Soil erosion modelling: A global review and statistical analysis

To gain a better understanding of the global application of soil erosion prediction models, we comprehensively reviewed relevant peer-reviewed research literature on soil-erosion modelling published between 1994 and 2017. We aimed to identify (i) the processes and models most frequently addressed in the literature, (ii) the regions within which models are primarily applied, (iii) the regions which remain unaddressed and why, and (iv) how frequently studies are conducted to validate/evaluate model outcomes relative to measured data. To perform this task, we combined the collective knowledge of 67 soil-erosion scientists from 25 countries. The resulting database, named ‘Global Applications of Soil Erosion Modelling Tracker (GASEMT)’, includes 3030 individual modelling records from 126 countries, encompassing all continents (except Antarctica). Out of the 8471 articles identified as potentially relevant, we reviewed 1697 appropriate articles and systematically evaluated and transferred 42 relevant attributes into the database. This GASEMT database provides comprehensive insights into the state-of-the-art of soil- erosion models and model applications worldwide. This database intends to support the upcoming country-based United Nations global soil-erosion assessment in addition to helping to inform soil erosion research priorities by building a foundation for future targeted, in-depth analyses. GASEMT is an open-source database available to the entire user-community to develop research, rectify errors, and make future expansions.

[1]  K. Oost,et al.  Accelerated sediment fluxes by water and tillage erosion on European agricultural land , 2009 .

[2]  J. Poesen.  Soil erosion in the Anthropocene: Research needs , 2018 .

[3]  Andrea L. Hatfield,et al.  Face-to-Face Versus Online Behavioral Parent Training for Young Children at Risk for ADHD: Treatment Engagement and Outcomes , 2018, Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology : the official journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53.

[4]  D. Robinson,et al.  Soil Erosion and Conservation , 1988 .

[5]  L. Hansen.  Conservation Reserve Program: Environmental Benefits Update , 2007, Agricultural and Resource Economics Review.

[6]  Simulation of soil erosion by water at the watershed level A. Pinheiro*, B. Caussade*, H. Ayphassorho^ "Institut de Mecanique des Fluides de Toulouse-URA au CNRS, Avenue du Professeur , 2004 .

[7]  D. Montgomery.  Soil erosion and agricultural sustainability , 2007, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[8]  K. Oost,et al.  An assessment of the global impact of 21st century land use change on soil erosion , 2017, Nature Communications.

[9]  K. G. Renard,et al.  EPIC: A new method for assessing erosion's effect on soil productivity , 1983 .

[10]  A. Chappell,et al.  Using albedo to reform wind erosion modelling, mapping and monitoring , 2016 .

[11]  Gerard Govers,et al.  Evaluating the effects of changes in landscape structure on soil erosion by water and tillage , 2000, Landscape Ecology.

[12]  L. Montanarella,et al.  Land use and climate change impacts on global soil erosion by water (2015-2070) , 2020, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[13]  N. Batjes.  Global assessment of land vulnerability to water erosion on a ½° by ½° grid , 1996 .

[14]  J. Poesen,et al.  Predicting soil erosion and sediment yield at the basin scale: Scale issues and semi-quantitative models , 2005 .

[15]  Andrea Vacca,et al.  Rates and spatial variations of soil erosion in Europe: A study based on erosion plot data , 2010 .

[16]  Anthony J. Jakeman,et al.  A review of erosion and sediment transport models , 2003, Environ. Model. Softw..

[17]  Veronique Souchere,et al.  Incorporating soil surface crusting processes in an expert-based runoff model: Sealing and Transfer by Runoff and Erosion related to Agricultural Management , 2002 .

[18]  M. Nearing,et al.  Handbook of Erosion Modelling: Morgan/Handbook of Erosion Modelling , 2010 .

[19]  J. Daroussin,et al.  Evaluation of two different soil databases to assess soil erosion sensitivity with MESALES for three areas in Europe and Morocco , 2014 .

[20]  R. Young,et al.  AGNPS: A nonpoint-source pollution model for evaluating agricultural watersheds , 1989 .

[21]  Jean Poesen,et al.  Subsurface erosion by soil piping: significance and research needs , 2018, Earth-Science Reviews.

[22]  Rattan Lal,et al.  Anthropogenic Influences on World Soils and Implications to Global Food Security , 2007 .

[23]  J. Poesen,et al.  Soil erosion in Europe , 2006 .

[24]  E. McBean,et al.  Estimation of desertification risk from soil erosion: a case study for Gansu Province, China , 2016, Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment.

[25]  John R. Williams,et al.  LARGE AREA HYDROLOGIC MODELING AND ASSESSMENT PART I: MODEL DEVELOPMENT 1 , 1998 .

[26]  Martial Bernoux,et al.  Soil erosion in the humid tropics: a systematic quantitative review. , 2015 .

[27]  John Boardman,et al.  Soil erosion science: Reflections on the limitations of current approaches ☆ , 2006 .

[28]  J. Syvitski,et al.  Geology, Geography, and Humans Battle for Dominance over the Delivery of Fluvial Sediment to the Coastal Ocean , 2007, The Journal of Geology.

[29]  Satellite remote sensing for soil erosion modelling using the ANSWERS model , 1995 .

[30]  J. L. Parra,et al.  Very high resolution interpolated climate surfaces for global land areas , 2005 .

[31]  Peter B. Hairsine,et al.  Spatial evaluation of a multi‐class sediment transport and deposition model , 2004 .

[32]  Dennis C. Flanagan,et al.  A Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model , 2013 .

[33]  A. D. Roo,et al.  LISEM: A SINGLE‐EVENT, PHYSICALLY BASED HYDROLOGICAL AND SOIL EROSION MODEL FOR DRAINAGE BASINS. II: SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS, VALIDATION AND APPLICATION , 1996 .

[34]  Bofu Yu,et al.  Global rainfall erosivity assessment based on high-temporal resolution rainfall records , 2017, Scientific Reports.

[35]  Zhou Shi,et al.  Assimilating satellite imagery and visible-near infrared spectroscopy to model and map soil loss by water erosion in Australia , 2016, Environ. Model. Softw..

[36]  W. H. Wischmeier,et al.  Rainfall energy and its relationship to soil loss , 1958 .

[37]  L. Montanarella,et al.  New Insights into the Geography and Modelling of Wind Erosion in the European Agricultural Land. Application of a Spatially Explicit Indicator of Land Susceptibility to Wind Erosion , 2015 .

[38]  Jean Poesen,et al.  Soil Erosion in Europe: Boardman/Soil Erosion in Europe , 2006 .

[39]  P. Fiener,et al.  Soil erosion potential of organic versus conventional farming evaluated by USLE modelling of cropping statistics for agricultural districts in Bavaria , 2003 .

[40]  V. Blanka,et al.  Estimation of regional differences in wind erosion sensitivity in Hungary , 2013 .

[41]  Karin Knorr Cetina,et al.  Epistemic Cultures: Forms of Reason in Science , 1991 .

[42]  J. R. Smith.  SOIL EROSION AND ITS REMEDY BY TERRACING AND TREE PLANTING. , 1914, Science.

[43]  Walter W. Chen,et al.  Soil erosion modelling: A bibliometric analysis. , 2021, Environmental research.

[44]  D.D.V. Morgan,et al.  A predictive model for the assessment of soil erosion risk , 1984 .

[45]  A. Gericke.  Soil loss estimation and empirical relationships for sediment delivery ratios of European river catchments , 2015 .

[46]  Kenneth G. Renard,et al.  Soil Erosion: Processes, Prediction, Measurement, and Control , 2002 .

[47]  D. Vuuren,et al.  Integrated Assessment of Global Environmental Change with IMAGE 3.0 : Model description and policy applications , 2014 .

[48]  Daniele de Rigo,et al.  Modelling soil erosion at European scale: towards harmonization and reproducibility , 2014 .

[49]  J. Poesen,et al.  Soil loss due to crop harvesting in the European Union: A first estimation of an underrated geomorphic process , 2019, The Science of the total environment.

[50]  Panos Panagos,et al.  Modeling soil erosion and river sediment yield for an intermountain drainage basin of the Central Apennines, Italy , 2014 .

[51]  Yanjun Shen,et al.  Simulation of surface runoff and sediment yield under different land-use in a Taihang Mountains watershed, North China , 2015 .

[52]  Kristof Van Oost,et al.  The impact of agricultural soil erosion on biogeochemical cycling , 2010 .

[53]  Panos Panagos,et al.  Using the USLE: Chances, challenges and limitations of soil erosion modelling , 2019, International Soil and Water Conservation Research.

[54]  Tomoko Hasegawa,et al.  Harmonization of Global Land-Use Change and Management for the Period 850–2100 (LUH2) for CMIP6 , 2020 .

[55]  Adèle Paul-Hus,et al.  The journal coverage of Web of Science and Scopus: a comparative analysis , 2015, Scientometrics.

[56]  Daniel C. Yoder,et al.  The design philosophy behind RUSLE2: evolution of an empirical model. , 2001 .

[57]  H. Bartholomeus,et al.  Remote sensing of land use/cover changes and its effect on wind erosion potential in southern Iran , 2016, PeerJ.

[58]  Mark A. Nearing,et al.  Soil Erosion and Conservation , 2013 .

[59]  K. Balāzs,et al.  Modelling soil quality changes in Europe. An impact assessment of land use change on soil quality in Europe , 2011 .

[60]  Philip Barnett,et al.  Comparing Unique Title Coverage of Web of Science and Scopus in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences , 2012 .

[61]  M. Jabbar,et al.  Land Degradation Due to Soil Wind Erosion in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions with the Aid of Geo- Information Technology , 2006, 2006 IEEE International Symposium on Geoscience and Remote Sensing.

[62]  L. R. Oldeman.  The Global Extent of Soil Degradation , 1992 .

[63]  R. Finger,et al.  Countries and the global rate of soil erosion , 2019, Nature Sustainability.

[64]  Larry E. Wagner,et al.  A history of Wind Erosion Prediction Models in the United States Department of Agriculture: The Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS) , 2013 .

[65]  A. W. Zingg,et al.  Degree and length of land slope as it affects soil loss in run-off. , 1940 .

[66]  J. Poesen,et al.  The European Soil Erosion Model (EUROSEM): A dynamic approach for predicting sediment transport from fields and small catchments. , 1998 .

[67]  S. Beguería,et al.  A meta-analysis of soil erosion rates across the world , 2015 .

[68]  J. Holden,et al.  Erosion of Northern Hemisphere blanket peatlands under 21st‐century climate change , 2017 .

[69]  H. L. Cook.  The Nature and Controlling Variables of the Water Erosion Process , 1937 .

[70]  Jaroslav Hofierka,et al.  Modelling Topographic Potential for Erosion and Deposition Using GIS , 1996, Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Sci..

[71]  Jessica Davies,et al.  On the evaluation of soil erosion models: Are we doing enough? , 2019, Earth-Science Reviews.

[72]  P. Fiener,et al.  Use and misuse of the K factor equation in soil erosion modeling: An alternative equation for determining USLE nomograph soil erodibility values , 2014 .

[73]  Vito Ferro,et al.  Sediment Delivery Distributed (SEDD) Model , 2000 .

[74]  L. Quijano,et al.  Estimating soil redistribution patterns with 137Cs measurements in a Mediterranean mountain catchment affected by land abandonment , 2018 .

[75]  Panos Panagos,et al.  Towards a Pan‐European Assessment of Land Susceptibility to Wind Erosion , 2016 .

[76]  G. L. Hammer,et al.  PERFECT - a computer simulation model of Productivity Erosion Runoff Functions to Evaluate Conservation Techniques , 1989 .

[77]  J. Bongaarts,et al.  Development: Slow down population growth , 2016, Nature.

[78]  G. R. Foster,et al.  Predicting soil erosion by water : a guide to conservation planning with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) , 1997 .

[79]  Mark A. Nearing,et al.  Evaluating soil erosion models using measured plot data: accounting for variability in the data , 2000 .

[80]  V. Breneman,et al.  THE COST OF SOIL EROSION TO DOWNSTREAM NAVIGATION , 2002 .

[81]  Chris S. Renschler,et al.  Designing geo‐spatial interfaces to scale process models: the GeoWEPP approach , 2003 .

[82]  J. Poesen,et al.  Predicting soil erosion and sediment yield at regional scales: Where do we stand? , 2013 .

[83]  Panos Panagos,et al.  The new assessment of soil loss by water erosion in Europe , 2015 .

[84]  P. Ciais,et al.  Global soil organic carbon removal by water erosion under climate change and land use change during AD 1850–2005 , 2018, Biogeosciences.

[85]  L. Montanarella,et al.  A New Assessment of Soil Loss Due to Wind Erosion in European Agricultural Soils Using a Quantitative Spatially Distributed Modelling Approach , 2017 .

[86]  Raghavan Srinivasan,et al.  SWAT: Model Use, Calibration, and Validation , 2012 .

[87]  L. F. Huggins,et al.  ANSWERS: A Model for Watershed Planning , 1980 .

[88]  N. Drake,et al.  10-Daily soil erosion modelling over sub-Saharan Africa , 2010, Environmental monitoring and assessment.

[89]  John R. Williams,et al.  Sediment yield prediction based on watershed hydrology. , 1977 .

[90]  C. Justice,et al.  High-Resolution Global Maps of 21st-Century Forest Cover Change , 2013, Science.

[91]  G. R. Foster,et al.  WEPP: A new generation of erosion prediction technology , 1991 .