Investigations of impacts of climate change on soil erosion by water
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In connection with the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change (DAS), regional statements on the vulnerability of soil to climate changes are required to develop a perspective on long-term adaptation strategies. In addition, for current federal and EU-wide environmental reporting and the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive, information on the status and the risk of soil is required, which will form the basis for prevention and security against erosion. In order to assess the current and – in light of projected climate changes –likely evolution of the potential and use-related soil erosion by water, the Federal Environmental Agency (UBA) initiated the research project “Investigations of impacts of climate change on soil erosion by water”, which is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
Objectives:
Regional climate model WETTREG, reference period from DWD data (German Meteorological Service). Time series analyses of extreme rainfall events on a daily basis.
1971 - 2010;
2011 - 2040;
2041 - 2070;
2071 - 2100
Due to the projected climate changes for the 21st century, erosion hazard impacts are expected in the future as a result of the change in (strong) rainfall patterns and land cover due to an adaptation of the growing seasons of agricultural crops to climatic conditions. For the soil and water conservation, negative consequences can be assumed a result of increased erosion hazard on agricultural land due to the expected increase in erosive rainfall events – along with increased soil erosion, loss of soil function and an increase in nonpoint source pollution in the water. The change in land cover can also lead to an increase or reduction of the risk of erosion.
The study results have shown that the risk of erosion by water in Germany is already problem that must be assigned increased importance under changing climate conditions.
From the research side there is still a critical need for action to improve erosion monitoring and the further methodological development of erosion modeling.
Development of recommendations/action strategies for land cultivation from the perspective of the climate change.
Objectives: Statements on how to avoid or compensate the calculated, future soil erosion risk through water with adapted usage scenarios (crop rotation systems and crop types).
BMU / UBA im Rahmen des Umweltforschungsplans
BMU/ UBA
Geoflux GbR, Mitteldeutsches Institut für angewandte Standortkunde und Bodenschutz (MISB - Institute for Applied Site Ecology and Soil Protection of Central Germany).
Project advisory board:
FG II 2.7 Soil condition, soil monitoring
Wörlitzer Platz 1
06844 Dessau-Roßlau
Germany
jeannette.mathews @ uba.de
frank.glante @ uba.de