Global vulnerability of soil ecosystems to erosion.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Soil erosion is one of the main threats driving soil degradation across the globe with important impacts on crop yields, soil biota, biogeochemical cycles, and ultimately human nutrition.

Objectives

Here, using an empirical model, we present a global and temporally explicit assessment of soil erosion risk according to recent (2001-2013) dynamics of rainfall and vegetation cover change to identify vulnerable areas for soils and soil biodiversity.

Methods

We used an adaptation of the Universal Soil Loss Equation together with state of the art remote sensing models to create a spatially and temporally explicit global model of soil erosion and soil protection. Finally, we overlaid global maps of soil biodiversity to assess the potential vulnerability of these soil

SUBMITTER: Guerra CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7316572 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature