This session will foster an open and critical discussion of the major scientific challenges in erosion research – from measurements and models to management and policy – in order to push the field forward. By bringing together conceptual, methodological, and applied perspectives, the session seeks to advance the state of knowledge and identify pathways for future research. We therefore welcome a broad range of contributions, from critical perspectives to applied research. We invite submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following subjects:
- New or improved approaches to measuring and modelling soil erosion;
- Impacts of erosion on soil functions, fertility, water resources, and ecosystem services;
- Socio-economic dimensions of erosion and conservation: adoption, incentives and costs;
- Evidence-based soil conservation practices and nature-based solutions: what works and what doesn’t;
- Translating (uncertain) modelled erosion rates into risk assessments for policymakers and managers;
- New or improved methods for calibrating and testing soil erosion models – particularly approaches that increase model falsifiability and/or that report case studies of model invalidation (if you have “bad” results, we want to hear about it!)
Current anthropogenic pressures on lands, soil, and water resources lead to the degradation of natural environments, directly affecting human health. One of the most important causes of water and soil resource depletion is soil erosion. Soil erosion directly impacts soil’s ability to provide valuable ecosystems services, but it also contributes to downstream sediment transport with associated water bodies degradation (e.g. excess turbidity, riverbed and coastal water clogging) and associated pollutants transfers in the environment. However, these phenomena are complex and result from the interaction and feedback between choices driven by economic and social forces. There is therefore a strong demand for management tools that can help design and implement remediation strategies at the catchment and landscape scale.
The development of soil erosion modelling methodologies able to reproduce the temporal and spatial dynamics of soil erosion and sediment transfer across catchments in the land-to-sea continuum is thus an essential step towards soil and water resources conservation. However, most modelling studies are based on relatively dated concepts, a majority of which even referring to very simple empirical equations elaborated decades ago. This huge gap between the extent of environmental concerns and the lack of consistent model development is even more surprising given that significant advances have recently been achieved in observation and monitoring technologies, as well as in computational capacity.
In this context, the objective of this study is to describe the different elements that could be investigated to improve our modelling capabilities. We will address the different stages, from field and laboratory experiments; concept development and numerical implementation; to calibration and evaluation procedures. Finally, some recommendations for future research opportunities will be discussed.
How to cite: Cerdan, O., Arthur, G., Grangeon, T., Landemaine, V., and Vandromme, R.: Soil erosion modelling, should we get back to work?, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20170, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20170, 2026.
Notable recent growth in the number of publications describing RUSLE/GIS-based soil erosion model studies indicates a previously-unmet policy-driven need for maps of water erosion rate covering nationally-sized (or larger) areas, at a field-scale (or smaller) resolution. Other current erosion modelling approaches have not been able to fulfil this need. What is necessary for future soil erosion models to do so?
Assume a hypothetical future farmer-focused policy-driven study, requiring a modelled estimate of erosion rate for ‘tiles’, each 10 m2, to cover 105 km2 (1/3 of Germany). Thus needing 1010 tiles.
RUSLE calculates long-term average soil loss. Running once for each tile would give the required spatial coverage, but no information regarding temporal change. Future anthropogenically-driven climate change, and future climate-change-driven land-use change, will have a major global impact on soil loss. The hypothetical study must consider these impacts. Additionally, the RUSLE model is empirical. Confidence in statistical relationships decreases when the relationship is extrapolated i.e. used with values outside the range of values employed to derive it. Future global change will produce surprises, needing RUSLE input values outside the values used to derive the model. A temporally dynamic, and not wholly empirical, erosion model will therefore be necessary for the hypothesised study.
Other anthropogenic choices are important. Especially in agricultural areas, there will be ‘pinch points’: locations where a minor change in some attribute has a major downslope impact. Where sediment and flow encounters a barrier (e.g. a hedge), the degree of barrier permeability will strongly influence subsequent flow. Further, the permeability of the barrier may depend on past events e.g. previous accumulation of of waterborne trash.
Our study will need to consider combinations of climate and land-use change scenarios: parsimoniously, assume 10 model runs per tile. It is less obvious how we would cope with ‘pinch point’ problems, but assume (again, parsimoniously) the need for 10 more scenarios. These two would bring the number of model runs up to 1012: an impressively large number.
For this daunting challenge, what might be the next steps?
So far, we assume data availability for every tile. Whilst not a problem for RUSLE, this would be a major headache for physically-based models. Thus there is a need to (a) develop erosion models of reduced complexity (but not wholly empirical), with correspondingly reduced data needs; and possibly (b) an approach to determining the ‘importance’ of each tile.
A potentially fruitful approach would adopt a systems-based approach, by explicitly considering the scaling relationships (often fractal, and with power-law frequency-magnitude) which result from multiple process feedback loops operating within the erosional system. If such a scaling relationship were derived between a plot-scale process-focused model (e.g. RillGrow) and another erosion model operating on a larger area with coarser resolution and reduced data requirement; then this relationship could be used to interpolate between scales.
Our study might then involve running multiple scenarios of the coarser-scale model for the whole area, using the scaling relationship to identify potentially problematic tiles, and running the plot-scale model only for these locations/situations.
How to cite: Favis-Mortlock, D.: How might we use erosion models to meet future policy challenges?, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14085, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14085, 2026.
The Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE) is a USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) type model. Despite its regional or global applications, the empirical nature of the USLE presents persistent challenges in factor estimation and the representation of region-specific soil conservation measures. To address this, the CSLE substitutes the USLE’s C (cover-management) and P (support practice) factors with B (vegetation cover and biological measures), E (engineering measures), and T (tillage measures) factors, which correspond directly with land-use types, thereby enhancing its practical utility for soil conservation planning and land management. All erosion factors were rigorously calibrated and validated using extensive data from rainfall and experimental soil conservation stations distributed across China's diverse geographical regions. The CSLE has been applied for the National Soil Water Erosion Survey (2010–2012) and two subsequent five-year cycles of the National Soil Loss Dynamic Monitoring (2018–2027) in China. The BET three-parameter set proposed for soil and water conservation measures features the core advantages of easy remote sensing acquisition and large-scale adaptability, which can effectively improve the work efficiency of regional soil erosion surveys. After calibration and verification based on nationwide large-scale observation data, it not only significantly enhances the accuracy of soil erosion prediction, but also enables effective evaluation of the benefits of national soil and water conservation measures.
How to cite: Liu, B., Xie, Y., Zhang, K., Fu, S., Zhang, W., Yin, S., Wei, X., Zhang, Y., Guo, Q., and Liu, Y.: The Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE): A Model Emphasizing Regional Soil Erosion Assessment, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11726, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11726, 2026.
Erratic rainfall conditions combined with the sloping terrains and anthropogenic factors causes severe soil erosion rates in the semi-arid highlands of Northern Ethiopia. High soil erosion rates are known to cause on-site and off-site socioeconomic and ecological disturbances. Reservoir sedimentation is one of the well-known negative off-site effects of soil erosion. Single rainfall events contribute disproportionally to the annual sediment yield in semi-arid catchments. Event based hydrological analysis helps to understand the suspended sediment and discharge contribution of single events. We applied physically based hydrological model, OpenLISEM in small, paired catchments in the Northern Ethiopian highlands. The objectives of the study were a) Identify model sensitive parameters in the paired catchments and b) Evaluate the effects of soil and water conservation measures on sediment yield reduction at an event scale. Initial soil moisture content was found to be the most sensitive parameter affecting both peak and total discharges. The suspended sediment yield at the outlets of both catchments was also sensitive to changes in Manning’s roughness coefficient. OpenLISEM performed satisfactorily (NSE > 0.5) for most of the calibrated events. The model fails to adequately capture peak discharge and discharge hydrograph in events characterized by multiple peaks and smaller precipitation amounts. OpenLISEM successfully simulated the total suspended sediment yield of an event. Suspended sediment yield was found to be influenced by a combination of hydrological and sedimentological model parameters. The combined implementation of stone bunds on hillslopes and check dams across channels resulted in a simulated sediment yield reduction of 36-74 % at the outlets of the paired catchments. The model simulation results provide valuable insight for the implementation of different soil and water conservation management practices to reduce catchment sediment yield and reservoir sedimentation, contributing to the long-term sustainability of reservoir-based irrigation schemes in the semi-arid highlands of northern Ethiopia.
How to cite: Berhe, G., Grum, B., Veldwisch, G. J., and Baartman, J.: Event-scale runoff and sediment responses to soil and water conservation measures in semi-arid catchments, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12188, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12188, 2026.
Current UK policy encourages water companies and farmers to collaborate and uptake minimum tillage and cover crops to reduce soil erosion’s impact on the environment, field productivity, and raw drinking water quality. This provides an opportunity for soil erosion risk prediction models to be used as decision-support tools, such as the modified Morgan-Morgan-Finney model (mMMF) (Morgan & Duzant., 2008). It currently lacks parameters to predict the impact of cover crops and minimum tillage, an adapted temporal resolution to reflect the intra- and inter- annual variability of soil erosion risk, and field validation with water quality data. The aim of this study is to further improve the mMMF as a decision support tool for water companies and land managers to target management options to reduce runoff and control soil erosion on farm to improve water quality. To do so, cover crop and soil surface roughness parameters were obtained via field measurements and literature. Spatial and temporal trends in cover cropping windows were identified based on crop type from the Crop Map of England (CROME) dataset. The mMMF will be modified to a monthly time step, and the predicted results will be interpreted alongside turbidity and suspended solids data. The improved model could not only facilitate the implementation of cover crops and minimum tillage by farmers, but also help stakeholders better prioritize measures for soil and water conservation.
How to cite: Donovan, L., Simmons, R., and Grabowski, R.: Modelling the impact of regenerative agriculture on soil erosion and river water quality, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20344, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20344, 2026.
The surface of the continental Earth is constantly reworked at different scales of time and space by weathering and erosion. Erosion, although perceived as destructive process, can produce spectacular landscapes giving rise to an outstanding geodiversity. Particularly in southern Mediterranean regions, soils have become highly dynamic owing to climate change and intense land use. Soil redistribution rates (erosion/accumulation) determine soil evolutional trajectories, weathering and organic carbon dynamics in such landscapes. The interaction among these factors, however, remains poorly understood. The area around Corleone (north-western Sicily, Italy), a potential new UNESCO geopark, consists of a worldwide peculiar geological condition, i.e. massive glauconitic calcarenites. We investigated soil erosion rates by using 239+240Pu as tracer, the weathering state of soils, soil organic carbon dynamics and its chemistry in this area. Although the soils showed clear signs of strong degradation and erosion with up to 39 t ha-1 yr-1, org. C stocks remained on a surprisingly high level with 7 to 25 kg C m-2. Erosion removed the strongly weathered part of the soil and left behind a younger and fresher soil matrix with a low org. C content, but an organic carbon fraction that was enriched in aliphatic chains and lignin-like compounds and having, therefore, a lower maturity. The investigated soils developed on a parent material that promoted the stabilisation and sequestration of organic matter so that even highly eroded and shallow soils still contained a considerable amount of org. C, which is rather unique for Mediterranean areas. Due to the presence of glauconite, smectite and oxyhydroxides in the parent material, the soils were able to retain a high amount of soil organic carbon. The determination of erosion rates on such soils was, however, challenging, and the major difficulties are discussed. Furthermore, when using 239+240Pu as a tracer for soil erosion, only point information is usually obtained and an extrapolation to a larger area is difficult or very time and resource consuming. A new, promising procedure will be presented, based on 239+240Pu, on how to overcome this problem in future and how to extrapolate to a whole catchment area.
How to cite: Egli, M.: Eroded but organic carbon rich: Soil dynamics on glauconitic landscapes of Mediterranean Sicily, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5479, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5479, 2026.
Many soils are subjected to wind erosion and dust emission processes. This may result in a loss of essential system-resources and soil degradation. Agricultural activities change the intrinsic soil properties and the soil aggregation, and thus the soil erodibility to wind and water forces. The research focuses on the aeolian (by wind) loss of Particulate Matter (PM) that is less than 10 μm in diameter – the size fraction of clay, organic matter and nutrients in the soil. Various agriculture Loess soils in a semi-arid climate zone were analyzed for physical, chemical and biological properties. A boundary-layer wind tunnel has been used to study soil erosion and dust emission by simulation and quantification of high-resolution wind processes. Wind erosion experiments were conducted in agriculture fields of rain-fed conventional practices and organic practices alternating with grazing. Clay content, organic matter, and bacterial diversity were shown to be influenced by the practice type. The erosion experiments revealed changes in dust emission and PM fluxes in response to the topsoil properties and the wind velocity. The dus process indicates loss of soil-PM and specific nutrients. Annual balance of soil-PM was calculated by analyzing the output by dust emission and the input by atmospheric dust deposition as the major source of PM. The results highlight a negative balance of PM in all the soils that are subjected to human-induced topsoil disturbance and decrease in soil aggregation. The results can reduce uncertainties in models of dust emission from agricultural fields, and may provide essential information for developing management strategies of soil conservation.
How to cite: Katra, I.: Soil-PM loss by wind erosion from agricultural Loess fields in the east Mediterranean, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12990, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12990, 2026.
Soil erosion remains the number one threat to soil resources around the world, adversely affecting our ability to produce food, protect air and water resources, and sustain the viability of communities and industries. For several decades, models have been used to assess soil erosion and sedimentation, and the potential for soil conservation practices. With advances in computing, modelling has become very sophisticated and widespread.
Although this technology is quite mature, there are major deficiencies in the development and application of existing erosion models: (i) Lack of integration of models for wind, water and tillage erosion, necessary to provide accurate estimates of soil losses. (ii) Lack of accounting of historical soil losses. (iii) Lack of coherence of model input scales within and across processes, creating substantial errors and uncertainties in model outputs and map products. Consequently, these erosion models do not reflect the soils losses observed in fields by land managers, the losses that affect the production and profitability of crops. These deficiencies are demonstrated based on experience in Canada. The necessary path forward is clear, and is presented.
How to cite: Lobb, D. and Li, S.: Fixing the holes in soil erosion modelling, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14911, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14911, 2026.
Cover crops in Mediterranean perennial cropping systems have been associated with several environmental benefits, such as a reduction in soil erosion, biodiversity, or an improvement in soil physicochemical properties. Thanks to these advantages, the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has introduced subsidies through a specific eco-scheme aimed at promoting the establishment of ground cover in these systems. For this reason, in the last few years, the use of cover crops has increased in southern Spain, mainly by means of spontaneous vegetation. However, more than 55% of the cropped area is still managed as bare soil (ESYRCE, 2023), due in great part to strong edaphoclimatic constraints in this region, which in many cases impede the effective establishment and longtime persistence of cover crops.
Thus, this work aims at a dual objective: First, to examine soil physicochemical properties and groundcover dynamics at six commercial farms representing three major perennial crops, almond, olive, and grapevine, at Granada, Seville and Cordoba (southern Spain) respectively under contrasting soil management practices, thus highlighting the diversity within the different ways of managing soil and their measurable impacts on soil quality. Second, to investigate farmers' attitudes related to the adoption of cover crops across the region (Andalusia) at these semiarid agricultural systems with the purpose of determining the principal barriers that impede its general implantation. A structured questionnaire was carried out, covering four aspects: 1) farmers' sociodemographic characteristics, 2) key attributes of the farms, 3) farmers' main concerns related to soil management, and 4) factors affecting the adoption or non-adoption of cover crops.
The resulting insights are expected to help develop improved training strategies, extension services, and policy measures that promote sustainable soil management by incorporating practical locally grounded experiences. These outcomes can contribute to ensure greater adoption of cover crops not only in the region but also can be transferred to other Mediterranean areas where perennial crops are similarly widespread under comparable biophysical and socioeconomic conditions.
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by "Improving soil cover assessment strategies in Mediterranean agricultural areas” ECOMED project (PR.AVA23.INV202301.035)
Reference
ESYRCE (2023). Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación. Available at: https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/estadistica/temas/estadisticas-agrarias/boletin20231_tcm30-690544.pdf.
How to cite: Cárceles, B., Benavente-Ferraces, I., Ramírez, P., and Guzmán, G.: From Soil Responses to Adoption Barriers: Insights for Promoting Cover Crops in Mediterranean Orchard Systems, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-497, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-497, 2026.
Quantifying long-term soil erosion dynamics, for example, to better assess the effects of climate change on soil erosion, requires temporally continuous records of rainfall erosivity, a key input for explicit soil loss modeling. However, high-temporal-resolution precipitation data are rarely available historically at large scales. We present a data-driven framework to overcome this constraint and to reconstruct annual gridded rainfall erosivity (R-factor) for Germany from 1930 to 2000. First, high-temporal-resolution gridded precipitation from the RADOLAN product (2001–2025) was used to compute spatial maps of rainfall erosivity for the modern period based on standard intensity-based erosivity formulations. These modern R-factor maps served as target fields to train a convolutional neural network (CNN) that learns the relationship between erosivity and commonly available predictors, including monthly and annual precipitation statistics, temperature indices, and large-scale climatic indicators. The CNN model was trained and evaluated using spatial–temporal cross-validation and independent station holdouts to quantify predictive skill and uncertainty. After validation, the model was applied retrospectively to coarse-resolution historical climate records to generate annual 1-km gridded R-factor estimates for 1930–2000. The reconstructed time series reveal spatially coherent patterns and multi-decadal trends in rainfall erosivity that are not captured by coarse aggregated proxies, and they provide a physically informed dataset for retrospective soil erosion modeling and climate-impact assessments.
How to cite: Shokati, H., D. Seufferheld, K., Fiener, P., and Scholten, T.: Long-Term Trends in Rainfall Erosivity Derived from a Deep Learning Reconstruction Framework, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1408, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1408, 2026.
Soil erosion exacerbates soil organic carbon (SOC) loss, whereas soil and water conservation measures (SWCMs) mitigate SOC loss and promote SOC accumulation. Despite current research on the influence of SWCMs on SOC in different areas, a national synthesis of these studies to comprehensively understand the mechanism of change in SOC is still lacking. Therefore, We conducted a meta-analysis of 1015 SOC observations to clarify the spatiotemporal effects of SWCMs on SOC. The results revealed that in most regions in China, straw mulching and terraceing greatly enhanced SOC by 10.74%–22.63% and 17.94%–27.0%, respectively, compared with the initial baseline levels. Afforestation also showed exceptional efficacy with SOC increased by 109.80% in Southern Red Soil Region, significantly larger than other areas (34.58%–76.47%). This exceptional increase is attributed to a low initial SOC baseline and rapid biomass accumulation following afforestation. All tillage measures (straw mulching, straw returning, no-tillage, and contour tillage) induced maximal SOC gains (6.82%–75.77%) within 5–10 years from the baseline. For afforestation and grass planting, longer durations of 21–30 and 11–20 years were required for the best promotion effect, with SOC increased by 82.94%–110.01% and 11.29%–77.71%, respectively, over the initial values. Similarly, engineering measures like terracing (14.11%–60.96%) and fish-scale pits had optimal enhancement effects (79.86% on the Loess Plateau) on SOC storage in years 11–30 relative to the initial conditions. Further boosted regression tree analysis revealed that soil total nitrogen was the primary driver of SOC increases across all measures. These findings are essential for the implementation of ecological restoration projects to mitigate CO2 in China.
How to cite: Zhang, J., Zhang, Y., Zhang, X., Zhao, Y., Liu, S., Miao, J., and Han, X.: Spatiotemporal Effects of Soil and Water Conservation Measures on Soil Organic Carbon Enhancement in China: A Meta-Analysis, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2031, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2031, 2026.
Though climate change induces gradual shifts in mean temperature and annual precipitation, its most erosion-relevant impacts arise from disruptions to intra-annual patterns, including more intense rainfall events, prolonged droughts, and altered seasonal distribution. These changes modify crops phenology (e.g., accelerating or delaying growth stages) and prompting farmers to adapt their practices (e.g., earlier harvests, altered planting windows). Together, these changes could increase the susceptibility of cropping systems to erosion by misaligning vegetative cover with periods of increased erosivity. This study investigates the long-term evolution (1990-2020) of the USLE/RUSLE Cover factor (C factor) for major Bavarian crops (incl. wheat, barley, and maize; southern Germany), integrating high-resolution phenological data with radar-derived rainfall erosivity to assess climate- and management-driven changes in crop erosion sensitivity. Preliminary results indicate that while annual C factors remain relatively stable, crop-specific phenological shifts and intra-annual precipitation volatility alter seasonal erosion sensitivity. These findings highlight the relevance of dynamic C factor approaches for erosion modelling - integrating real-time cover development and rainfall erosivity - to improve model reliability and better inform climate-adaptative farming and soil conservation strategies.
How to cite: Chalaux-Clergue, T., Seufferheld, K., Woldermariam, A. D., van Dongen-Köster, R., Hoffmann, T., and Fiener, P.: Evolution of phenological and rainfall erosivity interactions for major Bavarian crops under climate change: Intra- and inter-annual C factor dynamics (1990-2020), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5113, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5113, 2026.
Mountain ecosystems face increasing pressure from outdoor recreation and tourism, with trail-based activities concentrated during snow-free periods when critical biological processes occur. Despite trails occupying minimal surface area, they can contribute disproportionately to catchment-scale degradation. This study investigates soil degradation processes along trails in the Spanish Pyrenees, examining how intensive summer use affects soil properties and contributes to land degradation in these sensitive environments. Using drone-based remote sensing and laser scanning, we quantify actual soil loss along trails, while ground-based measurements assess changes in soil quality parameters.
In this context, within the SOLPYR project, we established study sites at three high-use mountain locations (Ibón de Plan, Astún, and Izas) in the Central Pyrenees, characterized by intensive summer outdoor tourism and farmland activities. Our methodology combined drone-based remote sensing, laser scanning, and ground-based measurements to assess trail degradation before and after peak summer use. Soil samples were collected from both trails and adjacent undisturbed grassland to quantify differences in key parameters, including bulk density, moisture content, total carbon, total nitrogen, and soil organic carbon.
Preliminary results reveal significant soil degradation on trails compared to adjacent grasslands. Total carbon, total nitrogen, and soil organic carbon concentrations and stocks were substantially higher in grassland soils than on trail surfaces, while bulk density showed the opposite pattern with significantly elevated values on trails. These findings indicate that human and animal trampling causes soil compaction, reduces organic matter content, and potentially accelerates carbon loss from mountain soils.
This research highlights trade-offs between recreational land use and soil carbon storage in mountain ecosystems. Given the slow recovery capacity of these environments and their role as carbon reservoirs, our findings will inform management strategies for sustainable mountain tourism while supporting climate change mitigation and soil conservation goals in the Pyrenees.
This research project is supported by the SOLPYR project (INTERREG EFA045/01).
How to cite: Wagner, C., López-Moreno, J. I., Revuelto, J., Llena, M., Sánchez-Navarrete, P., García Hernánez, J., and Nadal-Romero, E.: Assessing Trail Impacts on Mountain Soil Degradation in the Pyrenees: A Multi-Method Approach, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10740, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10740, 2026.
Soil erosion and nutrient losses threaten soil health, water quality, and the long-term sustainability of agroecosystems. Degradation risks are highly pronounced in croplands on sloped soils with naturally poor characteristics, managed conventionally, where intense rainfall events lead to high erosion rates. Despite promotion of conservation practices, research linking event-scale runoff and sediment dynamics to specific tillage methods and crop yield outcomes remains scarce for many South-East European agricultural systems.
An experiment was established in 2024 to monitor hydrological and erosional responses in a maize cultivation on sloped Stagnosols in continental Croatia. Four tillage management were evaluated: conventional ploughing, subsoiling, chisel tillage, and no-tillage. Twelve experimental plots (100 m long, 8 m wide) were set up, containing overland flow collectors. During six rainfall–runoff events, from May to October, runoff, sediment concentration, soil loss, and losses of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were determined. Soil bulk density and penetration resistance were assessed at 0–10 and 10–30 cm depth during spring and autumn, while maize grain yield was recorded to assess the impact of soil conservation strategies on productivity.
Ploughing resulted in significantly greater degradation compared to all other tillage management systems. Relative to ploughing, soil loss decreased by 83% with subsoiling and 77% with chisel tillage, while no-tillage achieved a 94% reduction. Phosphorus and nitrogen losses exhibited similar trends, with reductions of 83% and 82% under subsoiling, 78% and 76% under chisel tillage, and 90% and 88% under no-tillage, respectively. Carbon loss was also substantially reduced, ranging from 76% (chisel tillage) to 89% (no-tillage). Runoff was reduced by 27–43%, suggesting that conservation tillage primarily limited soil detachment and transport rather than completely preventing runoff. Erosion patterns were highly variable, with two rainstorms accounting for approximately 67% of total soil loss under conventional ploughing.
Soil physical properties were consistent with observed hydrological patterns. At the 0–10 cm depth, bulk density was lowest under chisel tillage and subsoiling (approximately 1.37 g cm⁻³) compared to ploughing (1.42 g cm⁻³). Penetration resistance was highest under no-tillage (1.41 MPa) and lowest under subsoiling (0.57 MPa). At the 10–30 cm depth, no-tillage exhibited the highest bulk density (1.48 g cm⁻³) and penetration resistance (2.10 MPa), indicating greater mechanical impedance that may contribute to the observed yield trade-off. Chisel tillage and subsoiling maintained yields relative to ploughing (+2.0% and −0.7%, respectively), whereas no-tillage reduced yield by 17.6%, indicating that a no-tillage system very likely may require additional residue, nutrient, and weed management strategies.
The present study shows that conservation tillage involving loosening (chisel and subsoiling) can provide immediate reductions in sediment and nutrient losses with no significant yield loss in maize cultivation systems.
Keywords: Soil erosion, conservation tillage, sustainable agriculture, sediment transport, environmental impact, FORMclimaSOIL
Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the Croatian Science Foundation through the project “Forming climate smart soils: Mitigation of soil erosion and degradation processes in Croatian agricultural systems” (IP-2022-10-5692) (FORMclimaSOIL).
How to cite: Bogunovic, I., Pereira, P., Galic, M., Percin, A., Trevisani, S., and Kisic, I.: Conservation tillage as a dual-benefit strategy: substantial reductions in sediment and nutrient export with limited maize yield penalties, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10776, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10776, 2026.
Soil compaction is a key land degradation process that affects soil structure, infiltration, runoff generation, and soil stability, thereby influencing erosion processes and soil conservation outcomes. While compaction has been extensively studied in arable systems, permanent grasslands, particularly in mountain regions, remain comparatively understudied despite their relevance for erosion control and sustainable land management. This contribution addresses soil compaction in permanent grasslands in Carinthia (southern Austria) using a multi-dimensional approach that integrates soil physical indicators with land manager perspectives.
Field investigations were conducted between 2022 and 2024 across intensively and extensively managed meadows and pastures, including a reference site. A set of soil physical indicators was applied to capture compaction-related changes in soil structure and hydrological functioning relevant to erosion and land degradation processes. In parallel, a structured survey with local farmers was carried out to examine awareness of soil compaction, perceived drivers, and management responses.
The study adopts an interdisciplinary perspective to explore how physical soil degradation processes and human decision-making interact in permanent grassland systems. By combining field-based assessments with stakeholder knowledge, this contribution aims to support improved monitoring approaches and inform conservation-oriented management strategies in the future. The work is positioned within current European soil protection and land degradation frameworks and contributes to ongoing discussions on how process understanding can be translated into practical guidance for farmers, land managers, and policy makers.
How to cite: Puff, M., Bohner, A., Eriksson, M., and Garcia-Santos, G.: Soil compaction, management and farmer awareness in permanent mountain grasslands in Carinthia (Austria), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17310, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17310, 2026.
Soil is an essential natural system, forming the foundation and refuge of terrestrial life, regulating key biogeochemical cycles, and acting as a reservoir for water and gases. Despite its fundamental importance, soil (a non-renewable resource on human timescales) remains largely overlooked, with significant gaps in its study, identification, and proper characterization across many European territories.
Mountain areas provide essential ecosystem services to surrounding societies, functioning as water towers, system regulators, and biodiversity refuges. However, these sensitive environments face increasing threats from anthropogenic pressures (tourism, land-use change, urbanization) and Climate Change (droughts, reduced snow cover, and extreme rainfall events).
The SOLPYR project aims to improve knowledge of Pyrenean soils, using this mountain range as a representative study area for understanding pressures and challenges affecting mountain environments. The ultimate goal is to design, analyse, and implement soil protection measures that ensure soil resilience and the sustained provision of soil-based resources, as a strategy for adaptation to Global Change.
The project is structured around four main actions: (i) the creation of a comprehensive soil catalogue and soil maps of the Pyrenees at 1:400,000 scale through the compilation and harmonization of existing data, complemented by field identification and characterization, and delineation using GIS, based on standardized and replicable methodologies; (ii) the study, assessment, and quantification of soil degradation in mountain environments (pilot areas and mountain trails), along with the establishment of best practices for soil use and restoration; (iii) raising awareness and promoting public understanding of the natural value of soils, the processes driving their degradation, and the need for their conservation through sensitization campaigns, soil-themed itineraries, and specialized training courses; and (iv) fostering cooperation among stakeholders and institutions with a shared interest in the conservation, preservation, and sustainable use and management of Pyrenean soils through a robust governance framework
A key outcome of the project will be the development of a Cross-border Action Plan for Pyrenean soils, establishing priorities and strategic guidelines for soil protection in alignment with the European Union’s 2030 soil protection strategy. Although still in its early stages of implementation, the SOLPYR project represents a strong example of transboundary and interdisciplinary collaboration for soil protection. Beyond contributing substantially to scientific knowledge, its outcomes provide a robust foundation for the study, assessment, and management of sensitive mountain environments worldwide. By establishing networks that connect scientific communities, land managers, and territorial stakeholders, the project offers a valuable framework for adaptation to Global Change.
Acknowledgements: This research project was supported by the SOLPYR (POCTEFA 2021-2027 (EFA045/01)) project funded by Interreg Poctefa and European Union.
How to cite: Cortijos-López, M., Nadal-Romero, E., Wagner, C., López-Moreno, J. I., Revuelto-Benedí, J., and García-Ruiz, J. M.: Knowing soils in order to protect them: the SOLPYR project as an example of soil research, impact assessment, and public awareness of their importance in sensitive mountain areas., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17432, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17432, 2026.
Soil erosion “risk” maps are almost exclusively produced by estimating long-term average soil loss rates with USLE-based models, after which at-risk areas are ranked according to poorly justified thresholds. This approach fails to engage with well-established concepts from more mature fields in risk science.
Soil erosion is a natural process and only becomes a hazard once vulnerable systems are exposed to individual or successive erosion events. Hence, meaningful erosion risk assessments require (i) a clear definition of the exposed elements considered to be at risk (e.g. soil itself, farmers, downstream infrastructure and water bodies); (ii) their biophysical and/or socio-economic vulnerability to erosion; (iii) the consequences that erosion may generate (e.g. crop yield losses, increased vulnerability to droughts and floods, off-site pollution); and (iv) the time frame over which these consequences occur. Crucially, meaningful erosion risk assessments must describe erosion in probabilistic terms rather than as deterministic averages.
In this contribution, we outline several steps towards more progressive erosion risk assessments. First, we demonstrate how the probability of occurrence of severe water-erosion events on individual arable fields can be estimated using a simple machine-learning approach and dynamic input factors. This enables the identification of short-term risks of crop or off-site damage and can lead to the development of early warning systems. Second, to address medium- to long-term risks associated with erosion-induced soil change, we propose a dynamic, process-oriented multi-model framework that represents how erosion alters soils and their functioning over time. This framework accommodates different erosion processes and their interactions within a multi-hazard perspective. Our contribution will be presented in an interactive poster format, inviting the soil erosion research community to co-develop a more useful and consequence-oriented erosion risk assessment framework.
How to cite: Batista, P. and Fiener, P.: Risk of what, to whom, and when? Soil loss maps are no risk assessments, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19060, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19060, 2026.
Water erosion is considered one of the most critical forms of land degradation, which was estimated to cover 24% of European land and 32% of agricultural land. Widespread land deforestation practices, overgrazing by livestock, inappropriate cultivation and agricultural practices, and climate change (including torrential rains) are the main factors influencing the acceleration of erosion processes, for which the affected land is projected to increase by further 25% EU-wide by 2050.
Researchers emphasise the need to establish an EU erosion monitoring network, which can contribute to more accurate large-scale empirical modelling and improve the implementation of appropriate soil protection policies. The literature also highlights the need for improve process-based modelling at the field scale to obtain more precise recommendations for land management and erosion mitigation strategies.
The predictive value of existing models (despite the efforts of many researchers) is still limited, especially at the continental scale, as systematic knowledge of local soil (and climate) parameters is often not available. On the other hand, scaling in time and space is currently a key challenge for physical models. These models also suffer from the disadvantage of complexity and significant input data requirements.
The aim of our proposed research is to determine a parameter (or group of parameters) from of which the exact susceptibility of soil to splash erosion will be determined for 100 Central Europe soils. The splash phenomenon is the first stage of soil water erosion, and while its subsequent forms (e.g. surface, rill or gully erosion) can only occur under specific conditions (e.g. high rainfall intensity or suitable terrain), splash erosion always occurs. This is because it is responsible for the moment of interaction between the raindrop and the soil surface, and depending on the intensity of rainfall, this phenomenon can initiate further forms of water erosion at different scales. Therefore, obtaining detailed information on the nature of the splash phenomenon is crucial to understanding and fully describing water erosion. Recognising the mechanisms of this process at all stages can contribute to the development of effective methods to reduce the degradation of the most fertile top layer of the soil profile. Based on our experience in describing the splash erosion, we firmly believe that determination of the susceptibility of soils to the splash phenomenon (determination of the splashability factor) will contribute to the development of physical models by providing data for calibration and validation, and consequently, also reducing the uncertainty of these models.
The study was partially funded by the National Science Centre, Poland, in the frame of project no. 2024/55/B/ST10/01326.
How to cite: Sochan, A., Mazur, R., Beczek, M., Pelczar, R., Ryżak, M., Polakowski, C., and Bieganowski, A.: Splashability – missing element, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-18117, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-18117, 2026.
Soil erosion represents a major threat to agricultural sustainability, soil fertility, and hydrological functioning in mountainous regions. These challenges are particularly pronounced in the Central High Atlas of Morocco, where complex topography, marked climatic variability, and intensive human activities accelerate degradation processes. This study evaluates current and future soil erosion dynamics in the Lakhdar watershed, located in the Oum Er-Rbia basin using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) coupled with high-resolution climate projections from CMIP6 models. Spatially distributed data on rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, topography, land cover, and conservation practices are integrated to quantify present erosion rates and identify areas most susceptible to degradation. Future scenarios assess the influence of projected changes in precipitation regimes on erosion dynamics over the coming decades. By identifying current erosion hotspots and anticipating future risks, this study informs targeted soil conservation interventions, supports sustainable land management strategies, and contributes to preserving soil functions, water resources, and ecosystem services. The findings emphasize the need to coordinate policy and community actions, integrating both socio-economic dimensions and local knowledge, to strengthen and support climate adaptation in vulnerable mountainous areas.
Keywords: CMIP6 models, Morocco, RUSLE, Soil erosion risk, Sustainable land management.
How to cite: Sbabou, F. Z., Lahmili, A., Ait El Haj, F., Ongoma, V., Hakam, O., and M'hamdi Alaoui, I.: Assessing Current and Future Soil Erosion Risks in the Lakhdar Watershed (Morocco) Using RUSLE and CMIP6 Climate Projections, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19706, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19706, 2026.
Soil erosion by water poses a critical threat to global soil resources, with increasingly severe impacts under changing climate conditions. To implement specific soil conservation measures, it is essential to accurately identify areas of erosion and deposition within a landscape. However, soil erosion models are often calibrated solely against sediment yield at catchment outlets. This approach creates uncertainty regarding the model's ability to represent internal redistribution processes and amplifies the equifinality problem, as outlet data aggregates complex spatial dynamics into a single value. In our study, we evaluate the performance of the spatially distributed soil erosion and sediment delivery model WaTEM/SEDEM by utilising data at varying spatiotemporal resolutions. Our goal is to validate the model’s ability to simulate internal soil redistribution, rather than just total sediment yield at the outlet. We focused on a mesoscale catchment in Southern Germany (405 km²) and utilised high-resolution orthophotos (2011–2012), expert-validated erosion and deposition classification, as well as sediment delivery data. Our evaluation follows a three-step approach: (1) We compared model simulations against visually detected erosion classes at the field scale for single events; (2) We analysed depositional patterns in grasslands, located downslope of erosion-affected arable fields, against mapped deposition polygons for the same events; and (3) We followed the traditional approach, assessing model performance at the catchment scale by comparing simulated results with observed sediment loads at the outlet. This methodology enables a detailed assessment of how effectively WaTEM/SEDEM captures field-scale erosion as well as landscape-scale sediment connectivity and sediment routing. Our findings highlight specific sources of model uncertainty and demonstrate the importance of spatially distributed multi-step validation. These insights are crucial for improving sediment redistribution models and supporting sustainable land management practices in complex agricultural landscapes.
How to cite: Seufferheld, K. D., Chalaux-Clergue, T., Woldemariam, A. D., Shokati, H., Scholten, T., and Fiener, P.: Evaluating the Spatial Performance of WaTEM/SEDEM Using Multi-Source Datasets Across Scales, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1640, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1640, 2026.
Soil erosion is a global concern given its negative consequences to the quality of soils and water bodies. This issue can be mitigated through proper soil management and identification of the sources of sediment causing erosion and siltation. This work aimed i) to characterize soils of an urban/rural watershed in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and ii) to track the source of sediments reaching the lake present in this watershed. Samples of soils (86) and sediments (16) were collected throughout the watershed (91.6 km²) (0-2 cm of depth) and at the bottom of the Ibirité lake (2.8 km²), respectively. About 40% of the watershed is occupied by urban areas, with the remaining land uses/land cover being divided by native vegetation, pasture, and crops. Soils were classified in every sampling place after morphological description. Texture (clay, silt, and sand contents) of soils and sediments were determined by the pipette method along with their total elemental contents, through a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (Tracer 5g, Bruker), and their magnetic properties, using a Bartington MS2B magnetometer. Then, groups of sediments were separated by cluster analysis based on their texture, chemical composition and magnetic properties. These clusters were validated by comparing the samples within each group with their morphological properties. Soil properties were spatialized to the entire watershed using the Multilevel B-splines method (SAGA GIS software) and sediment clusters were applied to these soil property maps, identifying the similarities between sediments and soils across the entire watershed. Finally, this map was combined with areas containing bare soil and topographic features that determine the hydrological connectivity of streams from those places to the Ibirité Lake, thus creating a map showing the areas more prone to be the source of sediments. Fe, Si, magnetic properties and texture were the most important properties to differentiate clusters of soils and sediments. Clusters using only texture were less satisfactory to separate those samples. Groups of soils with similar physical and chemical properties could be separated, indicating their parent materials. These physical and chemical properties are related to the mineralogy of these samples and, hence, could be used as fingerprinting of the soils being eroded. Topographic features and bare soil areas along with soil physical and chemical properties indicated the places more likely to produce sediments. Although there is a great impact of urban areas on the production of sediments, which can change over time, the application of these sediment clusters to the soil property maps for the entire watershed determined the most likely source of sediments causing siltation, confirming the potential of this proximal soil sensing approach to this end. Future works on such large and constantly changing areas should focus on time-series analysis and the search for other environmental variables to help track the source of sediments in such close-to-urban areas.
How to cite: Silva, S. H. G., Baquero, N. S., Rodrigues, A., Brentan, B., Eleutério, J. C., Ribeiro, F. E. D., Camilo, B. K., Kasper, D., Bezerra-Neto, J. F., Nóbrega, R., Macedo, D., and Amorim, C.: Tracking the source of eroded sediments causing siltation in the Ibirité Lake, Brazil, via proximal sensing and soil variability, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-874, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-874, 2026.
Soil erosion represents one of the most critical environmental threats to the sustainability of agricultural systems, particularly in Mediterranean regions where strong seasonality and extreme precipitation events intensify soil degradation. Despite advances in erosion modelling, current conservation planning typically relies on retrospective annual analysis of historical data. This approach often fails to capture intra-annual variability or anticipate upcoming critical periods of erosivity, limiting the effectiveness of adaptive management strategies. This study presents an innovative methodological framework that integrates seasonal meteorological forecasts (1 to 7 months lead time) into the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model. Utilizing the ECMWF SEAS5 seasonal forecasting system, we apply bias correction and statistical downscaling techniques to predict both precipitation and erosivity (R factor) at the catchment scale. The methodology is applied to an olive grove catchment in Córdoba (Southern Spain). By conducting "hindcasting" simulations, we evaluate how the use of seasonal forecasts could have informed the strategic implementation of cover crops. The objective is to maximize soil protection by synchronizing vegetative cover with predicted high-erosivity periods, while simultaneously minimizing water competition between the cover crop and the main crop during forecasted dry years. To bridge the gap between scientific modelling and practical land management, this project also develops a set of open-source, interactive tools based on Jupyter Notebooks. These accessible tools allow technicians and decision-makers to process seasonal predictions and simulate erosion scenarios without requiring advanced programming skills. By enabling a shift from reactive to proactive management, this approach aligns with the European Soil Strategy and offers a scalable solution for preserving soil health in a changing climate.
How to cite: Peñuela, A.: From Retrospective to Proactive: Integrating Seasonal Weather Forecasts with Erosion Modelling to Optimize Soil Conservation, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4999, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4999, 2026.
Posters virtual: Wed, 6 May, 14:00–18:00 | vPoster spot 2
EGU26-17792 | ECS | Posters virtual | VPS17
Soil Erosion Assessment in the Beiluo River Basin Based on the CSLE Model and Sampling Survey MethodWed, 06 May, 14:00–14:03 (CEST) vPoster spot 2
Soil erosion is a global ecological and environmental issue. To improve the accuracy of regional soil erosion estimation, this study investigates the impact of different sampling densities on soil erosion estimation at the watershed scale using the CSLE model, taking the Beiluo River Basin as an example. Based on the CSLE model, the study compares the effects of four sampling densities (0.0625%, 0.25%, 1%, and 4%) on soil erosion estimation in the study area using two methods: full coverage calculation and unit interpolation extrapolation. The differences and main causes of these effects are analyzed to identify the appropriate sampling density and soil erosion estimation method for the watershed. This provides a theoretical basis for the selection of field sampling density and methods in regional soil erosion dynamic monitoring. This study extracted land use and soil and water conservation measure information through remote sensing interpretation of sampling survey units at different densities. Based on the CSLE model, soil erosion rates were calculated for the watershed. The results indicate that both the full-coverage calculation method and the sampling survey method are capable of capturing the macro-scale patterns of soil erosion within the watershed. The full-coverage calculation method provides complete spatial coverage, effectively represents the spatial distribution characteristics of regional soil erosion, and is relatively insensitive to variations in sampling density. However, due to limitations in the accuracy of model input data sources, this method tends to overestimate soil erosion rates. In contrast, the sampling survey method utilizes higher-precision input factors, resulting in more accurate soil erosion assessments. Nevertheless, its estimation results are strongly influenced by sampling density and the choice of interpolation methods. In summary, the sampling survey method better reflects soil erosion variations across different topographic conditions, making it an efficient and practical approach for regional soil erosion investigations.
Keywords：Beiluo River Basin; CSLE model; soil erosion estimation; sampling density; full coverage calculation
How to cite: Wang, M., Zhang, X., Wang, H., Sun, W., Geng, W., and Liu, X.: Soil Erosion Assessment in the Beiluo River Basin Based on the CSLE Model and Sampling Survey Method, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17792, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17792, 2026.
EGU26-13470 * | Posters virtual | VPS17 | Highlight
Soil Erosion Control at the Interface of Processes, Management, and Policy: Lessons from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the European UnionWed, 06 May, 14:03–14:06 (CEST) vPoster spot 2
Soil erosion represents a major threat to soil health, water resources, food security, and ecosystem resilience, particularly in regions exposed to increasing climatic extremes and long-standing pressures from unsustainable land use. In Southeast Europe, intensified rainfall events, land degradation, and inadequate spatial planning have amplified erosion processes and related hazards, such as torrential floods, highlighting the need for more integrated and adaptive approaches to soil conservation.
This study examines soil erosion and conservation from a comparative and integrative perspective, focusing on Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and situating both within the broader European Union policy and governance framework. Soil erosion is addressed not only as a biophysical process, but as a systemic challenge arising from interactions between natural processes, land management practices, institutional arrangements, and policy implementation.
In Serbia, soil erosion and torrential processes have long been recognized as major environmental challenges, particularly in hilly and mountainous catchments. The country has a strong tradition of erosion control and torrent regulation based primarily on technical and biotechnical measures implemented at the local scale. National assessments indicate that approximately 86% of Serbia’s territory is potentially exposed to water erosion, ranging from very weak to severe intensities, reflecting pronounced geomorphological diversity. Despite extensive technical expertise, soil conservation remains weakly integrated with spatial planning, ecosystem-based approaches, and socio-economic valuation of soil functions and ecosystem services, resulting in predominantly sectoral and engineering-oriented interventions.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, erosion-prone catchments are shaped by steep terrain, erodible soils, increasing climate variability, and fragmented institutional responsibilities. National erosion mapping shows that areas affected by excessive, intensive, and medium erosion account for approximately 15.7% of the territory, while 84.3% is characterized by slight to very slight erosion, largely associated with forested areas, karst landscapes, and lowland agricultural plains. Management responses are largely reactive, focused on post-event measures following extreme rainfall and torrential floods, with limited long-term effectiveness due to weak catchment-scale coordination and insufficient integration with land-use planning.
The European Union provides an important reference framework through the Water Framework Directive, the Floods Directive, and the EU Soil Strategy, which promote integrated, catchment-based management and the wider use of nature-based solutions. However, implementation in candidate and neighboring countries remains uneven, constrained by institutional capacity, financial resources, and governance complexity.
By comparing national experiences with EU policy principles, this study identifies persistent gaps between scientific knowledge, management practice, and policy implementation. It argues for a shift from fragmented, sectoral approaches toward integrated strategies linking process-based understanding, sustainable land management, nature-based solutions, and coherent governance. In this context, soil erosion control emerges as a key pathway for advancing Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land; aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015–2030), while simultaneously contributing to disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and ecosystem resilience in Southeast Europe.
How to cite: Vranesevic, M., Bajrić, M., Kapović Solomun, M., and Čigoja, I.: Soil Erosion Control at the Interface of Processes, Management, and Policy: Lessons from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the European Union, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-13470, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-13470, 2026.
EGU26-19666 | Posters virtual | VPS17
Enhancing the representation of human activities’ impact on surface processes to improve the model’s ability to simulate reality on global scaleWed, 06 May, 14:06–14:09 (CEST) vPoster spot 2
Over the past decades, the World is suffering from a serious process of land degradation as a result of global climate change and the increasingly acute conflicts among population, resources and the environment. According to IGBPS (2018, 2023), the area of degraded soil worldwide is continuously increasing, and the global soil health situation is still deteriorating, with which soil erosion was regarded as the 1st threat to the planet soil. In order to reverse this trend towards land degradation, many regions and countries have carried out sustained and painstaking initiatives for soil and water conservation, whose results has been monitored using different methodologies, and providing efficient recommendation for local government. It is urgent to adopt state of the art technologies including the latest earth observation techniques to evaluate global soil erosion status and soil conservation benefit in a standardized way. Accurately achieving the status of global soil erosion and the distribution and types of soil and water conservation measures, will help to illustrate the difference in effectiveness of soil/water conservation practices, improve current technologies, promote soil/water conservation measures, eliminate interregional imbalances and promote the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals using solid science.
Among numerous erosion models, only the USLE-family models are frequently employed in regional and global-scale soil erosion studies. Current research has established the distribution patterns of soil erosion at the global scale. However, significant challenge remains in balancing a model’s ability to represent real surface processes, its accuracy, and the target objectives f different levels of government. For global erosion surveys and mapping (GSERmap), we will draw upon experiences from China’s 2010 Soil and Water Conservation Census. By employing an unequal probability sampling units and investigation methods, combined with high-resolution remote sensing imagery, we aim to enhance the models’ simulation capability of real-world surface processes while maintaining a certain accuracy.
How to cite: Zhang, X., Li, R., Liu, B., Yang, Q., Gomez Carlero, J. A., Guzman, G., Strauss, P., and Dostal, T.: Enhancing the representation of human activities’ impact on surface processes to improve the model’s ability to simulate reality on global scale, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-19666, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-19666, 2026.
