Borrelli, P.
[Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Basel CH-4056, Switzerland]
Robinson, D.A.
[NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, United Kingdom]
Fleischer, L.R.
[Independent Researcher, Baden-Württemberg 70376, Germany]
Lugato, E.
[European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Directorate for Sustainable Resources, Ispra I-21027, Italy]
Ballabio, C.
[European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Directorate for Sustainable Resources, Ispra I-21027, Italy]
Alewell, C.
[Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Basel CH-4056, Switzerland]
Meusburger, K.
[Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Basel CH-4056, Switzerland]
Modugno, S.
[World Food Programme, Roma 00148, Italy.]
Schütt, B.
[Department of Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin 12249, Germany.]
Ferro, V.
[Department of Earth and Marine Science, University of Palermo, Palermo 90123, Italy]
Bagarello, V.
[Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo 90128, Italy.]
Van Oost, Kristof
[UCL]
Montanarella, L.
[European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Directorate for Sustainable Resources, Ispra I-21027, Italy]
Panagos, P.
[European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Directorate for Sustainable Resources, Ispra I-21027, Italy]
Human activity and related land use change are the primary cause of accelerated soil erosion, which has substantial implications for nutrient and carbon cycling, land productivity and in turn, worldwide socio-economic conditions. Here we present an unprecedentedly high resolution (250 × 250 m) global potential soil erosion model, using a combination of remote sensing, GIS modelling and census data. We challenge the previous annual soil erosion reference values as our estimate, of 35.9 Pg yr−1 of soil eroded in 2012, is at least two times lower. Moreover, we estimate the spatial and temporal effects of land use change between 2001 and 2012 and the potential offset of the global application of conservation practices. Our findings indicate a potential overall increase in global soil erosion driven by cropland expansion. The greatest increases are predicted to occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. The least developed economies have been found to experience the highest estimates of soil erosion rates.
Borrelli, P. ; Robinson, D.A. ; Fleischer, L.R. ; Lugato, E. ; Ballabio, C. ; et. al. An assessment of the global impact of 21st century land use change on soil erosion. In: Nature Communications, Vol. 8, no.1, p. 13 p. (2017)
