydrocarbons are the most frequent contaminants found in groundwater. A considerable share of remediation expenditure, about 35% on average, comes from public budgets. Although considerable efforts have been made already, it will take decades to clean up a legacy of contamination.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Progress in management of contaminated sites
Soil erosion by water (CLIM 028) - Assessment published Sep 2008: An estimated 115 million hectares, 12 % of the total EU land area, are subject to water erosion. The projected changes in the climate during the 21st century, with increased variations in rainfall pattern and intensity, will make soils more susceptible to erosion. The off-site effects of soil erosion will increase with climate change and related changes in rainfall pattern and intensity.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Soil erosion by water
Soil organic carbon (CLIM 027) - Assessment published Sep 2008: Soil in the EU contains around 71 gigatonnes of organic carbon, nearly 10 % of the carbon accumulated in the atmosphere. An increase in temperature and a reduction in moisture tend to accelerate the decomposition of organic material, leading to a decline in soil organic carbon stocks in Europe and an increase in CO 2 emissions to the atmosphere. This could wipe out all the savings that other sectors of the economy are achieving to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Losses of soil organic carbon have already been observed in measurements in various European regions over the past 25 years. The projected changes in the climate during the 21st century will change the contribution of soil to the CO 2 cycle in most areas of the EU. Adapted land-use and management practices could be implemented to counterbalance the climate-induced decline of carbon levels in soil.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Soil organic carbon