Soil erosion

Assessment versions

Published (reviewed and quality assured)

• Soil erosion (CLIM 028) - Assessment published Nov 2012

Justification for indicator selection

Soil erosion by water has substantial on-site as well as off-site effects. By removing fertile topsoil, erosion reduces soil productivity and, where soils are shallow, may lead to the loss of the entire soil body. Soil removed by run-off, for example during a large storm, will create mudflows that will accumulate below the eroded areas, in severe cases blocking roadways or drainage channels and inundating buildings. Erosion can lead to restrictions on land use and land value, damage to infrastructure, pollution of water bodies, and negative effects on habitats and biodiversity.

Based on potential loss of wheat yields, a conservative estimate of the consequence of erosion by water for the EU-27 (excluding Greece, Cyprus and Malta), reveals that agricultural production equivalent to a value of EUR 3.5 billion could be under threat. If the economic loss of soil carbon is also added, the figure would be even higher. In 2011, the removal of topsoil by strong winds after ploughing in very dry conditions in Germany caused a traffic accident that killed 10 people and injured at least 100 others; this is an indirect effect of wind erosion.

Climate change will influence soil erosion processes, mainly triggered by extreme rainfall events and droughts. Excess water due to intense or prolonged precipitation can cause tremendous damage to soil through sheet wash, gully erosion and even landslides. However, if soils are managed well, resistance to erosion by water and/or wind can be improved considerably.

Scientific references:

• IPCC 2007: Contribution of Working Group II Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007. M.L. Parry, O.F. Canziani, J.P. Palutikof, P.J. van der Linden and C.E. Hanson (eds), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.

Indicator definition

• Estimated soil erosion by water in Europe

• Estimated number of days for wind erosion

Units

• tonnes/ha/yr

• days per year

Policy context and targets

Context description

Targets

No targets have been specified.

Related policy documents

• Climate-ADAPT: Mainstreaming adaptation in EU sector policies
  Overview of EU sector policies in which mainstreaming of adaptation to climate change is ongoing or explored
• Climate-ADAPT: National adaptation strategies
  Overview of activities of EEA member countries in preparing, developing and implementing adaptation strategies
• DG Climate Action: What is the EU doing about climate change?
  Activities of the EU regarding climate change (both mitigation and adaptation)
• White paper - Adapting to climate change: towards a European framework for action
  EU framework for adaptation to climate change, leading to a comprehensive EU adaptation strategy by 2013

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

EU-wide estimates of erosion are based on modelling studies. Most models contain a rainfall erosivity factor and a soil erodibility factor that reflect average precipitation conditions. Typical values for these factors may inadequately represent the impact of extreme rainfall. Therefore, the uncertainty of modelled erosion risk is high, especially at local level.

Methodology for gap filling

Not applicable

Methodology references

• Bosco et al. (Forthcoming): Modelling Soil Erosion at European Scale. Towards Harmonization and Reproducibility. Bosco, C., de Rigo, D., Dewitte, O., Poesen, J. and Panagos, P. Joint Research Centre.

Data specifications

EEA data references

• No datasets have been specified here.

External data references

• Modelling Soil Erosion at European Scale. Towards Harmonization and Reproducibility
• PRUDENCE
• Data on Corine Land Cover (CLC)
• The State of Soil in Europe
• E-OBS

Data sources in latest figures

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Not applicable

Data sets uncertainty

Quantitative information, from both observations and modelling, on the past trends and impacts of climate change on soil and the various related feedbacks, is very limited. For example, data have been collected in forest soil surveys (e.g. ICP Forests, BioSoil and FutMon projects), but issues with survey quality in different countries makes comparison between countries (and between surveys) difficult . To date, assessments have relied mainly on local case studies that have analysed how soil reacts under changing climate in combination with evolving agricultural and forest practices. Thus, European-wide soil information to help policymakers identify appropriate adaptation measures is absent. There is an urgent need to establish harmonised monitoring networks to provide a better and more quantitative understanding of this system. Currently, EU-wide soil indicators are (partly) based on estimates and modelling studies, most of which have not yet been validated. Nevertheless, in absence of quantification, other evidences can indicate emerging risks. For example, shifting tree lines in mountainous regions as a consequence of climate change may indicate an extinction risk of local soil biota.

Finally, when documenting and modelling changes in soil indicators, it is not always feasible to track long-term changes (signal) given the significant short-term variations (noise) that may occur (e.g. seasonal variations of soil organic carbon due to land management). Therefore, detected changes cannot always be attributed to climate change effects, as climate is only one of the soil-forming factors. Human activity can be more determining, both in measured/modelled past trends (baseline), and if projections including all possible factors were to be made. The latter points towards the critical role of effective land use and management in mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Further information on uncertainties is provided in Section 1.7 of the EEA report on Climate change, impacts, and vulnerability in Europe 2012 (http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/climate-impacts-and-vulnerability-2012/)

Rationale uncertainty

No uncertainty has been specified