Modelling Soil Erosion By Water

TO THE MODEL EVALUATION 1. MODELLING SOIL EROSION BY WATER l 2 John Boardman and David Favis-Mortlock 1 School of Geography and Environmental Change Unit Mansfield Road University of Oxford Oxford OX1 3TB UK 2 Environmental Change Unit University of Oxford 5 South Parks Road Oxford OX1 3UB UK Introduction This volume is the Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop 'Global Change: Modelling Soil Erosion by Water', which was held on II-14th September 1995, at the University of Oxford, UK. The meeting was also one of a series organised by the IGBP 1 GCTE Soil Erosion Network, which is a component of GCTE's Land Degradation Task (3.3.2) (Ingram et aI., 1996; Valentin, this volume). One aim of the GCTE Soil Erosion Network is to evaluate the suitability of existing soil erosion models for predicting the possible impacts of global change upon soil erosion. Due to the wide range of erosion models currently, in use or under development, it was decided to evaluate models in the following sequence Favis-Mortlock et al., 1996): • field-scale water erosion models • catchmenr-scale water erosion models • wind erosion models • models with a landscape-scale and larger focus. As part of this strategy, the first stage of the GCTE validation of field-scale erosion models was carried out at the Oxford NATO-ARW. I A list of Acronyms fonns Appendix A.

The movement of sediment and associated pollutants over thelandscape and into water bodies is of increasing concern withrespect to pollution control, prevention of muddy floods andenvironmental protection. In addition, the loss of soil on site hasimplications for declining agricultural productivity, loss ofbiodiversity and decreased amenity and landscape value. The fate ofsediment and the conservation of soil are important issues for landmanagers and decision-makers. In developing appropriate policiesand solutions, managers and researchers are making greater use oferosion models to characterise the processes of erosion and theirinteraction with the landscape. A study of erosion requires one to think in terms ofmicroseconds to understand the mechanics of impact of a singleraindrop on a soil surface, while landscapes form over periods ofthousands of years. These processes operate on scales ofmillimetres for single raindrops to mega-metres for continents.Erosion modelling thus covers quite a lot of ground. This bookintroduces the conceptual and mathematical frameworks used toformulate models of soil erosion and uses case studies to show howmodels are applied to a variety of purposes at a range of spatialand temporal scales. The aim is to provide land managers and otherswith the tools required to select a model appropriate to the typeand scale of erosion problem, to show what users can expect interms of accuracy of model predictions and to provide anappreciation of both the advantages and limitations of models.Problems covered include those arising from agriculture, theconstruction industry, pollution and climatic change and range inscale from farms to small and large catchments. The book will alsobe useful to students and research scientists as an up-to-datereview of the state-of-art of erosion modelling and, through aknowledge of how models are used in practice, in highlighting thegaps in knowledge that need to be filled in order to develop evenbetter models.

The purpose of this book is to provide novel results related to soil water erosion that could help landowners and land-users, farmers, politicians, and other representatives of our global society to protect and, if possible, improve the quality and quantity of our precious soil resources. Published papers on the topics are related to new ways of mapping, maps with more detailed input data, maps about areas that have never been mapped before, sediment yield estimations, modelling sheets and gully erosion, USLE models, RUSLE models, dams which stop sediment runoff, sediment influx, solute transport, soil detachment capacities, badland morphology, freeze-thaw cycles, armed conflicts, use of rainfall simulators, rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, etc.

“Principles of Soil Management and Conservation” comprehensively reviews the state-of-knowledge on soil erosion and management. It discusses in detail soil conservation topics in relation to soil productivity, environment quality, and agronomic production. It addresses the implications of soil erosion with emphasis on global hotspots and synthesizes available from developed and developing countries. It also critically reviews information on no-till management, organic farming, crop residue management for industrial uses, conservation buffers (e.g., grass buffers, agroforestry systems), and the problem of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico and in other regions. This book uniquely addresses the global issues including carbon sequestration, net emissions of CO2, and erosion as a sink or source of C under different scenarios of soil management. It also deliberates the implications of the projected global warming on soil erosion and vice versa. The concern about global food security in relation to soil erosion and strategies for confronting the remaining problems in soil management and conservation are specifically addressed. This volume is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students interested in understanding the principles of soil conservation and management. The book is also useful for practitioners, extension agents, soil conservationists, and policymakers as an important reference material.

Degradation of agricultural catchments due to water erosion is a major environmental threat at the global scale, with long-lasting destructive consequences valued at tens of billions of dollars per annum. Eroded soils lead to reduced crop yields and deprived agroecosystem’s functioning through, for example, decreased water holding capacity, poor aeration, scarce microbial activity, and loose soil structure. This can result in reduced carbon sequestration, limited nutrient cycling, contamination of water bodies due to eutrophication, low protection from floods and poor attention restoration—consequences that go far beyond the commonly modelled soil loss and deposition budgets. This book demonstrates, using data from the Harod catchment in northern Israel, how cutting-edge geoinformatics, data science methodologies and soil health indicators can be used to measure, predict, and regulate these major environmental hazards. It shows how these approaches are used to quantify—in time and space—the effect of water erosion not only on the soil layer, soil minerals, and soil loss, but also on the wide-range of services that agricultural ecosystems might supply for the benefit and well-being of humans. The algorithms described in this book play a major role in this paradigm shift and they include, for example, extraction of photogrammetric DEMs from drone's data, advanced drainage structure calculations, fuzzy process-based modelling and spatial topographic threshold computations, multicriteria analyses and expert-based systems development using analytic hierarchal processes, innovative data-mining and machine learning tools, autocorrelation and interpolation of soil health, physically-based soil evolution models, spatial decision support systems and many more.

Accelerated degradation of soils and surface waters produce increasing problems in many parts of the world. Within this context, the book addresses the topic Application of Physically Based Soil Erosion Models in order to present some essential tools for improving land-use strategies and conservation measures. Over the last 20 years, the need for more accurate assessments of soil losses and sediment yields has led to the development of some highly complex, process-based soil erosion models. In 14 papers, specialists from 5 European countries, the USA and Brazil report on practical applications of these models and give insight into the latest developments. This book will help to implement state-of-the-art soil erosion prediction technologies within soil and water conservation planning and assessment. Hence, the book should be of special interest to agricultural and environmental engineers, hydrologists, soil scientists and geoscientists.

Landscapes are characterized by a wide variation, both spatially and temporally, of tolerance and response to natural processes and anthropogenic stress. These tolerances and responses can be analyzed through individual landscape parameters, such as soils, vegetation, water, etc., or holistically through ecosystem or watershed studies. However, such approaches are both time consuming and costly. Soil erosion and landscape evolution modeling provide a simulation environment in which both the short- and long-term consequences of land-use activities and alternative land use strategies can be compared and evaluated. Such models provide the foundation for the development of land management decision support systems. Landscape Erosion and Evolution Modeling is a state-of-the-art, interdisciplinary volume addressing the broad theme of soil erosion and landscape evolution modeling from different philosophical and technical approaches, ranging from those developed from considerations of first-principle soil/water physics and mechanics to those developed empirically according to sets of behavioral or empirical rules deriving from field observations and measurements. The validation and calibration of models through field studies is also included. This volume will be essential reading for researchers in earth, environmental and ecosystem sciences, hydrology, civil engineering, forestry, soil science, agriculture and climate change studies. In addition, it will have direct relevance to the public and private land management communities.

Soil erosion is a global environmental challenge with profound consequences for land, water, and ecosystems. This book, Soil Erosion - Risk Modelling and Management, takes you on a comprehensive exploration of the intricate science and practical strategies for understanding, predicting, and addressing soil erosion. Inside the pages of this volume, you’ll find a wealth of unique insights, innovative methodologies, and illuminating case studies from diverse regions around the world. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or practitioner, this book is an essential resource for gaining a deep understanding of soil erosion and discovering effective solutions to this critical environmental issue. The book delves into the intricate science of soil erosion, providing readers with a solid foundation in the principles and processes involved. It helps readers grasp the underlying causes and mechanisms of erosion, making it an invaluable resource for students and researchers in environmental science and related fields. The book is a vital resource that addresses one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. It combines scientific insights with practical solutions, making it an essential tool for anyone seeking to understand, address, and combat soil erosion’s far-reaching impacts on our planet’s health and well-being.