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Indicator Assessment
Global surface soil moisture content based on remote sensing data
Note: SMOS provides a global image of surface soil moisture every three days; this map covers the period 8–15 June 2010. Yellow colours indicate drier soil surfaces; blue colours denote wetter conditions. SMOS can measure soil moisture levels to an accuracy of 4 % at a spatial resolution of 50 km — about the same as detecting a teaspoonful of water mixed into a handful of dry soil.
Past trends
There is no clear indication on past trends for water retention across the EU due to a lack of systematic and harmonised data. Several models have been used to assess soil moisture, but these are often reliant on secondary input data (i.e. observed precipitation and temperature). Direct observations of spatially explicit distribution of soil moisture across Europe are just evolving. Satellite-borne sensors, such as the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission or EUMETSAT’s ASCAT Scatterometer, are able to make global observations of surface soil moisture (Figure 1). Such data, along with numerical modelling techniques, have the potential to be used in deriving composite maps of soil moisture levels down to a depth of 1–2 m, the so-called root zone. Thus, this information could help in assessing the impacts of climatic variations, including droughts, on for example ecosystem production.
Projections
Projections indicate greater droughts in some areas, which might lead to substantial reductions in summertime soil moisture, and marked increase in rainfall in others [i]. In particular in the Mediterranean area of southern Europe, soil water content is expected to decline, and saturation conditions are expected to be increasingly rare and restricted to periods in winter and spring [ii]. Harmonised time series data on relevant soil properties should be developed as should models to assess key parameters such as subsoil available water capacity and topsoil moisture levels. Satellite information should be integrated with representative observed data, also for projections.
[i] P. Calanca et al., „Global warming and the summertime evapotranspiration regime of the Alpine region“, Climatic Change 79 (2006): 65–78, doi:10.1007/s10584-006-9103-9.
[ii] José M. García-Ruiz et al., „Mediterranean water resources in a global change scenario“, Earth-Science Reviews 105, Nr. 3–4 (April 2011): 121–139, doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2011.01.006.
In April 2013 the European Commission presented the EU Adaptation Strategy Package (http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/adaptation/what/documentation_en.htm). This package consists of the EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change /* COM/2013/0216 final */ and a number of supporting documents. One of the objectives of the EU Adaptation Strategy is Better informed decision-making, which should occur through Bridging the knowledge gap and Further developing Climate-ADAPT as the ‘one-stop shop’ for adaptation information in Europe. Further objectives include Promoting action by Member States and Climate-proofing EU action: promoting adaptation in key vulnerable sectors. Many EU Member States have already taken action, such as by adopting national adaptation strategies, and several have also prepared action plans on climate change adaptation.
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.
No targets have been specified.
The satellite-borne sensor from the SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) mission is used to make global observations of surface soil moisture. Launched in 2009, SMOS looks at microwave radiation emitted from Earth to calculate the amount of moisture held in the surface layer of soil, up to a depth of about 5 cm.
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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/)
No uncertainty has been specified
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/water-retention-1/assessment or scan the QR code.
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