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Indicator Assessment
Soil erosion risk assessment for Europe for the year 2000
Note: The map shows the soil erosion risk assessment for Europe for the year 2000
Joint Research Centre (JRC), INRA (France), (http://eusoils.jrc.it/ESDB_Archive/serae/Serae_data.html).
Past trends for erosion are not available on the European scale. Based on EU-wide modelling, an estimated 115 million hectares or 12 % of the total EU land area is (in 2000) subject to water erosion (see Figure 1). In this assessment the risk of erosion by water was calculated by using yearly average values for precipitation. However such risks are in fact to a large extent determined by extreme precipitation events (e.g. daily, hourly). The uncertainty of this modelled erosion risk is therefore high, especially at the local level.
Several studies have been conducted to model the effects of future climate change on soil erosion (e.g. Kirkby et al., 2004). These show a non-linear spatial and temporal response of soil erosion to climate change, with relatively large increases I erosion during wet years compared with dry years, and sporadic increases spatially. Erosion is projected to increase with increases in precipitation amount and intensity, and to decrease with increases in ground cover and canopy cover (IPCC, 2007a).
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 aim is to increase the resilience to climate change of health, property and the productive functions of land, inter alia by improving the management of water resources and ecosystems. More knowledge is needed on climate impact and vulnerability but a considerable amount of information and research already exists which can be shared better through a proposed Clearing House Mechanism. The White Paper stresses the need to mainstream adaptation into existing and new EU policies. A number of Member States have already taken action and several have prepared national adaptation plans. The EU is also developing actions to enhance and finance adaptation in developing countries as part of a new post-2012 global climate agreement expected in Copenhagen (Dec. 2009). For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/adaptation/index_en.htm
No targets have been specified
No related policy documents have been specified
http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2008_4/pp193-207CC2008_ch8_Data_gaps.pdf
No methodology references available.
http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2008_4/pp193-207CC2008_ch8_Data_gaps.pdf
http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2008_4/pp193-207CC2008_ch8_Data_gaps.pdf
No uncertainty has been specified
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/soil-erosion-by-water/soil-erosion-by-water-assessment or scan the QR code.
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