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You are here: Home / Data and maps / Indicators / Soil erosion / Soil erosion (CLIM 028) - Assessment published Nov 2012

Soil erosion (CLIM 028) - Assessment published Nov 2012

Created : Nov 14, 2012 Published : Nov 21, 2012 Last modified : Nov 21, 2012 02:46 PM
Topics: ,

Generic metadata

Topics:

Climate change Climate change (Primary topic)

Tags:
water | soil | wind | wind erosion | soil erosion
DPSIR: Impact
Typology: Descriptive indicator (Type A – What is happening to the environment and to humans?)
Indicator codes
  • CLIM 028
Dynamic
Temporal coverage:
1961-1990, 2006
 
Contents
 
Switch to full indicator view

Indicator definition

  • Estimated soil erosion by water in Europe
  • Estimated number of days for wind erosion

Units

  • tonnes/ha/yr
  • days per year

Key policy question: How are European soils affected by water and wind erosion?

Key messages

  • 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.

Estimated soil erosion by water in Europe

Estimated soil erosion by water in Europe

Note: Calculated by the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). While the overall patterns of erosion are generally sound, the validation of erosion data can be challenging. The data presented are currently being validated through comparisons with national datasets and expert judgement. In this sense, zooming in on a specific locality can give the impression of a situation that differs from reality. In addition, the model used in this exercise does not consider localised intense precipitation.

Data source:
  • E-OBS provided by ENSEMBLE FP6 project
Downloads and more info

Estimated number of days for wind erosion

Estimated number of days for wind erosion

Note: Calculations are based on wind velocity and soil texture. While the overall patterns of erosion are generally sound, the validation of erosion data can be challenging. The data presented are currently being validated through comparisons with national datasets and expert judgement. In this sense, zooming in on a specific locality can give the impression of a situation that differs from reality.

Data source:
  • PRUDENCE provided by Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI)
Downloads and more info

Key assessment

Past trends

Systematic and harmonised data on trends in soil erosion across Europe are lacking. EU-wide estimates of erosion are based on modelling studies, most of which have not yet been validated. A recent exercise has estimated that the surface area in the EU‐27 (excluding Greece, Cyprus and Malta, which lack CORINE land cover data for 2006) affected by water erosion is 130 million ha. Almost 20 % is subjected to soil loss in excess of 10 tonnes/ha./year [i]  (Figure 1). 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.

The situation for wind erosion is similar to erosion by water in that systematic data collections are limited. Wind erosion is estimated to be a serious problem in many parts of eastern England, north-west France, northern Germany, parts of the Iberian Peninsula and eastern Netherlands (Figure 2).

Projections

Soil erosion rates and extent are expected to reflect changing patterns of land-use and climate change. Variations in rainfall patterns and intensity, and in storm frequency and intensity may affect erosion risk either directly, through the physical displacement of soil particles, or indirectly, through removing protective plant cover. However, reliable quantitative projections are currently not available.

Drier regions are likely to be more susceptible to wind erosion than wetter regions. The apparent inability of ecosystems to recover from repeated drought may result in increased risk of wind erosion.

[i] C. Bosco et al., „Modelling Soil Erosion at European Scale. Towards Harmonization and Reproducibility“ (Joint Research Centre, Forthcoming); A. Jones et al., The State of Soil in Europe. Joint Research Centre Reference Report (Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2012).

Data sources

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.

Policy context and targets

Context description

In April 2009 the European Commission presented a White Paper on the framework for adaptation policies and measures to reduce the European Union's vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. The White Paper stresses the need to improve the knowledge base and to mainstream adaptation into existing and new EU policies. The European Commission will be publishing an EU Adaptation Strategy in 2013. A number of Member States have already taken action, and several have prepared national adaptation plans.

The European Commission and the European Environment Agency have developed the European Climate Adaptation Platform (Climate-ADAPT, http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/) to share knowledge on observed and projected climate change and its impacts on environmental and social systems and on human health; on relevant research; on EU, national and subnational adaptation strategies and plans; and on adaptation case studies.

Targets

No targets have been specified.

Related policy documents

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

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

More information about this indicator

See this indicator specification for more details.

Contacts and ownership

EEA Contact Info

Geertrui Veerle Erika Louwagie

Ownership

EEA Management Plan

2012 2.0.1 (note: EEA internal system)

Dates

First draft created: 2012/11/14 08:18:59.191375 GMT+1
Publish date: 2012-11-21T15:45:41+02:00
Last modified: 2012/11/21 14:46:31.417161 GMT+1
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