All official European Union website addresses are in the europa.eu domain.
See all EU institutions and bodiesDo something for our planet, print this page only if needed. Even a small action can make an enormous difference when millions of people do it!
Indicator Assessment
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.
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.
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).
[i] C. Bosco et al., “Modelling Soil Erosion at European Scale: Towards Harmonization and Reproducibility,” Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss. 2, no. 4 (2014): 2639–80, doi:10.5194/nhessd-2-2639-2014; A. Jones et al., The State of Soil in Europe., Joint Research Centre Reference Report (Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2012).
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. Available European case studies suggest that climate change may increase as well as decrease soil erosion, depending on local climatological and environmental conditions [i]. However, reliable quantitative pan-European projections for soil erosion 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] Michael Märker et al., “Assessment of Land Degradation Susceptibility by Scenario Analysis: A Case Study in Southern Tuscany, Italy,” Geomorphology 93, no. 1–2, Challenges in Geomorphological Methods and Techniques (January 1, 2008): 120–29, doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.12.020; H. Thodsen, B. Hasholt, and J. H. Kjærsgaard, “The Influence of Climate Change on Suspended Sediment Transport in Danish Rivers,” Hydrological Processes 22, no. 6 (March 15, 2008): 764–74, doi:10.1002/hyp.6652; Gerald Scholz, John N. Quinton, and Peter Strauss, “Soil Erosion from Sugar Beet in Central Europe in Response to Climate Change Induced Seasonal Precipitation Variations,” CATENA 72, no. 1 (January 1, 2008): 91–105, doi:10.1016/j.catena.2007.04.005.
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.
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.
Not applicable
No methodology references available.
Not applicable
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/soil-erosion-by-water-1/assessment or scan the QR code.
PDF generated on 24 Apr 2024, 04:54 PM
Engineered by: EEA Web Team
Software updated on 26 September 2023 08:13 from version 23.8.18
Software version: EEA Plone KGS 23.9.14
Document Actions
Share with others