The development of land quality indicators for soil degradation by water erosion

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment Vol. 81; no. 2; pp. 125 - 135
• Main Authors: Kirkby, M.J, Le Bissonais, Y, Coulthard, T.J, Daroussin, J, McMahon, M.D
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 31.10.2000; Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Ecology, environment; Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration; France; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Indicators; Land degradation; Life Sciences; Regional modelling; Soil erosion; Soil erosion, conservation, land management and development; Soil science; Soil erosion; Land degradation; Indicators; Regional modelling; Degradation; Water erosion(soil); Storm; Estimation; Topography; Environmental factor; Atmospheric precipitation; Risk analysis; Forecast model; Indicator; Environment quality
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305; 0167-8809
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-8809(00)00186-9

The paper describes a proposed methodology for estimating water erosion risk for large areas. The estimates are based on a one-dimensional hydrological balance and a physically based sediment transport model. Estimates of risk associated with a given storm amount are integrated over the frequency distribution of daily rainfalls to provide a properly weighted estimate of the average annual risk. Soil factors are estimated from textural classes using qualitative pedo-transfer functions. Climatic data are taken from interpolated gridded data. Topographic data are taken from global or local DEMs. The estimates are for sediment delivery to stream channels. The method has been applied to provide a preliminary estimate for France at a resolution of 250 m, and could be applied globally at a resolution of 1 km.