Indicator Assessment | Data and maps

Soil erosion
105 million ha
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Contents
Soil erosion 6

Key messages 6
How are European soils affected by water and wind
erosion? 7
Indicator specification and metadata 10
Indicator definition 10
Units 10
Rationale 10
Justification for indicator selection 10
Scientific references 10
Policy context and targets 10
Context description 10
Targets 11
Related policy documents 11
Methodology 11
Methodology for indicator calculation 11
Methodology for gap filling 11
Methodology references 11
Uncertainties 11
Methodology uncertainty 11
Data sets uncertainty 12
Rationale uncertainty 12
Data sources 12
Generic metadata 13
Contacts and ownership 13
EEA Contact Info 13
Ownership 13
EEA Management Plan 13
Dates 13
Frequency of updates 13
Permalinks 13
Related content 13
Related briefings 14
Key messages

Soil erosion

Key messages

105 million ha., or 16 % of Europes total land area (excluding Russia) were estimated to be affected
by water erosion in the 1990s.
Some 42 million ha. of land were estimated to be affected by wind erosion, of which around
1 million ha. were categorised as being severely affected.
A recent new model of soil erosion by water has estimated the surface area affected in the EU-27 at
130 million ha. Almost 20 % is subjected to soil loss in excess of 10 tonnes/ha./year.
Increased variations in rainfall pattern and intensity will make soils more susceptible to water
erosion, with off-site effects of soil erosion increasing.
Increased aridity will make finer-textured soils more vulnerable to wind erosion, especially if
accompanied by a decrease in soil organic matter levels.

Reliable quantitative projections for soil erosion are not available.

6 Soil erosion
 How are European soils affected by water and wind erosion?

How are European soils affected by water and wind erosion?

Fig. 1: 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.

Data source:

The State of Soil in Europe provided by Joint Research Centre (JRC)

E-OBS provided by ENSEMBLE FP6 project

Corine Land Cover 2006 seamless vector data provided by European Environment Agency (EEA)

Modelling soil erosion at European scale: towards harmonization and reproducibility. provided by Joint Research Centre (JRC)

Soil erosion 7
How are European soils affected by water and wind erosion?

Fig. 2: 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.

Data source:

Corine Land Cover 2000 seamless vector data provided by European Environment Agency (EEA)

PRUDENCE provided by Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI)

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.

8 Soil erosion
 How are European soils affected by water and wind erosion?

Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss. 2, no. 4 (2014): 263980, 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 Mrker et al., Assessment of Land Degradation Susceptibility by Scenario Analysis: A Case Study in
Southern Tuscany, Italy, Geomorphology 93, no. 12, Challenges in Geomorphological Methods and Techniques
(January 1, 2008): 12029, doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.12.020; H. Thodsen, B. Hasholt, and J. H. Kjrsgaard, The
Influence of Climate Change on Suspended Sediment Transport in Danish Rivers, Hydrological Processes 22, no. 6
(March 15, 2008): 76474, 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): 91105, doi:10.1016/j.catena.2007.04.005.

Soil erosion 9
Indicator specification and metadata

Indicator specification and metadata

Indicator definition
Estimated soil erosion by water in Europe
Estimated number of days for wind erosion

Units
tonnes/ha/yr
days per year

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

Soil erosion by water has substantial on-site as well as off-site effects. By removing fertile topsoil, erosion reduces soil
productivity and, where soils are shallow, may lead to the loss of the entire soil body. Soil removed by run-off, for
example during a large storm, will create mudflows that will accumulate below the eroded areas, in severe cases
blocking roadways or drainage channels and inundating buildings. Erosion can lead to restrictions on land use and
land value, damage to infrastructure, pollution of water bodies, and negative effects on habitats and biodiversity.

Based on potential loss of wheat yields, a conservative estimate of the consequence of erosion by water for the EU-27
(excluding Greece, Cyprus and Malta), reveals that agricultural production equivalent to a value of EUR 3.5 billion
could be under threat. If the economic loss of soil carbon is also added, the figure would be even higher. In 2011, the
removal of topsoil by strong winds after ploughing in very dry conditions in Germany caused a traffic accident that
killed 10 people and injured at least 100 others; this is an indirect effect of wind erosion.

Climate change will influence soil erosion processes, mainly triggered by extreme rainfall events and droughts. Excess
water due to intense or prolonged precipitation can cause tremendous damage to soil through sheet wash, gully erosion
and even landslides. However, if soils are managed well, resistance to erosion by water and/or wind can be improved
considerably.

Scientific references

IPCC 2007: Contribution of Working Group II Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment
Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007. M.L. Parry, O.F. Canziani, J.P. Palutikof, P.J.
van der Linden and C.E. Hanson (eds), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New
York, NY, USA.

Policy context and targets

Context description

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

10 Soil erosion
 Indicator specification and metadata

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.

Targets

No targets have been specified.

Related policy documents

Climate-ADAPT: Mainstreaming adaptation in EU sector policies

Overview of EU sector policies in which mainstreaming of adaptation to climate change is ongoing or explored
Climate-ADAPT: National adaptation strategies
Overview of activities of EEA member countries in preparing, developing and implementing adaptation
strategies
DG CLIMA: Adaptation to climate change
Adaptation means anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and taking appropriate action to prevent
or minimise the damage they can cause, or taking advantage of opportunities that may arise. It has been shown
that well planned, early adaptation action saves money and lives later. This webportal provides information
on all adaptation activities of the European Commission.
EU Adaptation Strategy Package
In April 2013 the European Commission adopted an EU strategy on adaptation to climate change which has
been welcomed by the EU Member States. The strategy aims to make Europe more climate-resilient. By taking
a coherent approach and providing for improved coordination, it will enhance the preparedness and capacity
of all governance levels to respond to the impacts of climate change.

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

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.

Methodology for gap filling

Not applicable

Methodology references

Bosco et al. (2014): Modelling soil erosion at European scale: towards harmonization and reproducibility.
Bosco, C., de Rigo, D., Dewitte, O., Poesen, J., Panagos, P., 2014. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
Discussions 2 (4), 2639-2680. DOI: 10.5194/nhessd-2-2639-2014.

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Not applicable

Soil erosion 11
Indicator specification and metadata

Data sets uncertainty

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/)

Rationale uncertainty

No uncertainty has been specified

Data sources

PRUDENCE
provided by Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI)
Image 2000 & Corine Land Cover 2000
provided by Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Modelling soil erosion at European scale: towards harmonization and reproducibility.
provided by Joint Research Centre (JRC)
The State of Soil in Europe
provided by Joint Research Centre (JRC)
E-OBS
provided by ENSEMBLE FP6 project

12 Soil erosion
 Related content

Generic metadata

Topics: Indicator codes

Climate change (Primary topic) CLIM 028

LSI 006

Soil

Tags:

water | soil | wind

DPSIR: Impact
Typology: Descriptive indicator (Type A - What is
happening to the environment and to humans?)

Contacts and ownership

EEA Contact Info Ownership

Geertrui Veerle Erika Louwagie Joint Research Centre (JRC)

European Environment Agency (EEA)

EEA Management Plan

2012 2.0.1 (note: EEA internal system)

Dates Frequency of updates

First draft created: Updates are scheduled every 4 years

14 Nov 2012, 08:18 AM
Publish date:
21 Nov 2012, 02:45 PM
Last modified:
21 Oct 2016, 10:57 AM

Permalinks

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Permalink to latest version

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Related content

Soil erosion 13
Related content

Related briefings
Soil [http://www.eea.europa.eu/soer-2015/europe/soil]

14 Soil erosion