Soil erosion by water
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Rationale
Justification for indicator selection
Climate change will influence soil erosion processes. Excess water due to intense or prolonged precipitation can cause tremendous damage to soil. Sheet-wash, rill and gully development can strip the topsoil from the land, thus effectively destroying the capability of the soil to provide economic or environmental services. Favis-Mortlock and Boardman (1995), using the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC) model (Williams and Sharpley, 1989), found that a 7 % increase in precipitation could lead to a 26 % increase in erosion in the United Kingdom. In high mountain regions like the Alps, decreasing permafrost (observed and projected) can lead, for example, to more landslides with substantial impact on infrastructure (roads, railways, cable cars) and economic sectors like tourism.
Many of the soil erosion risk models contain a rainfall erosivity factor and a soil erodibility factor that reflect average-year precipitation conditions. However, currently available values for the rainfall erosivity and soil erodibility factors may inadequately represent low-probability return-period storms and the more frequent and intense storms under projected climate change.
The relationship between climate change and soil erosion is complex and needs to be better defined, investigated and monitored in order to have a clear picture of future trends. Measurements and models with more detailed temporal and spatial distribution of precipitation and impacts on soil erosion or risk of erosion should be developed, as should indicators for assessing appropriate measures.
Scientific references
- No rationale references available
Indicator definition
- Soil erosion risk assessment for Europe for the year 2000
Units
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 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
Targets
No targets have been specified
Related policy documents
No related policy documents have been specified
Methodology
Methodology for indicator calculation
Methodology for gap filling
http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2008_4/pp193-207CC2008_ch8_Data_gaps.pdf
Methodology references
No methodology references available.
Data specifications
EEA data references
- No datasets have been specified here.
External data references
Data sources in latest figures
Uncertainties
Methodology uncertainty
http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2008_4/pp193-207CC2008_ch8_Data_gaps.pdf
Data sets uncertainty
http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2008_4/pp193-207CC2008_ch8_Data_gaps.pdf
Rationale uncertainty
No uncertainty has been specified
Further work
Short term work
Work specified here requires to be completed within 1 year from now.
Long term work
Work specified here will require more than 1 year (from now) to be completed.
General metadata
Responsibility and ownership
EEA Contact Info
Geertrui Veerle Erika LouwagieOwnership
Identification
Classification
DPSIR: ImpactTypology: Descriptive indicator (Type A - What is happening to the environment and to humans?)
Permalinks
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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/soil-erosion-by-water or scan the QR code.
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