About 30% of our soils are degraded, mostly due to unsustainable land use. These soils took centuries or millennia to form. Are they lost for generations, or can they be regenerated quickly? And how can these options cope with climate change?

The first part of the talk explains how long-term agricultural use degrades soils and how their properties can recover through management changes. It will discuss options for quickly regenerating such soils for agriculture and the challenges involved. History offers valuable insights: indigenous peoples in the tropics and early agricultural societies improved soils using biochar and organic residues with remarkable results. However, today these methods carry risks, such as yield reductions in temperate zones or the spread of antibiotic resistance from intensive organic fertilisation. The second part of the talk explores, therefore, the balance between opportunities and risks in sustainable soil use, concluding with recent findings on how subsoils might help resolve this conflict.

How to cite: Amelung, W.: Ways out of the global soil crisis: opportunities and risks, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-3696, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-3696, 2025.

Managing soils to increase organic carbon storage presents a potential opportunity to mitigate and adapt to global change challenges, while providing numerous co-benefits and ecosystem services. However, soils differ widely in their potential for carbon gains and losses, and advancing knowledge of biophysical limits to carbon accumulation may aid in informing priority regions for management. There is thus increasing interest in assessing whether soils exhibit a maximum capacity for storing organic carbon (i.e., carbon saturation), especially as mineral-associated organic carbon given its presumed greater persistence and the finite nature of reactive minerals in soils. In this award lecture, I will summarize my ongoing work on the controls and limits of mineral-associated organic carbon and its representation in process-based soil carbon models. First, I will provide an overview of the concept of soil carbon saturation at both micro- and macro-scales, address common misconceptions, and present a quantification of the maximum observed capacity of mineral-associated organic carbon globally. Next, I will show that organo-mineral associations can moderate the vulnerability of a soil to lose carbon under climate or land-use change. Finally, I will review the landscape of current ecosystem- to global-scale soil carbon models and highlight next steps for improving their structure and parameterizations in this context.

How to cite: Georgiou, K.: Limits, controls, and vulnerability of mineral-associated soil organic carbon, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14372, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14372, 2025.

The global carbon cycle is largely controlled by the drawdown of atmospheric CO₂ by plants and preservation of organic carbon at the continental margins. In the context of Himalayan rivers, previous studies explored the fate of terrestrial organic carbon (C_org)without much consideration of its preservation within the floodplains. We undertook a novel approach to investigate the spatio-temporal preservation of C_org in floodplain paleosols, which form an intermediate between the source of C_org and their subsequent deposition in the continental margin. Towards this, we sampled five 35 m long sediment cores spanning the entirety of the Ganga River Floodplain (GRF). Carbon isotopic composition of C_org and soil carbonates (SC) (δ¹³C_org and δ¹³C_SC) and oxygen isotopic composition of SC (δ¹⁸O_SC) along with soil texture, Al and Fe oxides (Al_ox and Fe_ox) were used as predictors (n=158) of C_org preservation. The Random Forest Regression (RFR) model with the built-in feature importance tool was used to disentangle the dominant predictor of C_org across all the study sites. Our results suggest that in the upper stretch of GRF, C_org is low and preservation was predominantly controlled by the vegetation type (C3/C4) with grasslands accruing more C_org than forests. In contrast, in the lower stretch of GRF, the preservation was dominantly controlled through the formation of Al_ox and Fe_ox organo-mineral complexes, with the resultant C_org being one-order higher compared to upper stretches. Previous studies suggested that rapid burial predominantly acted as a major controlling factor on the sustenance of C_org in Bay of Bengal. However, our results along with similar Al/Si vs. C_org correlations within the lower GRF compared to the previously reported values from riverine suspended load and shelf sediments suggest that the floodplains transformed the labile C_org into stable organo mineral aggregates at lower stretch of GRF before it was deposited into the Bay of Bengal. We suggest that protection of C_org in floodplain is an importantstep towards its preservation at continental shelf. In the context of the Himalayan river system and the amount of C_org effectively preserved, the role of floodplains has profound implications for the global carbon cycle. 

How to cite: Adhya, S. P. and Sanyal, P.: Organo-mineral interactions in the floodplain govern the stability of buried organic carbon in continental margins, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1091, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1091, 2025.

Landfill soils are often heavily contaminated with heavy metals (HMs), posing a significant risk of environmental pollution in surrounding areas. Historically, many landfills have been unregulated, poorly constructed, or have exceeded their design lifespans, contributing to their status as major pollution sources. Leachate generation, driven by waste degradation, microbial activity, rainfall infiltration, and groundwater intrusion, exacerbates this issue but is frequently untreated. Anthropogenic activities produce vast quantities of waste, ranging from biodegradable to hazardous materials. In rapidly urbanizing municipalities, particularly in developing countries, the challenges of solid waste management are pressing. Household waste is commonly discarded in unregulated dumpsites, waterways, and public spaces, exacerbating pollution. In contrast, developed nations typically manage municipal solid waste (MSW) more effectively due to advanced waste management infrastructure. This study investigates the classification of landfills based on waste type and evaluates the associated heavy metal (HM) contamination in soils. Representative landfill sites from various countries, including Ghana, Iran, Malaysia, China, South Africa, the Czech Republic, and Tunisia, were analyzed to determine the average concentrations of HMs in surrounding soils. Heavy metals such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), aluminum (Al), mercury (Hg), and vanadium (V) were detected in soils adjacent to these landfills. Soil pollution was assessed using several indices. The Ecological Risk Index (Eⁱ_r) and the summation of the Ecological Risk Index (ERI) quantified individual and total ecological risks, respectively. Anthropogenic pollution was evaluated through the geo-accumulation index (Igeo), pollution index (PI), and integrated pollution index (IPI), providing insights into pollution levels relative to natural elemental content in soils. Factors influencing heavy metals contamination included the proximity of the soil to the landfill, the depth of soil infiltrated by leachate, seasonal variations, and site topography. To address soil contamination, remediation strategies were proposed, including the application of biochar (BC), humic substances (HS), and iron oxide (FO) amendments to immobilize HMs effectively and other remediation techniques to remove heavy metals. These findings contribute to developing sustainable approaches for mitigating heavy metal pollution in landfill-adjacent soils.

How to cite: Shayeghi, S., Moein, B., and Asefi, M.: Heavy Metal Pollution in Soils at Various Landfills Vicinity: A Review Study, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1920, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1920, 2025.

Water accumulation is a critical challenge in arid and semi-arid regions, significantly degrading soil quality and threatening land sustainability. This study focuses on the Oued Beht watershed in Morocco, covering 6,200 km², representative of semi-arid geographical conditions. Using satellitebased Earth observation data, including Landsat 9 and SRTM, this research assesses water erosion by comparing two models: PAP/CAR, a qualitative approach, and RUSLE, a quantitative model.
Key datasets, such as NDVI, slope, and land use, were extracted from satellite imagery to calibrate and validate the models. For the RUSLE model, the rainfall erosivity factor (R) was estimated using two distinct methods. The first applies the formula developed by Renard and Freimund (1994), which links annual precipitation to erosivity. The second employs a modified formula by Rango and Arnoldus (1987), adapted to Moroccan conditions, using monthly and annual precipitation to estimate erosivity.
Rainfall data covering 65 years (1958–2023), obtained from 23 meteorological stations, were utilized to ensure robust and reliable analysis. By comparing the performance of these two RUSLE methods with the PAP/CAR model, this study aims to determine their respective effectiveness in
evaluating erosion risks.
The findings contribute to advancing knowledge on erosion processes, offering valuable insights for sustainable land management practices and mitigating land degradation in semi-arid environments. This research underscores the critical role of satellite data and modeling in
addressing natural hazards, aligning closely with the conference’s focus on leveraging Earth observation technologies for risk assessment and management.

How to cite: moutaoikil, N., Benzougagh, B., Mastere, M., Bounouira, H., El Fellah, B., Ouallali, A., and Lamrani, H.: Assessment of Water Erosion in the Semi-Arid Oued Beht WatershedUsing Satellite Data and Comparative Modeling Approaches, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2178, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2178, 2025.

The optimal determination of the crop water requirements is the probably the most relevant operational variables the farmers managing irrigated lands must set to ensure the optimal use of water for irrigation. The absence of robust crop coefficient estimates constitutes a great limitation for maximizing the performance of agriculture in remote agricultural areas of developing countries. In such areas where despite they usually present optimal environment for cropping activities, technical and knowledge-related barriers strongly limit the development of efficient agriculture and the transference of existing knowledge on the crop coefficient. Seeking to help raise the knowledge on crop coefficient we have studied the local crop coefficient practices in the Sierra Norte of Ecuador area conducting a field research to collect the ongoing practices and farmers´ perceptions. The results from the survey reveal farmers have no information on the crop coefficients and the crop water demands and use rudimentary indicators to implement the irrigation decisions.

How to cite: Zubelzu, S., Chalacán, D., Gómez-Villarino, M. T., and López-Santiago, J.: Farmer´s perception on water crop necessities and crop coefficients in the Sierra Norte of Ecuador. Lessons learnt from field surveys., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4327, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4327, 2025.

Soil erosion is a complex process driven by the interaction between climatic factors, soil properties, topography, vegetation, and land use. It involves detachment, transportation, and deposition of soil particles due to surface runoff and wind, causing severe environmental and economic challenges. To manage erosion, several models ranging from empirical to process-based and hybrid approaches have been developed. For example, the most widely used empirical models is the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) which estimates long-term erosion rates but not reliable in short-term assessments. Process-based models, such as the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) and the European Soil Erosion Model (EUROSEM), simulate physical erosion mechanisms but require extensive data. Hybrid models like the Sediment Delivery Distributed (SEDD) and the Limburg Soil Erosion Model (LISEM) balance usability and mechanistic accuracy but face challenges in data-scarce or complex landscapes.

This study applied a hydraulic Overland Flow (OF) model to the Oltrepò Pavese region in north-western Italy, a geologically and hydrologically diverse area influenced by natural processes and human activities. In particular, the model was applied for a rainfall event with a return period of two year in three representative mountain catchments of the region: Scuropasso, Versa, and Ardivestra, characterised by mild to steep slopes, forested areas, rural settlements and vineyards. The OF model, based on the resolution of the Shallow Water Equations (2D-SWEs) calculates hydrodynamic variables such as flow depth and velocity. Erosion-prone areas were identified through literature empirical equations employed by using the OF model output, incorporating shear stress, stream power, and sediment transport capacity. To validate the OF model, the results were compared to those generated by the RUSLE. The comparative analysis was conducted to assess spatial overlap in erosion-prone areas between the two models. To ensure consistency, minimum erosion thresholds were applied to exclude areas non-relevant to erosion, such as water bodies, rocky areas, infrastructures, and forested zones which showed negligible erosion. The thresholds optimized the alignment of erosion-prone area estimations between the two models, revealing a significant degree of overlap and demonstrating the reliability of the OF model in determine prone-erosion areas. In addition, despite uncertainties in empirical formulations, the hydraulic OF model provided prone-erosion areas by using less input information than RUSLE. This study highlights the potential of integrating hydrodynamic modelling and empirical approaches to improve soil erosion assessments. Future advancements in model dynamics, land-use representation, and climate impact analysis are essential for addressing soil conservation challenges in diverse landscapes.

Acknowledgement: This study is part of the project NODES which has received funding from the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) – M4C2 1.5 of PNRR funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU (Grant agreement no. ECS00000036).

How to cite: Ravazzolo, D., Persi, E., Fenocchi, A., Petaccia, G., Costabile, P., Costanzo, C., Ennouini, W., and Sibilla, S.: Assessment of soil erosion areas using a process-based overland flow modelling approach, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-5910, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-5910, 2025.

In recent years, the frequency of extreme rainfall events has significantly increased worldwide, posing severe challenges to river embankments and other soil and water conservation measures. This study focused on the core disaster area of the "July 29, 2023 extreme rainfall" event—the Beizhi River Basin in Lincheng County, China. Using GIS technology, the study analyzed the damage patterns of embankments with different construction standards, the critical topographic conditions, and their protective benefits for land under extreme rainfall conditions. The results showed that: 1) River embankment damage was severe, with the affected areas primarily located in the middle reaches of the river. The overall damage proportion was significant, and embankments built to higher standards suffered less damage than those built to lower standards, indicating greater stability. 2) The damage characteristics of embankments were influenced by a combination of river slope and catchment area. The developed S-A topographic critical model indicated that high-standard embankments required higher critical topographic conditions to sustain damage, demonstrating their ability to maintain structural integrity under harsher conditions. 3) Embankments had significant soil and water conservation benefits. Compared to segments without embankments, areas with embankments experienced significantly less land damage. High-standard embankments exhibited greater efficiency in protecting land compared to low-standard embankments. This study could make an important contribution to the theory of river soil and water conservation under the backdrop of increasing extreme rainfall events due to climate change. It may provide valuable guidance for improving embankment design standards and optimizing soil and water conservation measures.

Keywords: Extreme rainfall; embankment damage; topographic critical conditions; soil and water conservation benefits

How to cite: Sun, Z., Wang, C., Shen, H., and Wang, Q.: Topographic Characteristics of River Embankment Damage and Soil and Water Conservation Benefits Under Extreme Rainfall Conditions, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9666, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9666, 2025.

Inter-row management of vineyards has various implications including on soil stability, and thus geo-
risk[2]. Two prominent classes of inter-row management are permanent grass cover (PGC), and total
tillage (TT), where the inter-row spaces are tilled to keep the soil bare. Which practice is used impacts
soil stability, and very few papers explored large-scale mapping using remotely sensed data[1]. In multi-
spectral acquisitions, reflection from vine leaves and from inter-row responses mix together, challenging
to distinguish vineyard foliage from possible inter-row vegetation. It has been indeed observed that
PGC and TT are likely more distinguishable in winter, when vines shed most of their leaves or are left
bare[1]. This increases the weight of inter-row vegetation in the spectral mix. Based on the above, here
we propose some novel discriminating features by treating the Sentinel-2 time series in winter as the
Bezier curves, which appear to increase separability.
The method has been tested on reference data collected in N-W Italy by a previous project. Data
from 130 and 141 ground truth polygons, representing PGC - and TT -managed vineyards respectively,
were collected from 10 wineries in 2015 and 2022. Sentinel-2 data from November to March with < 20%
cloud cover and ground truth for 2015 were primarily used in this work. Monthly NDVI and NDWI
data were generated using the earliest suitable S-2 acquisition each month, and their sequences of values
were used to form B`ezier curves. 5 features were considered for each index time series: arc length, area
of the bounding box, centroid of the bounding box, curvature, mean and standard deviation.
Different clustering strategies including K-Means, DBSCAN, Mean-shift, Hierarchical, and Gaussian
Mixture Model were employed. Accuracy and adjusted rand index (ARI) were used as performance
metrics. ARI ranges between [−1,1], where higher values mean better separation.
Traditional time series features such as mean, variance, maximum, average slope, ... achieve lower
accuracy levels. It can be observed from results that DBSCAN performs better with the
properties of Bezier curves in terms of accuracy and ARI. DBSCAN seems thus to be more effective at
identifying clusters of varying densities, and it is robust to noise. Hence, the proposed features generate
well-defined density-based clusters that other algorithms struggle to identify. Traditional clustering
algorithms typically assume clusters of elliptical shapes. This high disparity suggests non-spherical or
irregularly shaped clusters, where DBSCAN performs better.

This publication is part of the project NODES which has received funding from the MUR–M4C2 1.5 of PNRR funded
by the European Union-NextGenerationEU(Grant agreement no. ECS00000036).

[1] C. Garau, D. Marzi, M. Bordoni, and F. Dell’Acqua. Satellite detection of inter-row management
practices in a north-italy vineyard: Preliminary results. In IGARSS 2024-2024 IEEE International
Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, pages 4325–4328. IEEE, 2024.

[2] C. Meisina, M. Bordoni, A. Vercesi, M. Maerker, C. Ganimede, M. C. Reguzzi, E. Capelli, E. Mazzoni,
S. Simoni, and E. Gagnarli. Effects of vineyard inter-row management on soils, roots and shallow
landslides probability in the apennines, lombardy, italy. In Proceedings, volume 30, page 41. MDPI,
2019. 

How to cite: Dell'Acqua, F. and Mukherjee, J.: Cultivating Insights: Unsupervised Mapping of Inter-row Management inVineyards Using Bezier Curve Properties on Sentinel-2 Time Series, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12158, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12158, 2025.

TERRASAFE is a recent initiative that is being co-funded by the European Union and the UK Research and Innovation agency, under the Mission Soil and, more specifically, the call topic “Innovations to prevent and combat desertification” (HORIZON-MISS-2023-SOIL-01-04; grant reference 101157373), having started on 1 June 2024 with a duration of 5 years. TERRASAFE envisages to empower local communities in southern Europe and northern Africa to successfully face the escalating challenges of desertification through the adoption of nature-based, social and technological innovations. TERRASAFE’s vision will be operationalized in 5 pilot areas in Cyprus, Italy, Romania, Spain and Tunisia that strongly contrast in socio–cultural-ecological circumstances. These 5 areas were specifically selected for sharing a high vulnerability to desertification, on the one hand, and, on the other, for representing the 4 main types of desertification, i.e., depopulation, soil degradation (through organic matter loss as well as through salinization), vegetation decline and water scarcity. TERRASAFE’s vision is supported by a transdisciplinary consortium, ranging from universities to SMEs commercially exploiting innovations. TERRASAFE’s vision is implemented through a multi-actor approach that covers all WPs, in particular by setting up 5 partnerships in the 5 pilot areas. In a co-creation process, these partnerships will then: (i) define their visions on building desertification resilience and plan their ensuing TERRASAFE work; (iia) map and analyze past and ongoing desertification, identifying in each pilot area the land-cover type that is the desertification hotspot; (iib) in the case of the Italian pilot area, carry out a narrative analysis of depopulation and the role therein of social innovation, in two contrasting sub-areas; (iii) evaluate and demonstrate innovations for the above-mentioned desertification hotspots, comparing them with current and, in principle, also traditional/organic practices; (iv) elaborate policy recommendation for the wider uptake of the "TERRASAFE-certified" innovations, both within and beyond the pilot areas, taking into account lessons learnt from past and ongoing policies against desertification; (v) share their TERRASAFE’s experience with the partnerships of the other 4 pilot areas as well as other desertification-prone communities and the general public. The consortium will support the 5 partnerships not only by providing harmonized frameworks for each activity but also by providing advice on adapting these frameworks to the partnerships’ specific needs. Finally, the 5 SME partners of TERRASAFE will provide a wide offer of innovative solutions that they will tailor towards the respective desertification hotspots, in close collaboration with the partnerships. Beyond the project itself, TERRASAFE envisages to impact the combat of desertification, both within Europe and across the globe,  by promoting the adoption of (part of) its approach by other desertification-prone communities as well as by fostering the widespread implementation of innovations that are both environmentally effective and economically feasible, including through business plans for the SMEs.  

How to cite: Keizer, J. J., Asencio, V., Bruggeman, A., Chivers, C., Corticeiro, S., Crisan, V., Fleskens, L., Karbout, N., Loizides, M., Machado, A., Martinez, M., Mills, J., Muro, M., Nyanhongo, G. S., Pedrero Salcedo, F., Petsa, D., Quaranta, G., Salvia, R., Stolte, J., and Stringer, L.: Terrasafe, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13943, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13943, 2025.

Soil salinity is a major environmental challenge that reduces agricultural productivity and degrades soil health, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Conventional soil salinity assessment methods involve extensive manual labor and are time-consuming In this study, we explored alternative approaches by using a combination of proximal sensing data (i.e., electromagnetic (EM) induction instruments, EM 38-MK2) with two very high-resolution multi-spectral and -sources imagery (i.e., a UAV (Unnamed Aerial Vehicle) and PlanetScope (PS)), topographic attributes, and machine learning methods to achieve field-scale soil salinity mapping under data-scarce conditions. To do so, an initial set of 26 topsoil samples (0–5 cm) were collected from a saline field in the semi-arid area of Sehb El Masjoune in Southern Morocco. and their Electrical conductivity (EC, a proxy of salinity) was determined at the lab. Then, proximal sensed data from EM38 were collected along the same field and measured apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa – dS/m) was correlated with measured topsoil EC. We used proximal sensing technology to generate 500 EC (electrical conductivity) observations for spatialization, thereby creating a robust dataset for training four machine learning models: partial least squares regression (PLSR), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and an ensemble (stacked) model. Among these models, the RF and ensemble approaches delivered the highest accuracy, with RF outperforming all others. Performance assessments indicated that PlanetScope data achieved R² = 0.91 and RMSE = 3.47, while UAV data showed R² = 0.89 and RMSE = 3.83. These findings underscore that integrating multisource data, even in data-scarce environments, enhances reliability and robustness in soil salinity mapping at the field scale. Our results highlight a cost-effective, high-precision strategy for characterizing saline and sodic soils, offering valuable insights for targeted reclamation and management interventions in arid and semi-arid regions. We conclude that the used approach not only contributes to the scientific understanding of soil salinity dynamics but also provides practical implications for sustainable land management and agricultural planning. The research highlights the potential of combining cutting-edge technology with environmental predictors to address critical global issues. 

How to cite: Chindong, M. J., Ouzemou, J.-E., Laamrani, A., El Battay, A., and Chehbouni, A.: Integrating Proximal Sensing, high-resolution Imagery, and Machine Learning for Field-Scale Soil Salinity Mapping in Semi-Arid Region, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14160, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14160, 2025.

The delineation of hydrological catchments and river networks is fundamental for hydrographic and hydrological information, environmental analysis, modeling, and decision-making. However, many existing datasets are limited in their spatial resolution, which can constrain their ability to accurately represent localized processes such as floodplain dynamics and soil erosion patterns. Building on the concepts of the new vector-based global river network dataset by Lin et al. (2021), Catchment Characterisation and Modelling (CCM) by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) (Vogt et al., 2003), as well as HydroSHEDS by the World Wildlife Fund US (Lehner and Grill, 2013), we aim to introduce a finer spatial scale that captures regional nuances and enhances hydrological detail. Using high-resolution digital elevation data, this study applies a hierarchical coding system to delineate nested catchments across Europe, achieving basin sizes reduced to a fine scale. The methodology ensures the accurate representation of catchments and associated river networks, with a focus on maintaining hydrological connectivity.

This delineation approach allows for the creation of a comprehensive geospatial dataset that integrates detailed catchment and river attributes. Our work complements existing large-scale datasets, providing critical insights for regional and local hydrological and environmental applications. The product/dataset will support environmental analysis by enabling the calculation of catchment-scale statistics for a wide range of environmental, soil, and land degradation parameters, including soil properties, soil erosion and land degradation, hydrological factors, ecological indicators, land use and land cover characteristics across Europe.

By generating a high-resolution, hierarchically nested dataset, this project addresses various environmental challenges at both regional and European scales, while meeting the increasing demand for spatially detailed environmental data that covers specific regional needs. The resulting data will support applications in land management, soil conservation, and environmental policy, providing a robust framework for both scientific research and practical implementation.

Acknowledgement: K.K, F.M., P.B, were funded by the European Union Horizon Europe Project Soil O-LIVE (Grant No. 101091255). P.S. was funded by the European Union Horizon Europe Project AI4SoilHealth (Grant No. 101086179).

References:

Lehner, B., & Grill, G. (2013). Global river hydrography and network routing: baseline data and new approaches to study the world's large river systems. Hydrological Processes, 27(15), 2171-2186.

Lin, P., Pan, M., Wood, E. F., Yamazaki, D., & Allen, G. H. (2021). A new vector-based global river network dataset accounting for variable drainage density. Scientific data, 8(1), 28.

Vogt, J., Colombo, R., Paracchini, M. L., de Jager, A., & Soille, P. (2003). CMM river and catchment database. Version, 1, 1-32.

How to cite: Kaffas, K., Matthews, F., Saggau, P., and Borrelli, P.: Nested Catchment Delineation at the European Scale: A Tool for Fine-Scale Environmental Analysis, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14166, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14166, 2025.

Tilling, a common agricultural practice, is being done excessively on farms leading to about 2.35 billion tons of soil erosion from US croplands annually.  This causes soil erosion, soil infertility, carbon release, nutrient runoff, and fertilizer over-usage. This paper evaluates whether optimizing tillage intensity, timing, and fertilizer quantity will address these problems. A convolutional neural network based machine learning model utilizes a camera-captured field image to determine existing tilling intensity on a 7-point scale. This machine learning output, along with soil sensor and external forecast data, flows into a 10-parameter algorithm that determines optimal tilling and fertilizer levels. A fully functional tractor prototype demonstrates the above. A 30-year simulation comparing conventionally-tilled and algorithm-tilled farms showed a reduction in carbon emission by 57%, fertilizer usage by 43%, and runoff by 86% demonstrating the transformative potential of this algorithm. Additionally, a stationary prototype was deployed in 155 farms across 5 countries. 

How to cite: Magesh, S.: A Convolutional Neural Network Model and Algorithm Driven Prototype for Sustainable Tilling and Fertilizer Optimization, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15186, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15186, 2025.

Common practices such as the use of herbicides, petrochemical plastics and excessive tillage are widely used for weed control in both horticultural and fruit crops. The use of these unfriendly environmentally techniques has led researchers around the world to focus their searches on more sustainable alternatives based on a circular economy model. These eco-friendly practices could also be extended to other systems and crops, which would be the case of seedbeds or nursery plants. In this framework, biopolymers and papers can have a proper behavior, although their use fits better to annual herbaceous crops as result of their shorter useful live. For this reason, based on preliminary laboratory tests, we implemented a field trial consisting of the application of hydromulches of different composition and characteristics on a forest tree nursery with newly transplanted seedlings in the open field in Central Spain.

The hydromulches tested were composed of by-products from agriculture and the agri-food industry (wheat straw [S]); camelina pellet [C]; pruning wood from almond [A], elm + walnut [EW], elm + walnut + camelina, [EWC]), mixed with a binder and recycled paper paste, and were applied liquidly on the ground with subsequent solidification. Additionally, two unmulched treatments were considered as control (manual weeding and a no-weeding treatments), in a randomized complete block experiment with three replications.

Periodical measurements relative to weed control (weed number, biomass, soil cover, predominant species) and the degradation of the materials (thickness, puncture resistance, soil cover, etc.) were taken. As preliminary results, and after more than 12 months after their application, all the hydromulches behaved properly, highlighting C as the treatment that best controlled weeds and which suffered a less degradation throughout the period considered, showing it as a good alternative, mainly in organic and sustainable agricultures.

Keywords: hydromulch, weeds, sustainable agriculture, circular economy.

Acknowledgements: PID2020-113865RR-C43 (HMulchCircle)/AEI/10.13039 / 501100011033 (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation).

How to cite: Moreno, M. M., Villena, J., López-Corral, T., Atance, C., Peco, J. D., Fernández, M. D. L. S., López-Perales, J. A., Morales-Rodríguez, P. A., and Moreno, C.: Hydromulches in nursery crops: an alternative tool to herbicides for weed control, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15840, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15840, 2025.

Mountain livestock farming relies on meadows, by providing pasture in autumn and spring and providing hay for the winter. They are composed by different plant species from various botanical families, being a biodiverse ecosystem with high resilience.

 We can classify them according to their intensification, depending on its fertilization strategy and livestock load. The most intensive meadows are fertilized by inorganic fertilizer and has high livestock load, semi extensive meadows are fertilized by manure and has lower livestock load, whereas extensive meadows are rarely fertilized and has low livestock load.

In this study, 12 meadows from the central Spanish Pyrenees where analysed, 4 meadows of each type for 2 years. Production was higher in semi extensive meadows, due to its organic fertilization, and extensive meadows had the lowest production. Looking at the quality of the hay, intensive and extensive meadows had similar protein content, being significantly higher than in semi extensive meadows. Fiber was higher in extensive meadows and the lowest was found in intensive meadows.

We used Sannon index to address biodiversity. There were significant differences between each meadow type, having extensive meadows the highest levels and intensive meadows the lowest.

High biodiversity can be kept even in high productive meadows, as it’s shown in semi extensive meadows, although they have lower protein content. Intensification practices are thought to increase productivity, with a cost of reducing biodiversity, but this study shows that lower intensive practices can have higher production.

How to cite: Jarne Casasús, A., Reiné Viñales, R., and Usón Murillo, A.: Meadow intensification, a biodiversity approach, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15982, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15982, 2025.

In recent decades, the scarcity of fresh water has become a significant issue, particularly in arid regions, leading to increased competition for water among agricultural, industrial, and urban users. The widespread limitations on water for agriculture highlight the need for strategies that enhance the efficiency of irrigation water use. Pomegranates and persimmons, although considered minor fruit trees, have gained considerable attention in Spain and worldwide due to their organoleptic characteristics and health benefits. As a result, they present interesting options for diversifying fruit production in the Mediterranean basin, especially since these species are known to tolerate water stress. A three-year study investigated the agronomic responses of both crops to deficit irrigation, specifically focusing on sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI). For pomegranates, RDI - where water applied is reduced to 33% of the total irrigation requirements during the flowering (RDI1) and fruit set (RDI2) periods - has been identified as a viable strategy under water-limited conditions. On the other hand, the tested SDI strategy (applying 50% of the irrigation water requirements throughout the crop cycle) should be reserved for extreme water scarcity situations. For persimmons, the tested SDI strategy, which reduces water applied to 70% of the water requirements, is recommended as it achieves a 30% water saving while maintaining production levels comparable to the control group, thereby enhancing water productivity. In contrast, RDI - where water is reduced during the flowering and fruit setting stages (60% in RDI1 and 40% in RDI2) -  yielded intermediate results, providing lower water savings without increasing production relative to the SDI. In conclusion, both studies suggest that pomegranates and persimmons could serve as alternative options to citrus fruits in Valencia, considering their positive productive responses to deficit irrigation.

How to cite: Pascual-Seva, N., Porras, R., Aguilar, J. M., Baixauli, C., and Pascual, B.: Optimizing Irrigation Strategies for Pomegranates and Persimmons in Valencian Region, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18020, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18020, 2025.

Climate change models indicate that pastoral land use in many parts of Iberia will no longer be feasible from 2050 due to rainfall decreases and desertification, thereby negatively affecting soil functioning, food security and rural livelihoods. Amending agricultural soils with biochar (carbon-based product of biomass pyrolysis) has been shown to potentially increase crop yield, mainly by improving soil pH, soil structure, water storage and exchange. The aim of this study was to quantify how biochar may alter the soil sponge function under current (100% rainfall) and future (50% rainfall.

The collaborative work between ongoing projects SOILCOMBAT, POLLINATE and TRUESOIL, aims to sustainably engineer the soil-water regulation function of Portuguese pasture soils, while minimizing detrimental effects on other soil quality parameters through the use of biochar for soil amendment. Our approach was a random block design field-trial in a real-world scenario at the Quinta da França farm (Terraprima, Portugal), a non-irrigated sown biodiverse pasture on a dystric Cambisol. The four treatments are: control 100% rainfall; control 50% rainfall; biochar (3% gravimetric) 100% rainfall; biochar (3% gravimetric) 50% rainfall; N=20). Biochar-amendment-treatments were applied at 0-20 cm depth keeping the 20-60 cm depth unaltered. It is five times replicated. Plots were equipped with soil climate sensors (volumetric moisture and temperature) recording at six depths, namely -5, -15, -25, -25, -45 & -55 cm depth (N=120).

The first 2 years of the on-going field trial at Quinta da França showed that for the treated 0-20 cm depth with 50% rainfall, the biochar plots kept 15% more moisture than the control ones, while for 100% rainfall conditions, biochar plots kept 23% more moisture. The results for deeper soil water storage (20-60 cm depth) showed that for the 50% rainfall, the biochar plots have 24% less moisture than the control ones, while for natural rainfall conditions, biochar plots have 19% less moisture than the control ones. This could indicate that the 0-20 cm depth biochar-amended soil layer, keep more water in surface (0-20 cm depth) than non-amended surface soil. Seasonal effects will be explored further.

We conclude that biochar amendments improve the soil-water regulation functions of this pasture. The results are expected to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) #13 and #15, namely sustainable food production and climate adaptation of pastoral ecosystems, while combating desertification.

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology FCT/MCTES for the funding of CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020+LA/P/0094/2020) through national funds, as well as of projects SOILCOMBAT (https://doi.org/10.54499/PTDC/EAM-AMB/0474/2020), POLLINATE (https://doi.org/10.54499/PTDC/EAM-AMB/1509/2021), and of authors F. Verheijen (https://doi.org/10.54499/CEECIND/02509/2018/CP1559/CT0004), A.C. Bastos (art. 23º DL57/2016 of 29 Aug amended by DL 57/2017 of 19 July, OE), P. Quinteiro (CEEC/00143/2017), B. Gholamahmadi’s (PhD grant2020.04610.BD), L Simões (PhD grant 2022.09866.BD). We also acknowledge the European Commission Joint Programme SOIL for the funding of project TRUESOIL (https://doi.org/10.54499/EJPSoils/0001/2021) and the La Caixa Foundation in collaboration with CESAM for the funding of A. Jelinčić(LCF/BQ/DI22/11940011).

How to cite: Verheijen, F. G. A., Ana Catarina, B., Zahra, K., Behrouz, G., Marjan, J., Isabel, C., Liliana, S., Antun, J., Vasco, S., Patricia, S., Paula, Q., Tiago, D., and Oscar, G.-P.: Biochar impact on the soil sponge function in sown biodiverse pastures: a 2-year whole soil profile monitoring study under 100% and 50% rainfall, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18882, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18882, 2025.

Soils are a key reservoir of global biodiversity, and their fundamental role is to support soil functions and ecosystem services. Biodiversity is part of the complexity and is linked to other parameters that characterise soils, and changes in soil health status influence the provision of goods and services to its beneficiaries. Knowing the biodiversity of a soil in vineyard systems and trying to relate it to other soil characteristics helps to improve soil health, apply the more suitable NBS to reduce land degradation, to improve the ecosystem services provided by the soil and to make viticulture more sustainable.

Six vineyards were selected in Oltrepò Pavese, one of the most important high-quality wines areas in Northern Italy, in different geological contexts soils with different inter-row management techniques: permanent grass cover, tillage and alternate tillage. Soil samples were collected in each vineyard, where a 1.0 m × 2.0 m trench was dug, in order to determine the geological, chemical, agronomic and physical properties. With a multidisciplinary approach, these properties were compared with the fungal, bacterial and arthropod communities.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) was extracted, and bacterial and fungal communities were detected by NGS analysis of 16S and ITS1 DNA barcodes, respectively. Arthropod communities were described by soil biological quality (QBS-ar) and biodiversity indices, after morphological identification of the different biological forms detected.

Inter-row management techniques and geological characteristics affect bacterial, fungal and arthropod communities’ composition. Soil managed with permanent grass cover are in general richer of fungal and bacterial biodiversity. Arthropods seem to be more influenced by soil texture and consequently by the chemical and physical characteristics of the soil than by tillage or grassing in the dry season. A positive correlation was found between Fungi and Bacteria orders, a negative correlation between Arthropods and Fungi orders and a weak and not significant correlation between Arthropods and Bacteria orders. The composition of the bacterial community was radically different in soil under repeated tillage and mineral fertilisation where Bacteroidia, Bacilli, Clostridia and Fusobacteria prevailing, in permanent grass cover soils the classes Alphaproteobacteria, above all, Acidobacteria-6 and Actinobacteria prevailed. Repeated tillage results in a different composition of the prevalent fungal Classes, with a predominance of Malasseziomycetes, which are not present in permanent grass cover soils. Fungi showed a positive correlation with water content, nitrogen and organic matter, while bacteria have a positive correlation with plastic limit and pH.

The results of the study can be used to helps farmers in the selection of the best inter-row management techniques in vineyards in order to reduce the effects of climate change and mitigate the effects of erosion.

How to cite: Reguzzi, M. C., Vercesi, A., Cusaro, C. M., Mazzoni, E., Bertonazzi, M. C., Ganimede, C., Bordoni, M., Maerker, M., Capelli, E., and Meisina, C.: Arthropod, bacterial and fungal communities in vineyards with different soils and management in Oltrepò Pavese (Italy): a multidisciplinary approach, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-19693, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-19693, 2025.

Forest floor (FF) properties, such as thickness, mass and morphology, are critical indicators of forest ecosystem dynamics, shaped by climatic conditions, nutrient deposition and tree species composition. Despite their ecological importance, systematic assessments of the drivers and temporal changes in FF properties across spatial scales remain limited. This knowledge gap hinders the ability to extrapolate site-specific findings to broader regions, crucial for understanding and managing forests under changing environmental conditions.

We focus on identifying the drivers of FF properties and examining how these properties have changed over time at local and regional scales. Using data from inventories, such as the NFI (National Forest Inventory) 3 & 4 and the NFSI (National Forest Soil Inventory) 2 & 3, we investigate relationships between FF properties and key environmental factors, including climate variables, nutrient availability and forest management. This will involve examining spatial patterns and temporal trends in FF properties and understanding how drivers such as climate, nitrogen deposition and shifts in tree species composition influence these patterns. By leveraging statistical and geospatial modeling approaches, the project aims to refine methods for transferring plot-level data to broader scales, ensuring reliable representation of FF variability and trends. The inventory-based results on the factors influencing FF are compared with the process-oriented investigations at the study sites of the Forest Floor project (DFG FOR 5315) in order to be able to interpret the correlations found in the inventory data.

The outcomes of this research will provide crucial insights into how FF properties respond to environmental and management changes, contributing to improved forest monitoring and sustainable management strategies. By bridging the gap between localized observations and large-scale assessments, this work supports national and international efforts to evaluate FF in the context of climate change and other impacts.

How to cite: Rubin, L., Jost, P., and Puhlmann, H.: Upscaling forest floor properties: identifying drivers and assessing temporal changes on a regional scale, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20206, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20206, 2025.

This study focuses on the estimation of the Winkler Index by several sources in the Oltrepò Pavese (Northern Italy) region, identified as the study area of the NODES project. The Winkler Index, also known as Thermal Sum, is useful for assessing grape ripening: the index, based exclusively on temperature, is traditionally derived from in-situ air temperature measurements.
Within the NODES Project, rather than focusing on a few sites, which could be monitored locally, we are interested in the analysis of large-scale areas. For this reason, we took into consideration global Land Surface Temperature derived from satellite data.
Three data sources are focused, in this paper:
- Air temperature observations from the ARPA monitoring stations (ARPA is the Environmental Protection Agency of the Lombardy Region), which despite their dense temporal granularity have a low spatial resolution (about one station every 92 km² in the study area).
- Land Surface Temperature (LST) data from MODIS TERRA and AQUA satellite imagery, which provide a pixel-averaged Land Surface Temperature/Emissivity over 8 days with a spatial resolution of 1 km².
- Daily Copernicus air temperature data, which have a spatial resolution of 0.1° x 0.1° (approximately 11 km x 8 km).
Our main objective was to develop a robust methodology to estimate air temperature from MODIS Land Surface Temperature and then evaluate the applicability of this approach to calculate the Winkler Index, using ARPA temperature data as ground truth for calibration and validation.
MODIS satellite-derived LST data were processed to derive estimated air temperatures via regression-based calibration techniques: the calibrated models were validated using statistical metrics, including root mean square error (RMSE) and p-values, to verify the accuracy and reliability of the estimates.
Lastly, we used Copernicus air temperature data to directly compute the Winkler Index.
The Winkler Index was calculated for the study area over the years 2018-2022, capturing interannual variability and trends influenced by climate conditions.
The Winkler Indices derived from MODIS-calibrated air temperatures showed a strong overall agreement with those obtained from ARPA data, demonstrating the potential of this approach for areas without dense meteorological networks. On the other hand, the Winkler Indices calculated from Copernicus are not always in excellent agreement with the ones evaluated from monitoring stations, considered as true.
The results of this study highlight the feasibility of leveraging satellite-based datasets to complement traditional meteorological observations for agricultural and climate research. By combining MODIS and Copernicus data with in-situ measurements, the study provides a scalable and cost-effective framework to estimate air temperature and calculate the Winkler Index over large spatial extents.
This approach has significant implications beyond viticulture, enabling more precise assessments of regional suitability and supporting adaptive management strategies in the context of climate change

How to cite: Rocca, M. T. and Casella, V. M.: Obtaining the Winkler Index for agricultural applications: a three-fold Assessment involving ground monitored data, MODIS-derived models and Copernicus-supplied data, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20915, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20915, 2025.

The use of bioinoculants was emerging as an effective strategy to increase soil productivity, particularly in degraded areas where nutrient scarcity limits the potential of livestock systems. Inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) provides stimulation functions through the synthesis of phytohormones and available nutrients. Among PGPBs, the genus Azospirillum is known for its biostimulant capacity, while the genus Herbaspirillum includes nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Additionally, microorganisms from the genus Trichoderma are recognized for their ability to solubilize phosphorus. This study evaluates the efficacy of a bacterial consortium combining Azospirillum brasilense (A), Herbaspirillum seropedicae (AH), and Trichoderma haziarum (AT) to determine their potential as biostimulants and biofertilizers in Lolium perenne, a forage species with high nutritional value. The methodological set up included a laboratory phase where the microorganisms' ability to synthesize phytohormones was measured (Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), cytokinins: trans-zeatin (ZT), trans-zeatin riboside (ZTR), and abscisic acid (ABA)). Also the nitrogen-fixing potential of H. seropedicae was evaluated using the acetylene reduction assay (ARA), and the phosphate-solubilizing capacity of T. harziarum was assessed using a semi-quantitative technique to measure solubilization halos. In a second phase, L. perenne seeds were sown in commercial substrate inoculated with A, AH, AT, and a control treatment (C). The following parameters were recorded: weekly longitudinal growth (WLG), at 30 days, total chlorophyll content (TCh), percentage of coverage (PC), dry weight of aerial biomass (ABiom), and root biomass (RBiom). The results showed detectable levels of growth-regulating hormone synthezed for all the microorganisms evaluated. Additionally, H. seropedicae exhibited nitrogen-fixing activity with a value of (8.33 ± 0.9) nmol C₂H₄ plant⁻¹ h⁻¹, while T. harziarum displayed a pH indicator shift, indicating a positive result for phosphorus solubilization. The growth parameter data demonstrated early seed emergence in inoculated treatments, with greater grass height (WLG) observed in co-inoculated treatments (C: 5; A: 7; AT: 8.5; AH: 8) cm. The consortia also showed higher root biomass development (RBiom: C: 0.76; A: 0.86; AT: 1.10; AH: 0.95) g and percentage of coverage (PC), with the H. seropedicae treatment standing out (C: 45.5%; A: 62.8%; AT: 60%; AH: 71.3%). In aerial biomass (ABiom, C: 0.89; A: 1.15; AT: 1.21; AH: 1.3 g) and total chlorophyll content (TCh, C: 0.68; A: 0.84; AT: 0.73; AH: 0.75 mg/g). Co-inoculated treatments did not show significant differences. Inoculations improved all the growth parameters studied; however, co-inoculations optimized the benefits, likely due to the combined potential to provide regulatory hormones and nutrient availability functions. In this regard, the AH combination stood out in the PC parameter, possibly due to the nitrogen-fixing ability of H. seropedicae. We conclude that joint inoculations should be further studied to optimize strategies for crop management.

How to cite: Cristóbal-Miguez, A. E. J., Galelli, M. E., Paz-Gonzalez, A., Avram, I. L., García Guzmán, E., Alegre, A. B., Curá, A. J., García, A. R., and Sarti, G. C.: Biostimulant and biofertilizer functions of a bacterial consortia in Lolium perenne, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20998, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20998, 2025.

The loss of ecosystem services in semi-arid climate is closely linked to the rise of intensive agriculture and the disappearance of landscape elements that have served as buffer areas for hydrological processes and biodiversity over the last decades. As a response, environmental and agricultural policies and initiatives are now being implemented to restore these landscape elements and preserve those that remain in agricultural landscapes. Hedgerows are linear landscape elements that provide several ecosystem services. However, this positive impact varies depending on hedgerows’ characteristics and location.

This study analyses vegetation diversity and its impact on soil properties in eight hedgerows in Southern Spain's Cordoba province. To carry out this, 10m sections were defined in each hedgerow, considering two zones for soil sampling (inside the hedgerow, and within the agricultural field near it, hereafter outside the hedgerow). The evaluation of vegetation consisted of the identification of species of interest in terms of diversity, a general description of the current status of the hedgerow, and a floristic composition and dendrometric variables recording. The analysis of soil properties encompasses samples from different shallow depths (0-5 and 5-10 cm, or only 0-10 cm), and it included pH, soil hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, stability of aggregates, soil respiration by microorganisms, soil organic carbon and extractable phosphorus.

74 species were identified in total, with a high variability of the number of species recorded in most of the hedgerows, where 58% of the identified vegetative species appeared only in one of them, showing the relevance of this vegetative element in the preservation of vegetative species. Significant differences between inside and outside were obtained in all soil properties, except in extractable phosphorus and pH. Soil aggregate stability and organic carbon reached average values of 424.3 g kg^-1 and 3.0% inside, versus 265.8 g kg^-1 and 1.4% outside, respectively. There was a large variability in some of these properties among different hedgerows. For example, soil respiration varied from 229.7 to 1936.1 mg CO₂ kg^-1 day^-1 and 117.9 to 561.7 mg CO₂ kg^-1 day^-1 inside and outside the eight hedgerows, respectively. This contribution highlights many variables to be considered in hedgerows’ assessments and their complexity, such as the moment of establishment, current management of neighbouring plots, and state of conservation of the own hedgerow.

Acknowledgement: This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project PID2019-105793RB-I00), financial support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 under the project SCALE (EUHorizon2020 GA 862695), and a predoctoral fellowship for the first author (PRE2020-093846).

How to cite: Muñoz, J. A., Guzmán, G., Montoliu, J., Hayas, A., Ramos, A., López, M., Mora, J., and Gómez, J. A.: Impact of hedgerows on the improvement of soil characteristics and vegetation diversity in the semi-arid agricultural landscape of Spain, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-430, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-430, 2025.

Soil water fluxes, including soil moisture, water storage, and recharge flux, are essential components of energy exchange at the Earth's surface and are fundamental to modeling land surface processes. Accurate estimation of soil hydraulic properties (SHPs) at the field scale is critical for simulating these fluxes, particularly within the vadose zone. Consequently, a robust understanding of soil water dynamics and associated processes relies on the precise characterization of SHPs. The experimental determination of these properties at different spatial scales are challenging and often time-consuming, especially in the case of vertically heterogeneous soils. Studies showed that the vegetation indices can provide sub-surface hydrological information. For example, the Leaf area index (LAI) of forest cover was found to be strongly correlated with the groundwater levels. This indicates that vegetation has the potential to act as a proxy for understanding many surface and sub-surface soil water processes. Inverse modeling approaches provide an opportunity to use vegetation information to estimate SHPs. The present study is aimed at developing and testing methodologies for estimating SHPs for multi-layered soils, specifically field capacity and wilting point, in an agricultural watershed. This is accomplished using variables like surface soil moisture, surface soil temperature, and canopy variables (Leaf Area Index and evapotranspiration) as proxies in different weighted likelihood combinations and carrying out the inverse modeling using the soil water balance model STICS. The methodology has been developed for three layered soil profiles (0 to 10 cm, 11 to 50 cm, and 51 to 100 cm) with combinations made from four major soil textures: sandy loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam, and clay, making 12 soil combinations. A sensitivity analysis of canopy variables relative to soil water storage properties was carried out to determine the best choice of canopy variable for estimating soil water fluxes using the EASI Method.  The results show that the soil moisture and canopy variables showed a strong correlation with SHPs, indicating that these variables could provide reliable estimates of soil water fluxes. In which the leaf area index shows more sensitivity towards the subsurface layers (sensitivity index~0.4). The study showed that the likelihood combinations of variables with higher weights to canopy variables provided better estimates of SHPs in the deeper layers. With the use of the likelihood combinations made by surface and canopy variables, we achieved mean relative absolute errors of 4% for the surface layer properties and 10% for the root zone SHPs, especially in water-stressed conditions. Since the variables used in this study are potentially accessible from the remote sensing data, the application of this methodology at large spatial scales is feasible, thereby generating spatial maps of sub-surface soil properties at regional scales, which can aid in the improved modeling of sub-surface soil moisture.

How to cite: Vk, A. and Krishnan, S.: Vegetation as proxies for improving the estimation of soil water fluxes, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-446, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-446, 2025.

Soil aggregates swell when infiltrated by water, and their size can increase in two ways. First, aggregates can attach to one another with water acting as a bridge (i.e., adsorption), and water can enter the aggregate pores (i.e., swelling). This is defined as the “adsorption-swelling” effect. Second, clay can fill the pores of macroaggregates and microaggregates (i.e., filling) when adsorption occurs. This is defined as the “adsorption-filling” effect. However, the size range of aggregates affected by these effects and the extent of their influence on aggregate swelling are still unclear. Therefore, different initial size fractions (5 ~ 2, 2 ~ 1, 1 ~ 0.5, 0.5 ~ 0.25 and 0.25 ~ 0.053 mm) of soil aggregates from the black soil zone of Northeast China were studied. The size range of swollen aggregates, the “adsorption-swelling” rate (V) of initial size fractions, and the “adsorption-filling” rate (E) of size fractions < 0.053 mm were measured and calculated in three experimental treatments that involved the following procedures: i) wet-sieving of each initial size fraction in deionized water (WS); ii) wet-sieving of each initial size fraction of air-dried aggregates after they were soaked in absolute ethanol (WS_as); and iii) the size fraction < 0.053 mm air-dried aggregates were mixed with each initial size fraction of air-dried aggregates in absolute ethanol and then wet-sieved (WS_af). The results were as follows: i) the size fraction 2 ~ 0.053 mm were swollen. ii) V decreased exponentially with decreasing initial particle size, with a maximum value of 32.30% at a size fraction of 2 ~ 1mm; and iii) the “adsorption-filling” effect of size fraction < 0.053 mm was obvious in the size fraction < 2 mm swelling aggregates with a maximum of 29.54%. The “adsorption-swelling” and “adsorption-filling” effects had greater impacts on soils with high contents of the size fractions 2 ~ 1 and < 0.053 mm. This study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the swelling mechanisms of soil aggregates.

Key words: soil aggregates, wet-sieving, swelling, adsorption, filling

How to cite: Zhao, Y., Wang, H., Chen, X., and Fu, Y.: New insights into the swelling of black soil aggregates, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2988, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2988, 2025.

Objective: Returning farmland to forests is an important ecological construction project in China. Establishing a soil health evaluation system to evaluate the soil health of returning farmland to forests under different vegetation restoration in the black soil region of Northeast China can provide data support for scientific evaluation of the ecological benefits of returning farmland to forests. Methods: Taking the surface soil of two major vegetation types (pure birch forest and elm-lonicera mixed forest) in the black soil region of Northeast China as the object of study, and using the soil of cultivated land as the control. Combination of field sampling and indoor experiments was used to investigate the characteristics and differences of physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil under the conditions of different vegetation restoration. Based on the Cornell Soil Health Assessment, the soil health evaluation of different vegetation was carried out. Results: i) In the 0~10cm soil layer, the soil bulk density of pure forest and mixed forest decreased significantly by 15.14%~19.18%, and the saturated water holding capacity increased significantly by 33.35%~58.53% compared with the control. In the 10~20cm soil layer, the soil bulk density of pure forest and mixed forest decreased significantly by 6.71%~9.04% compared with the control, and the difference of saturated water holding capacity was insignificant compared with the control.(ii) In the 0-10cm soil layer, the soil carbon, nitrogen and available potassium contents of pure forest and mixed forest increased significantly by 21.75%-29.15%, 35.05%-47.71% and 35.12%-121.63% respectively compared with the control. In the 10-20cm soil layer, the soil carbon, nitrogen and available potassium contents of pure forest and mixed forest increased significantly by 53.57%-54.78%, 93.29%-120.34% and 60.71%-183.28%. iii) In the 0-10cm soil layer, the soil microbial carbon and nitrogen content of pure and mixed forests significantly increased by 97.46%-183.43% and 60.54%-142.54%, respectively compared with the control and in the 10-20cm layer, the soil microbial carbon and nitrogen content of pure and mixed forests significantly increased by 18.63% - 82.55% and 59.00% - 101.34% compared with the control. iv) In the 0-10cm soil layer, the results of soil health scores were mixed forests (11.80 points) > pure forests (8.80 points) > CK (5.47 points). In the 10-20cm soil layer, the results of soil health scores were mixed forests (8.41 points) > pure forests (7.03 points) > CK (4.03 points). Conclusion: The soil health scores of pure and mixed forests were significantly higher than those of the control, and the soil health scores of mixed forests were the highest.The effect of vegetation on the restoration of top soil was more significant after the return of farmland to forest.Vegetation mainly improved soil health by increasing the stability of soil structure.It is suggested that plant species can be enriched in the restoration of degraded soils, and the plant configuration method of mixed tree-irrigation can be used to better restore soil health.

How to cite: Liu, B.: Soil health evaluation of rehabilitation lands based on Cornell Soil Health Assessment, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-3104, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-3104, 2025.

Vegetation restoration is the most important factor to restrain soil and water loss in the Chinese Loess Plateau, and its effect is long-term. Among them, the coupling and coordination relationship between vegetation and soil is the key to the smooth implementation of ecological restoration and the project of returning farmland to forest and grassland. However, people have neglected whether the choice of vegetation restoration method is suitable for the development of ecological environment in this region, and whether vegetation and soil coexist harmoniously. In this paper, the typical watersheds with similar terrain environment but different vegetation restoration methods were selected as the research objects, which were Dongzhuanggou (natural restoration, NR) and Yangjiagou (artificial restoration, AR). Through vegetation investigation and soil physical property experiment, the comprehensive evaluation function was used to quantify the impact of restoration methods on vegetation characteristics and soil properties, and the vegetation-soil coupling model was used to explore the coordinated development of vegetation and soil under different restoration methods. The results showed that there were significant differences between the two restoration methods in terms of vegetation characteristics (P < 0.05). The vegetation diversity indices of NR were 1.59–4.81 times that of AR. For root characteristic indices, NR was 1.05–2.25 times that of AR. For soil physical properties, there was no significant difference between the two restoration methods (P > 0.05). The comprehensive evaluation function of vegetation (VCE) and soil (SCE) under NR were 0.74 and 0.42, respectively, while those under AR were 0.55 and 0.63, respectively. The comprehensive function showed that the vegetation population performance under NR was slightly better than that under AR, while the soil restoration effect was opposite. Under the two restoration methods, the vegetation-soil coupling relationship was barely coordinated (NR: 0.53; AR: 0.54), and both were the intermediate coordinated development mode. The vegetation diversity, tending level and soil management level should be improved simultaneously during the process of vegetation restoration on the Chinese Loess Plateau.

How to cite: Feng, L.: Evaluation of the effects of long-term natural and artificial restoration on vegetation characteristics, soil properties and their coupling coordinations, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4758, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4758, 2025.

This study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal changes and trade-offs/synergies of ecosystem services within the Beiluo River Basin to provide a scientific foundation for rational resource allocation and sustainable development. Utilizing multi-source data and models, such as InVEST and CSLE, to quantitatively assess and analyze the spatiotemporal variations and trade-offs/synergies of three key ecosystem services—water yield, soil conservation, and carbon storage—across different periods. These periods include the relatively stable land use period from 1970 to 1990, the transitional period around 2000, and the ecological restoration period from 2010 to 2020. This study showed that：1) The overall water yield of the basin initially showed an increasing trend, followed by fluctuating decline, bottoming out in the 2000s. During the first period, the average water yield was 10.16×10⁸ m³ (37.75 mm), which decreased by 36.9% during the second period and by 25.53% during the third period compared to the initial period. Among the three land use types of forests, cropland, and grassland, the total water yield and water yield depth of cropland are always the highest, while the water yield depth of forest was always the lowest. 2) The total soil conservation displayed an upward trend with fluctuations, peaking in the 2010s. Over the first period, the average annual soil conservation was 305.62×10⁶ t (113.57 t/hm²), which increased to 364.52×10⁶ t in the transition period and significantly increased to 426.19×10⁶ t (157.75 t/hm²)during the third period. The soil conservation capacity of forests was significantly greater than that of cropland, and the construction of terraces and other engineering measures have greatly enhanced the function of cropland.3) The total carbon storage remained stable and then continued to increase, with a notable increase from the 2000s onwards, and a 24.09% increase in the 2020s when compared with the 1970s. Forests were the main carbon reservoirs, with their carbon storage significantly increasing, whereas that in grassland and cropland have decreased due to the reduction in their areas.4) Regarding changes in the spatial pattern, the areas experiencing a decrease in water yield and an increase in soil conservation and carbon storage were mainly concentrated in the high plateau and gully areas, as well as the hilly and gully regions. 5) At the basin scale, there was a trade-off between water yield and soil conservation, as well as carbon storage. Soil conservation and carbon storage, however, exhibited a synergistic relationship. The degree of synergy between soil conservation and carbon storage decreased over time, while the trade-off between water yield and the other two remained relatively stable. With the restoration of vegetation, the three key ecosystem service exhibited significant temporal and spatial variation characteristics, possessing relatively stable trade-off and synergistic relationships. The research results can provide a scientific basis for enhancing the comprehensive benefits of ecosystem services on the Loess Plateau.

Keywords: ecosystem services; InVEST Model; CSLE Model; trade-offs and synergies; Beiluo River Basin

How to cite: Zhang, Y., Zhang, X., Sun, W., Geng, W., Wang, H., Wang, M., Yu, K., and Liu, X.: Spatiotemporal Evolution Characteristics and Trade-offs/Synergies of Water Yield, Soil Conservation, and Carbon Storage Ecosystem Services in the Beiluo River Basin from 1970 to 2020, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-5027, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-5027, 2025.

This study aims to clarify the spatial distribution characteristics of ridge plant belts on soil water-holding capacity and soil structure in sloping farmland, providing a scientific basis for optimizing ridge plant belt configurations and soil and water conservation measures in Northeast China's black soil region. Sloping farmland with ridge plant belts was selected as the research object (Ridge 1: ridge spacing of 12.5 m; Ridge 2: ridge spacing of 19.5 m), and sloping farmland was selected as the control. Soil samples were collected at uniform spatial intervals from both sloping arable land with ridge vegetation strips and the control area to measure key soil properties in the surface layer (0–15 cm), and to quantify the differences in the spatial distribution characteristics of soil water-holding capacity and soil structure in sloping farmland with different spacings of ridge plant belts.  (1) Compared to the control, the sloping farmland with ridge construction showed a significant increase in total porosity, capillary porosity, saturated water holding capacity, field capacity, and capillary water holding capacity, with a relatively uniform distribution across the slope with ridge. In addition, compared to the sloping farmland with ridge 2, the soil on the sloping farmland with ridge 1 showed an increase of 0.96-1.11 times in total porosity, 1.21-1.31 times in capillary porosity, 1.03-1.25 times in saturated water holding capacity, 1.22-1.78 times in field capacity, and 1.33-1.52 times in capillary water holding capacity, respectively. (2) The soil mechanical stable aggregate content, MWD (mean weight diameter), water-stable aggregate content, and GMD (geometric mean diameter) in the sloping farmland with ridge showed significant improvements across all fields. Compared to the controls, the sloping farmland with ridge increased by 1.01-1.15 times, 0.94-1.61 times, 1-1.17 times, and 1.05-1.55 times, respectively. This indicates that the sloping farmland with ridge effectively improves soil structure compared to the control. Moreover, compared to the sloping farmland with ridge 2, the soil mechanical stable aggregate content, MWD, water-stable aggregate content, and GMD in the sloping farmland with ridge 1 increased by 1.08-1.14 times, 0.95-1.28 times, 1.07-1.15 times, and 1.14-1.40 times, respectively. Constructing ridges can improve water retention capacity structure characteristics of soil,with a more significant improvement effect observed in relatively small distances smaller distances between ridges, providing a scientific basis for the optimization of water and soil conservation measures for ridge and vegetation belts and sloping cultivated land in the black soil area of Northeast China. The construction of ridges on sloping farmland can improve the soil water-holding capacity and soil structural characteristics. In this study, sloping farmland with a smaller ridge spacing demonstrated a more significant improvement in soil quality. This research provides a scientific basis for optimizing water and soil conservation strategies in the black soil region of Northeast China, emphasizing the importance of ridge spacing in enhancing soil quality and water retention capacity in sloping farmland.

How to cite: Shao, S.: Spatial distribution characteristics of ridge plant belts on soil water-holding capacity and soil structure in sloping farmland, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-5365, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-5365, 2025.

Abstract: Terraces and vegetative measures significantly enhance soil organic carbon levels and improve the efficiency of soil carbon sequestration, serving as crucial soil and water conservation strategies. There are few studies on the differences and influencing factors of soil organic carbon sequestration benefits resulting from the combination of engineering measures and plant measures. Thus, the study analyzed the variations in soil organic carbon content(SOC) and its primary influencing factors across different vegetation cover types in terraces, and evaluated the soil carbon sequestration benefits of terraces. The study selected 96 sample plots in Wuqi County, Shaanxi province, including 37 Terraced Croplands (TC), 23 Terraced Grasslands (TG), 18 Terraced Forestlands (TF), 10 Terraced orchards (OL), as well as 8 Slope Croplands (SC) on hillsides. Soil samples were collected from soil layers at depths of 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-40 cm, 40-60 cm, 60-80 cm, and 80-100 cm, totaling 576 soil samples. In the laboratory, we measured indicators such as soil organic carbon, soil moisture content, soil bulk density, and soil mechanical composition. 1) The SOC in the 0-100 cm soil layer of the four types of land cover under the terrace ranged from 2.34 to 3.42 g/kg, with the order of TF> OL> TG> TC. 2) After SC is convert into TF, TG, TO and TC, it has improved the carbon sequestration benefits of soil. The carbon sequestration of TF, TO, TG and TC is 12.01, 8.78, 8.13 and 2.13 t/hm², respectively. 3) The vertical distribution of soil carbon sequestration benefits differs among various land cover types. The soil carbon sequestration benefit of terraced fields is higher in the 60-100 cm soil layer than the 0-40 cm soil layer. However, when terracing is combined with vegetation measures, the trend is reversed. 4) The SOC of TF, TG, TO TC, and SC exhibits a significant negative correlation with soil bulk density and an extremely significant positive correlation with soil moisture content, respectively. However, compared to SC, only the soil moisture content of TC and TO shows a significant increase. The implementation of terrace measures influences soil carbon sequestration benefits by increasing soil moisture, especially enhancing the sequestration in deep soil layers. When terraces are combined with vegetation measures, the soil carbon sequestration benefits are further enhanced, with a particularly greater impact on the sequestration benefits of surface soil. The results of our study could provide strong support for achieving the effects of relevant soil and water conservation measures and developing carbon sequestration methodology.

Keywords: soil and water conservation; soil carbon sequestration; terrace; Loess Plateau; monitoring and evaluation

How to cite: Yu, K., Zhang, X., Cheng, H., Wang, H., Geng, W., Liu, X., Wang, M., Zhang, Y., and Sun, W.: Carbon Sequestration Benefit and Influencing Factors in Terraces with Different Cover Types of Soil in the Loess Hilly Region, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-6354, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-6354, 2025.

Abstract:

Revegetation is vital for enhancing soil carbon sequestration. However, the impacts of revegetation and terracing measures on soil organic carbon (SOC) and SOC sequestration (SOCS), and the differences in the effects of revegetation on SOC and SOCS when implemented on sloped fields versus terraced fields, are still unclear. Thus, we conducted a field survey on cropland (CL), grassland (GL), and forestland (FL) on both sloped fields and terraced fields in Wuqi county, China’s Loess Plateau. The results showed that SOC content in FL at 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–40 cm, 40–60 cm depths were 1.70, 1.28, 1.28, and 1.19 times respectively higher than in CL. Similarly, SOC content in GL at the same depths were 1.30, 1.13, 1.18, and 1.20 times higher than in CL. In terraced, SOC content at 40–60 cm, 60–80 cm, 80–100 cm depths were 1.22, 1.28, and 1.20 times respectively higher than on sloped fields. Revegetation primarily significantly affected SOC at 0–10 cm depth on sloped fields (GL: p = 0.04; FL: p < 0.01), and more deeply (0–100 cm) on terraced fields (GL at 40–80 cm: p < 0.05; FL: p < 0.01). Furthermore, revegetation on sloped fields generated the highest SOCS at 0–40 cm depth, with a subsequent decrease as depth increased to 40–100 cm depth. Conversely, on terraced, SOCS increased with soil depth within the 0–100 cm depth. These results indicated that revegetation primarily enhanced SOCS in the surface soil (0–40 cm), and terracing measures stabilized the SOCS in the surface soil and further enhanced them in deeper soil horizons (0–100 cm). Therefore, in the context of soil erosion control and ecological restoration, the combined implementation of vegetation restoration and engineering measures can effectively stabilize and enhance SOCS, thereby fully leveraging the role of soil in mitigation climate change.

Keywords: Soil and water conservation measures; Carbon sequestration; Land use change；Vegetation restoration; Engineering measures; Deep soil organic carbon

How to cite: Cheng, H., Feng, H., Zhang, X., Yu, K., Wang, H., Geng, W., Liu, X., Zhang, Y., Wang, M., and Sun, W.: Terracing Measures Stabilize and Enhance Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Benefits of Revegetation on the Loess Plateau, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-7631, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-7631, 2025.

In this study we investigate the effects of rewilding, a spontaneous process ongoing since decades after land abandonment at national and European levels, with a focus on the replacement of former grasslands and pastures by tree forest. In particular, we explored the ecological dynamics occurring within the topsoil. The main objectives are: i) to clarify how topsoil physico-chemical properties change along the successional gradient, ii) to provide an overview of soil microbial communities response along the same gradient, and iii) assess causal relationships among soil predictors and microbial response, in terms of community composition and diversity, as well as abundance of bacterial and fungal taxonomic groups. The study areas were the Foreste Casentinesi National Park and the Julian Prealps Regional Park (Italy), In both areas we identified by historical ortophotos (period 1954-2020) five successional stages replicated in four chronosequences: grassland-pasture (G), shrubland (S), early (E), intermediate (I), and late afforestation (L). Replicated topsoil samples (0–10 cm) were analysed for pH, bulk density (BD), and organic carbon (OC), and total nitrogen (N) contents. Microbial communities were assessed from environmental DNA extracted by the fine soil fractions followed by DNA metabarcoding using ITS and 16S markers for fungi and bacteria, respectively. Results showed that as the succession progresses, soil acidification and a reduction in bulk density occur, coupled with an increase in soil organic matter at later stages in mature soils. However, such trends are quantitatively affected by site-specific variability. Bacterial and fungal communities respond differently to secondary grassland afforestation: fungi, mainly Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, exhibit greater specialisation in mature successional stages, while bacteria, dominated by Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobiota, show more site-specific traits. Comparisons between the two study areas showed a lower variability in microbial diversity in the Casentino National Park, likely due to its more homogeneous environmental conditions, including plant cover. Our study underlines the functional importance of soil biota in enhancing and sustaining carbon storage in forest soils undergoing natural afforestation. On a broader scale, the study highlights the value of nature-based solutions such as rewilding for climate neutrality and biodiversity conservation.

How to cite: Panico, S. C., Alberti, G., Foscari, A., Orzan, L., Piazza, N., Tomao, A., and Incerti, G.: Soil microbial communities dynamic in spontaneous afforestation: a comparative analysis between the Casentino Forests and the Julian Prealps, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-8569, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-8569, 2025.

The Weibei Upland is an important area for apple production in China and globally. In this study, soil samples were collected and analyzed from 27 representative apple orchards in Luochuan, Baishui, and Qianyang in the northern, eastern, and western parts of the Weibei Upland to determine the levels of Pb, Cd, Cr, As, Cu, and Hg, and to assess their ecological and health risks.

The results of the survey showed that the concentrations of all six heavy metals in the soil of apple orchards in the region were below the risk control values, with arsenic being the heavy element with the highest risk. The comprehensive ecological environmental risks of the investigated orchards are all in clean condition (Nemero index<1). Heavy metals in orchard soils in the region have a high childhood cancer risk and are much higher than in adults.

The survey further demonstrated that geographical location had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on the ecological and non-carcinogenic risk of heavy metals in local orchards, but agricultural management practices did not have a significant effect on the ecological and health risk of local orchards（P > 0.05）.

The results of this study may provide a scientific basis for the sustainable management and environmental protection of apple orchards in the Weibei Upland, and it is recommended to strengthen the regulation of the use of heavy metals in the production and cultivation of apple orchards in this region in order to reduce heavy metal pollution and risks.

How to cite: sun, W., Zhang, X., Bai, G., Geng, W., Wang, H., Wang, M., Zhang, Y., Yu, K., Liu, X., and Gómez, J. A.: Sustainable agricultural management does not reduce heavy metals and associated risks in apple orchard soil, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9281, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9281, 2025.

Abstract: The depletion of soil nutrients and the increased erodibility of soil have exacerbated the degree of soil degradation, thereby impeding the sustainable development of ecosystems. Vegetation restoration, as a widely implemented measure to prevent soil degradation, is valued for its role in enhancing soil nutrients and reducing soil erodibility. To investigate the impact of vegetation restoration measures on soil nutrients and erodibility in the Loess Hilly Region, this study selected Wuqi County, the pioneer county of China's Grain-for-Green Project, as the research site, with sloping farmland serving as the control. Four types of vegetation restoration were chosen: artificial forests (Armeniaca sibirica, Pinus tabulaeformis, Robinia pseudoacacia), artificial mixed forests (Pinus tabulaeformis mixed with Armeniaca sibirica, Pinus tabulaeformis mixed with Robinia pseudoacacia), shrub forests (Hippophae rhamnoides), and abandoned grasslands. The physicochemical properties of the soil at depths of 0—5 cm, 5—20 cm, and 20—40 cm were measured. The Comprehensive Soil Nutrient Index (CSNI) and the Comprehensive Soil Erodibility Index (CSEI) were combined, and a weighted summation method was used to calculate the Comprehensive Soil Quality Index (CSQI), thereby reflecting the impact of vegetation restoration on the improvement of soil nutrients and erodibility. The results indicated that the vegetation types with the highest CSQI were Pinus tabulaeformis mixed with Armeniaca sibirica (3.43), Pinus tabulaeformis mixed with Robinia pseudoacacia (3.22), Robinia pseudoacacia (2.85), Armeniaca sibirica (2.37), Pinus tabulaeformis (2.22), Hippophae rhamnoides (3.06), and grassland (2.93). The CSNI was primarily influenced by the Soil Structure Stability Index (SSSI), sand content, and the content of silt + clay, while the CSEI was controlled by soil organic matter (SOM), macroaggregates, and microaggregates. Overall, vegetation restoration can effectively enhance soil nutrients and improve soil erodibility. Mixed forests, compared to single-species forests, shrublands, and abandoned grasslands, are more effective in improving soil aggregate stability and resistance to erosion. This study provides a reference for assessing vegetation restoration measures.

Keywords: Soil degradation, Soil nutrients, Soil erodibility, Soil quality, Vegetation restoration, Loess Plateau

How to cite: Geng, W., Zhang, X., Hu, Z., Duan, C., Wang, H., Wang, M., Sun, W., Liu, X., Zhang, Y., Yu, K., and Strauss, P.: Effects of vegetation restoration measures on soil nutrients and erodibility in loess hilly region, China, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10934, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10934, 2025.

Abstract: Clarifying the complex dynamics of ecosystem service (ES) flows and identifying the key locations of the ecosystem service supply-demand chain is crucial for achieving sustainable management of ecosystem services. However, the understanding of how ES flows respond in ecological restoration projects is in urgent need of deepening. Taking the Loess Plateau in Northern Shaanxi, China as an example, this study quantitatively analyzed the effects of the Grain-for-Green Program, the world's largest vegetation restoration project, and the check-dam construction, the key soil and water conservation project.

       The results show that between 2000 and 2020, compared to the sum of the benefits generated by the two projects implemented separately, the inter-regional ES flows in the areas where these two projects were jointly implemented increased significantly (p<0.01) in terms of carbon sequestration, water source conservation, flood regulation, and soil water retention. The ES carbon flow increased year by year and then tended to stabilize, while the ES water flow showed a fluctuating downward trend with the increase of years, the trend degree of water flow rate change is -1.33×10³ m³/(km²·a). The impact of different projects showed spatial heterogeneity across the entire region, with a significant increase in regional ES flows observed in the western areas. Quantitative analysis indicated that when the Grain-for-Green Program and silt dam construction were jointly implemented, the regional ES flows of all services were higher, and the synergistic fields were more extensive. The research results can provide references for the ecological protection and restoration of the Loess Plateau region.

Keywords: Ecosystem Service Flows; Ecological Restoration; Soil and Water Conservation; Supply and Demand

How to cite: Hu, Z., Zhang, X., Geng, W., Zhang, Y., Duan, C., Wang, M., Wang, H., Liu, X., Sun, W., and Yu, K.: Response of ecosystem service flows to the ecological restoration project of Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi Province, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11388, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11388, 2025.

Recent advancements by national institutions in Japan have significantly enhanced the accessibility of geotechnical information, enabling researchers to utilize extensive datasets via online platforms. While these datasets have been widely employed in various studies, systematic analyses of relationships among variables within large-scale geotechnical data remain limited. This study aims to address this gap by analyzing relationships between variables using a comprehensive nationwide dataset of soil tests provided by the National Geo-Information Center (NGIC). The analysis of soil hydraulic conductivities revealed a strong dependence on the proportion of fine-grained components, such as clay and silt fractions. However, correlation analysis indicated that the strongest relationship, observed with the clay fraction, yielded a correlation coefficient of -0.51, suggesting a moderate association. Further investigation into variables such as dry density, natural water content, and void ratio demonstrated their dependence on the proportion of fine-grained fractions. Notably, the upper and lower bounds of these variables were influenced by fine particle content. A particularly significant finding was the observation that as the proportion of fine particles decreased, the void ratio also declined, leading to an increase in the permeability coefficient. These results provide valuable insights into the relationships between geotechnical properties and particle-size composition, offering a novel perspective on soil behavior. This study highlights the potential of utilizing extensive geotechnical datasets to advance our understanding of soil properties and their dependencies. The findings contribute not only to the theoretical understanding of geotechnical systems but also to practical applications in geotechnical engineering, providing a foundation for future research and data-driven approaches to soil analysis.

How to cite: Teruya, S., Ishida, K., and Sato, A.: Analysis of relationships among variables in nationwide big data of geotechnical information in Japan, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12841, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12841, 2025.

Understanding the distribution of soil organic matter, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) within aggregates and across soil profiles is critical for improving soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and long-term sustainability in agricultural systems. This study evaluates the short-term effects of various crop rotations and cover cropping systems on soil organic matter (SOM), aggregate-associated C and N fractions, and their vertical distribution in the soil profile. A three-year field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Research Farm, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, with treatments including: (1) corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation without cover crop (CNSN), (2) corn-soybean rotation with rye cover crop (CRSR), (3) corn-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-soybean rotation without cover crop, and (4) corn-wheat-soybean rotation with a cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop (CWSR). Soil aggregates were collected from 0-5 and 5-15 cm depth and used for assessing aggregate size distribution, aggregate stability, SOM, soil C and N. Bulk density and soil C and N along with soil organic matter was measured from samples collected from 0-90 cm depth. CRSR and CWSN, significantly increased medium-sized aggregates (1-2 mm and 0.5-1 mm) as compared to the CNSN treatment. Including cereal rye into double cropping systems (CWSR) improved soil’s aggregate stability. Cropping systems, particularly those with winter wheat and cereal rye, increased soil organic matter in 2-4.75 mm aggregate fraction as compared the CNSN control. Soil organic matter concentration decreased with depth, with the highest values at 0-5 cm across all cropping systems. Soil bulk density by depths, soil C and N within aggregate and by depth will also be presented at the meeting. Our current findings indicate that utilizing CWSR could provide economic and soil benefits to growers in Illinois.

How to cite: Sheikhi Shahrivar, F., Ola, O., Javid, M., Brevik, E., Williard, K., Schoonover, J., Gage, K., and Sadeghpour, A.: Soil organic matter and carbon fractions within aggregates and in soil profile in double- and cover cropping systems, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13615, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13615, 2025.

Illinois nutrient loss reduction strategy is questing to reduce nitrate-N (NO₃-N) and phosphorus (P) loss by 25 and 15% by 2025. Fall applied ammonium-based P fertilizers could result in both NO₃-N and phosphate loss during the fallow period. Two ways to minimize these losses are by utilizing nitrification inhibitors and also assessing other sources of P including triple superphosphate (TSP) and dissolved air flotation (DAF) that separates solids from liquid manure. A four-times replicated experiment was initiated in fall 2023 with Randomized Complete Block Design and five treatments in Agronomy Research Center, Carbondale, IL. Treatments were fertilizers [Control, TSP, DAF (Dissolved Air Flotation), MAP, & MAPI (MAP + urease and nitrification Inhibitor)], timing (fall & spring) and application type (surface & tilled). Data on nitrous oxide emissions, moisture, temperature, NO₃-N leaching, and soil N were recorded during fall and spring prior to planting of corn (Zea mays L.) and agronomic observations (plant height, LAI & NDVI) were recorded on corn in fall. Soil N₂O-N emissions were higher in MAPI and DAF during early February and late April dates, which can be explained by N availability along with high moisture and high temperatures, respectively during those sampling dates. Over winter and spring, MAPI had consistently higher NO₃-N, NH₄-N and total N especially in the late sampling dates and leaching losses were less under DAF (23% and 34%, respectively) and TSP (56% and 63%, respectively) compared to MAP or MAPI, suggesting that nitrification inhibitor did not reduce leaching from MAP source when applied in fall. Corn growth was slightly higher under DAF compared to other fertility treatments indicating it can be a potential replacement to the synthetic P fertilizers.

How to cite: Koduru, S., Keshavarz Afshar, R., Javid, M., Brevik, E., and Sadeghpour, A.: Nitrate Leaching and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Fall Applied Manure and Phosphorous Fertilizers in Southern Illinois, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13616, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13616, 2025.

Optimizing nitrogen (N) management in agricultural cropping systems is important for reducing nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. This study examined the effect of managing N application in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) double-cropped with soybean (Glycine max L.) on biomass, grain yield, and N₂O emissions. The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Research Center (ARC), Carbondale in Southern Illinois University, IL using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatments include N timing and rate, creating three N management intensities of low, medium, and high. Low-intensity treatment received 120 kg N ha^-1 in fall and spring, medium-intensity treatment received 186 kg N ha^-1 all in spring and high intensity treatment received 186 kg N ha^-1 in fall and spring. Results revealed that the treatment with medium-intensity input of N application did not have a significant effect on winter wheat biomass, grain yield, and N₂O cumulative fluxes in comparison to the high-intensity N management treatment. The results for average soybean grain yield under the various fertilizer inputs (3,087 kg ha^-1) were significantly different when compared to the no-cover crop (NOCC) (3,527 kg ha^-1) The cumulative N₂O fluxes were similar under all treatments for soybean and winter wheat. The summed cumulative N₂O fluxes were similar in both the medium and high N-intensity treatments during the soybean and winter wheat phases but higher than those of low intensity. Since the wheat yield was similar among all treatments, reduction in N₂O during wheat-soybean rotation suggests that low-intensity treatment ensures farm profit while reducing N₂O emissions.

How to cite: Ola, O., Guzel, O., Gage, K., Williard, K., Schoonover, J., Mueller, S., Brevik, E., and Sadeghpour, A.: The Impact of Nitrogen Management and Winter Wheat as A Double Crop on Nitrous Oxide Emissions in A Wheat-Soybean Crop Rotation., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14128, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14128, 2025.

Husks are a common agricultural waste in Indonesia, often discarded or burned, leading to environmental pollution and waste of resources. Therefore, this study proposes an innovative approach to optimize biochar production from rice husks. By determining the optimal pyrolysis temperature and duration, the research aims to produce the highest quality biocharThe pyrolysis temperatures tested were 400°C, 450°C, 500°C, and 550°C, with durations of 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 75 minutes, and 90 minutes, respectively. The physical and chemical properties of the biochar such as pH, element content, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and biochar yield, were evaluated. An environmental impact assessment was conducted using the ReCiPe 2016 Endpoint H method, integrating life cycle assessment (LCA). The results revealed that a pyrolysis temperature of 550°C for 60 minutes enhanced carbon stability, pH, and nutrient retention. Additionally, the ideal pyrolysis duration significantly improved the biochar’s surface properties. According to the LCA analysis, the biochar produced shows great potential for soil improvement and environmental benefits, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This research provides a new framework for balancing biochar quality with its environmental impact and promotes sustainable agricultural waste management as part of a global effort to combat climate change.

How to cite: Wahyuni, T., Ngadisih, N., Purwantana, B., Martini, T., Susilawati, H., Meidaliyantisyah, M., Dewi, R., Maftukhah, R., Alfayanti, A., and Sasongko, N.: The role of temperature and duration of pyrolysis on the properties of rice husk biochar and its environmental implications, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14207, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14207, 2025.

Shifting from reduced tillage (RT) to no-till (NT) often reduces phosphorus (P) runoff by minimizing soil erosion. However, it might increase nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions or nitrate-N (NO_3-N) leaching. Including a legume cover crop such as hairy vetch (Vicia villosa L.) before corn (Zea mays L.) is a common practice among growers in the Midwest USA. However, the effects of hairy vetch following soybean (Glycine max L.) harvest on NO₃-N leaching and N₂O emissions during the following corn season in soil with clay and fragipans are less assessed. This study evaluated the influence of cover crop (hairy vetch vs. no-CC control) and tillage systems (NT vs. RT) when 179 kg ha−1 nitrogen (N) was applied at planting on (i) corn yield, N uptake, removal, and balance; (ii) N₂O emissions and NO₃-N leaching; (iii) yield-scaled N₂O emissions and NO_3-N leaching during two corn growing seasons. We also evaluated factors influencing N₂O emissions and NO₃-N leaching via principal component analysis. Corn grain yield was higher in RT (8.4 Mg ha⁻¹) than NT (6.2 Mg ha⁻¹), reflecting more available N in the soil in RT than NT, possibly due to the favorable aeration and increased soil temperature in deeper soil layers resulting from tillage. Hairy vetch increased corn grain yield and soil N. However, it led to higher losses of both N₂O-N and NO₃-N, indicating that increased corn grain yield, due to the hairy vetch’s N contribution, also resulted in higher N losses. Yield-scaled N₂O-N emissions in NT-2019 (3696.4 g N₂O-N Mg⁻¹) were twofold higher than RT-2019 (1872.7 g N₂O-N Mg⁻¹) and almost fourfold higher than NT-2021 and RT-2021 indicating in a wet year like 2019, yield-scaled N₂O-N emissions were higher in NT than RT. Principal component analysis indicated that NO₃-N leaching was most correlated with soil N availability and corn grain yield (both positive correlations). In contrast, due to the continued presence of soil N, soil N₂O-N fluxes were more driven by soil volumetric water content (VWC) with a positive correlation. We conclude that in soils with claypan and fragipans in humid climates, NT is not an effective strategy to decrease N₂O-N fluxes. Hairy vetch benefits corn grain yield and supplements N but increases N loss through NO₃-N leaching and N₂O-N emissions.

How to cite: Adeyemi, F., Thilakaranthne, A., Tiwari, M., Adeyemi, O., Singh, G., Williard, K., Schoonover, J., Brevik, E., and Sadeghpour, A.: Assessing the Impacts of Tillage and Crop Rotation on Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Poorly Drained Alfisols., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14393, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14393, 2025.

Abstract: Understanding the spatiotemporal changes of sediment yield in watersheds over long time scales and their influencing factors is of great significance for soil and water conservation. Taking the upper Beiluo River Basin(7325 km²)as an example, the WaTEM/SEDEM model was used to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of soil erosion and sediment yield in the watershed from 1980 to 2016, as well as the driving factors, providing a scientific theoretical basis for soil and water conservation on the Loess Plateau. The results show that there have been significant changes in land use in the Beiluo River Basin. Compared to 1980, by 2016,the area of forest and grassland in the upper Beiluo River increased by 1188.60 km², a growth of 25.08%, while the area of cultivated land decreased by 1118.64 km², a reduction of 45.86%. In areas where farmland was converted to forest, the sediment yield of the watershed showed a significant decline. The sediment transport in the study area decreased from an average of 50.99 million tons per year in the 1980s to a multi-year average of 9.3434 million tons per year in this century,and the corresponding sediment transport modulus decreased from 6963 tons/(km²·year)to 1275.65 tons/(km²·year). The intensity of soil erosion was mainly characterized by severe and intense erosion before 1980, while after that, it was mainly slight erosion, followed by extremely intense and light erosion, with the smallest proportion of severe, intense, and moderate erosion. The WaTEM/SEDEM model is applicable to this study area, with a Nash coefficient reaching 0.7. Farmland conversion to forest and ecological restoration are the main driving factors for the reduction of erosion and sediment yield in the study area over the past 40 years. The erosion in the Beiluo River Basin from 1980 to 2016 showed an overall weakening trend. The results indicate that the policy of farmland conversion to forest on the Loess Plateau has been remarkably effective, and ecological vegetation construction should continue to be actively carried out.

Keywords:Soil erosion; WaTEM/SEDEM model; Driving factors; Loess Plateau

How to cite: Duan, C., Zhang, X., Wang, H., Geng, W., Hu, Z., Zhang, Y., Wang, M., Liu, X., Sun, W., Yu, K., Krása, J., Jáchymová, B., and Falcão, R. N. R.: Using WaTEM/SEDEM to characterize the spatiotemporal trend of the erosion and sediment transportation and the driving factor in a Loess Hilly-gully watershed, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14699, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14699, 2025.

In recent decades, intensive agronomic practices, combined with the growing impacts of climate change, have created a harmful synergy for the environment, leading to significant soil degradation and a subsequent decline in the quality of agri-food products. The wine sector is no exception and is particularly affected due to the need to balance grape quality, adapt vine cultivars, and secure the future incomes of farmers.

A key element in future climate simulations is a significant and widespread decrease in rainfall during the grapevine growing cycle at Italian latitudes.

In this context, with the support of Next Generation EU funds, efforts are being made to promote the transition from a linear economic model—characterized by the traditional cycle of extraction, production, consumption, and disposal—to a circular economy model centred on the three Rs: Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle. This concept can be completely applied in the agricultural sector by maximizing the use of resources. Waste products from transformation processes can be reintroduced into the agricultural system in various forms.

The aim of this work based on the use of biodegradable mulching film in viticulture, embraces these aspects by proposing an agronomic solution with the following benefits: i) preserve the soil water content during the vine cultivation by applying a biodegradable mulching film obtained from the waste of the winemaking process; ii) reduce at the same time the soil pollution caused by plastic materials.

To obtain the biofilm, grape pomace (GP) was dried and milled using a grinding machine. Cellulose Acetate (CA) and GP composites were prepared by using a melt mixing method. GP was first added to CA in amounts such that the final concentrations of GP were 10% and 30% wt. The obtained biofilms were then cut and used as mulching films in pots with grape plants in experimental trials. A comparison of pots with biofilm at different concentrations of GP was made with the control (no biofilm) and also with conventional PVC film. The monitoring concerned young grapevine plants of the Aglianico cultivar. The experimental trial was conducted during the season 2024. The plants were cultivated in 25x25 cm pots under outdoor environmental conditions filled with soil sampled up to a depth of 20 cm from a local wine farm.

The soil water content and temperature were monitored through the use of sensors connected to a datalogger for saving data with hourly time step timing, and biometric parameters were measured during the the growth cycle; finally, the LAI index was estimated for each of the theses examined. The weather data were also collected by means of meteorological station near the experimental field. The results in terms of temperatures and water content in pots, showed differences between the different biofilm treatments: the 10% had a very similar behaviour compared to the classic PVC mulch film, while the 30% biofilm treatment had slightly lower performances compared to the 10% and PVC treatments. This is a very promising result for water conservation, beneficial for the optimal growth of vines.

How to cite: Pisano, L.: Assessing the effectiveness of biodegradable mulching film in vineyard: a case study in Southern Italy, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15369, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15369, 2025.

Insect production of “black soldier fly” (BSF) larvae is an efficient and sustainable method to convert residual biomass into useful products. A byproduct from insect production, consisting of larval excrement, residual feed and larval exoskeletons, known as “frass,” contains essential macro- and micronutrients and can be advantageously used as fertilizer in agriculture. In addition to nutrients, frass may also contain plant biostimulants and beneficial microorganisms that may have pathogen suppressive effects. However, another potential value enhancement of frass is converting it into biochar via pyrolysis for carbon sequestration. In this study, we compare the effects of frass and the corresponding frass biochar on growth and nutrient uptake by wheat. In addition, we investigated the effect on chitinase activity as an indicator of the potential pathogen suppressive effects of frass compared to frass biochar. A pot experiment with wheat comparing the fertilizer efficiency of frass and frass biochar showed that frass was an efficient P fertilizer, resulting in comparable yields as to the NPK treatment given that N fertilizer was co-applied. In comparison, frass biochar also increased yields compared to the negative control, but not to the same extent as the raw frass. In an additional rhizobox setup, zymography was used to investigate the spatial distribution of chitinase activity in the rhizosphere of wheat. Chitinase activity was induced by frass application, but not by frass biochar, suggesting that the potential pathogenic suppressive effect of frass application is annihilated during pyrolysis. Frass could be an efficient biobased fertilizer, but further investigations into the effects on how frass affects the microbial processes in soil are needed. Frass biochar holds the potential for carbon sequestration and may function as a good soil conditioner. However, this might be at the cost of a more valuable product - the raw frass.

How to cite: Bornø, M. L.: Fertilizer efficiency and induced chitinase activity of frass versus frass biochar amended to soil, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20225, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20225, 2025.

This work examines the extent and form in which uncertainty of Extreme Event Attribution (EEA) results is best communicated to stakeholders. To achieve this, we develop communication materials in both text and graphics and test them for accuracy and accessibility through guided interviews with scientists and stakeholders.

Extreme weather events pose significant challenges for human civilization. Climate change can influence both the intensity and probability of specific extreme weather events, such as heatwaves or heavy rainfall. EEA has become an established tool to answer public questions about the contribution of climate change to such events. However, the results of EEA studies are often accompanied by considerable uncertainties. Communication of results, including an accessible representation of uncertainty, is therefore a fundamental necessity in this field of research, extending beyond the general effort to make scientific findings accessible to the public. Media representatives, who often bridge the gap between attribution scientists and the public, are therefore key stakeholders in this research.

We present the current state of research on communicating uncertainties in this field and outline our iterative approach to working with attribution scientists and media representatives alike to determine what should be communicated and how to communicate it effectively. Finally, we evaluate which communication materials are both relevant and accessible, and we reflect on the lessons learned for future communication efforts concerning EEA results.

This study is part of ClimXchange, which aims to enhance the usability of climate science for societal stakeholders. ClimXchange is embedded within the ClimXtreme research consortium, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), which focuses on extreme weather events in the context of climate change.

How to cite: Knauf, J., Zimmermann, T., Schröter, J., Tivig, M., and Kreienkamp, F.: Communicating uncertainty in extreme event attribution to the media, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2164, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2164, 2025.

Skilful weather forecasts help users make sound decisions when faced with potentially hazardous climatic conditions. However, this beneficial result may be reduced or negated in the absence of an effective communication of forecast uncertainty. On average, forecast skill improves for shorter lead times, which implies that we expect differences between successive forecasts. While there is a vast literature on the communication and visualisation of weather forecast uncertainty, little attention has been dedicated to communicating forecast changes to non-specialist audiences. Nonetheless, this is a key dimension of forecast uncertainty, and there are several user cases in which providing information about possible future changes in weather forecasts can improve their use.

An illustrative example is the situation in which a user has to decide whether to act now or wait for the next forecast. This can be as simple as a professional deciding whether to drive or not to a client on a day for which extremely heavy rainfall is forecasted, potentially leading to flash flooding. Cancelling well-ahead of time makes rescheduling easier, yet the forecast has a larger chance of being wrong. Cancelling on short notice minimises the chance of a false alarm, but poses greater logistical challenges for both the professional and the client. Something as simple as knowing how often the later forecast is better – for example knowing that 9 times out of 10 a heavy rainfall forecast issued one day ahead is better than one issued 5 days ahead – can qualitatively help the non-specialist users in this fictitious example to make a more informed decision.

In this contribution, we consider a variety of cases in which information on forecast changes may be of value. We then present a set of easily interpretable metrics making information on such changes accessible to non-specialist users.

How to cite: Messori, G., Jewson, S., and Scher, S.: Communicating uncertainty in weather forecasts: the role of forecast changes, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4471, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4471, 2025.

Whether its memories of a cold, frosty Christmas or an August bank holiday beach trip interrupted by rain, many cultural, sporting, and social events in the United Kingdom have strong associations with particular weather conditions. As the average global temperature increases, the impacts of a changing climate are likely to be felt across many aspects of British life, including in the public’s experiences of these popular events. Several recent works conducted by the UK Met Office have sought to make the local day-to-day impacts of climate change more understandable for the public by exploring likely climatic conditions of popular events by the 2050s. These works have received strong engagement from the public, demonstrating the demand for relevant and understandable climate information.

We serve this demand by using the 2018 UK Climate Projections (UKCP18) and HadUK-Grid observations data to evaluate how climate change will affect the climatology of a diverse range of British social, cultural, and sporting events. To explore and communicate the uncertainties in UKCP18 due to inherent model biases, several bias correction methods are applied to the data and the resulting data is analysed together to give an improved uncertainty range. The research will focus on assessing changes to temperature variables at global warming levels of 1.5°C and 3.0°C to illustrate these two future scenarios and the uncertainty within each scenario.

We will show that some events are likely to have a significantly altered climatology which is likely to substantially change the nature of these events or force them to change when they occur during the year to give the best chance of having favourable climatic conditions. By assessing the impact of climate change on popular British events such as the London Marathon and Glastonbury Festival the findings of this research will prove useful in communicating the impacts of climate change in a way which will resonate with the British public.

How to cite: Woods, L., Pope, J., and Fung, F.: Impacting on our Lives: Using British sports and culture to explain uncertainty in climate projections, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9081, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9081, 2025.

Flood frequency analysis is a cornerstone of hydrologic studies, providing a probabilistic framework to relate the magnitude of extreme events to their frequency of occurrence. This methodology is critical for designing flood-related infrastructure, conducting economic evaluations of flood control projects, and delineating floodplains. However, its utility depends heavily on data quality, model selection, and parameter estimation, each of which introduces uncertainties that become especially significant for rare events.

This presentation will address key sources of uncertainty, including model choice, parameter inference methods, and sample size limitations. Strategies for incorporating these uncertainties into engineering practice are discussed, with an emphasis on probabilistic representations and innovative design approaches. An exceptional flood, a "black swan" event, is used to illustrate the paradox of increased uncertainty despite improved information. This case underscores the importance of expanding flood analyses through historical records, regionalization, and causal modeling, particularly in the context of a changing climate.

The presentation will be designed to foster cross-discipline exchange in the quantification of uncertainty in Earth Sciences.

How to cite: Viglione, A.: Flood Frequency Hydrology: Navigating Uncertainty in Flood Design, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11466, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11466, 2025.

Two-dimensional (2D) images are often used to communicate the results of scientific investigations and predictions. Examples are weather maps, earthquake hazard maps and MRI slices. In contrast to statistical analyses of individual variables or time series, there are currently no established methods for visualizing the uncertainties in the 2D images. However, this would be necessary to make the information in the 2D images clear to scientists as well as to the non-expert public audiences in order to avoid misinterpretation and over-interpretation.

In this study, we demonstrate the challenges and approaches to uncertainty visualization using the case study of drought forecasting, which is relevant for climate adaptations and mitigations. A drought is a deviation (anomaly) from the parameter value expected from long-term data. In our case, the parameter under consideration is soil moisture, which is an important parameter for various environmental processes. The soil moisture can be used in combination with soil type to estimate the amount of water available to plants in the topsoil. If the amount of water available to plants according to the so-called percentile approach deviates significantly from the value expected from long-term data, this is referred to as an agricultural drought.

The drought forecast is based on ensemble modelling. This means that the results of various weather forecast models are used to predict the development of soil moisture for the period of the weather forecast. For each weather model used, a possible soil moisture development is predicted. Each of these is used for a drought forecast. The result of the ensemble modelling is therefore several forecasts, which can differ significantly. Due to the use of different weather models and the consideration of uncertainties in the models, the result of ensemble modelling is therefore a large number of drought forecast maps. When visualising the results, often only a map of the mean values resulting from the predictions is shown. If only the mean value is displayed, however, the information about a possible difference and thus the uncertainty of the predictions is lost. In other words: If individual cases from the ensemble predict the possibility of drought, this will not be clearly visible in the mean value map.

In this presentation, we will demonstrate and discuss different approaches to visualize the uncertainty in the prediction.

How to cite: Dietrich, P., Najafi, H., Pelzer, M., and Mohadjer, S.: Visualization of uncertainties in 2D images, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13135, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13135, 2025.

Uncertainties are an unavoidable part of scientific research. Practical limits with regard to the number, accuracy and precision of available observations as well as limitations in terms of methodological accuracy and modelling contribute to the fact that even the most elaborate and meticulous forecasts can never be deterministic and no completely reliable and accurate predictions for decision-making can be achieved. In concrete applications, a sufficient understanding of the accuracy and reliability of scientifically based predictions is important, for example in disaster prevention or resource planning. For example, natural hazard maps are primarily intended for those who have the necessary expertise to understand them. However, they are also used in their unaltered form by non-experts for decision-making, many of whom are unfamiliar with the scientific background and implications of the map.

We address this problem using an earthquake hazard map which can be relevant to non-expert audiences when seeking advice on purchasing a house or obtaining insurance. In order to understand how non-experts perceive a scientifically compiled earthquake hazard map, we conducted an online survey with 229 participants. This was done as part of the 2024 Science & Innovation Days (a public engagement event) in Tübingen, Germany. Participants were asked about their first impression of the map in terms of information content, any need for further explanation and possible actions to take. Other questions assessed participants’ previous experiences and self-assessment of hazard perceptions.

In this presentation, we will discuss the survey results and share lessons learned when communicating information that contains uncertainty with non-expert audiences.

How to cite: Dietrich, P., Dietrich, M., Pelzer, M., and Mohadjer, S.: Non-expert understanding of hazard maps: Insights from an online survey, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13260, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13260, 2025.

Working with environmental data means dealing with complex processes, limited data (in space and/or time) and the impossibility of setting up controlled experiments, leading to uncertain predictions of system behaviour.

In the field of statistical hydrology, many efforts have been made during the last decades to provide methods to quantify uncertainty, but the common practice of infrastructure design has not yet incorporated them. This may be due to several reasons, including the complexity of the methods, which are often difficult to apply in most everyday cases, and regulations that "favour" well-established requirements.

Here we present the "uncertainty compliant design flood estimator" (UNCODE) method, which accounts for aleatory uncertainty in the estimation of the design flood value. The method provides a corrected design value and is easy to use for practical purposes as simplified formulae are provided to quantify the correction factor. However, in addition to its practical application, it can also be used to compare different models with different levels of uncertainty and to highlight the "cost" of uncertainty.

Finally, its mathematical formulation allows a direct link to be made between the classical approach to hydrological design, based on a fixed hazard level (or return period), and a risk-based design approach, which is widely recognised as a more flexible method but is not usually included in regulations.

How to cite: Ganora, D.: Uncertainty in flood frequency analysis and its implications for infrastructure design, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15189, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15189, 2025.

Maps are the most commonly used means of visualizing and communicating natural hazard information to support decisions about risk mitigation. They are a product of hazard assessment studies which involve different input parameters with uncertainties relevant to decision making. This process is further complicated by the subjective uncertainties that arise in the audience when confronted with the visualization of hazard information. 

Natural hazard maps are primarily designed to be used by experts, but they are also used in their unaltered form to communicate with non-experts, many of whom are unfamiliar with the map’s scientific background and implications. Previous studies focus mainly on evaluating such maps with expert groups (e.g., directly involved stakeholders and authorities), with less attention on non-experts (e.g., the public audiences) who are confronted with these maps before purchasing a house, getting insurance or making other critical decisions. 

To address this gap, our study investigates how well hazard maps are understood and interpreted by non-expert audiences. We tested two earthquake hazard maps of Germany that differ in color palettes (rainbow vs. colorblind-friendly and perception-optimized yellow-orange-red-brown color palettes) and data classification schemes (algorithmic Fisher vs. quasi-logarithmic classification schemes). We showed both maps to 20 non-expert participants during the 2024 Science & Innovation Days (a public engagement event) in Tübingen, Germany. Participants answered map-reading and hazard perception questions (e.g., participants were asked to read off the hazard level for a given city, and to compare hazard levels between for a pair of cities) while their eye movements were monitored with eye-tracking software. 

To identify if either map improved map reading and hazard perception, participants’ responses were scored, analyzed and compared using a two-sample Mann–Whitney U and Fisher’s Exact tests. In general, the differences detected in participants’ responses were not statistically significant, perhaps due to the small sample size. Still, we observed that nearly all participants who used the redesigned map (8 out of 9) correctly read the hazard level for a city while only 33% (3 out of 9 participants) who used the rainbow color map responded correctly.

Eye-tracking data were used to analyze focus-metrics. Composite heatmaps accumulating the duration of eye fixations of all participants indicate that their eye movements were focused more on the high hazard zones and the corresponding values shown on map legend when answering questions using a hazard map redesigned to use best practices for hazard perception.

To quantify these differences, the ratio of fixations on high-hazard zones to total fixations on the map were calculated for both map versions. The data were tested for normality and the statistical significance of the differences were evaluated using Independent Samples t-tests for equal variances. While the results were not statistically significant, participants viewing the redesigned map showed a greater number of fixations on high-hazard zones compared to the participants viewing the original map, with a moderate effect size. We note tendencies in the data that encourage the repetition of the experiment with a larger sample size.

How to cite: Mohadjer, S., Ergün, G., Mutz, S. G., Schneider, M., Schürmann, T., Pelzer, M., and Dietrich, P.: Non-Expert Understanding of Hazard Maps: An Eye-Tracking Study , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-17779, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-17779, 2025.

A presentation of emerging themes and lessons learnt from examples of best practice in uncertainty quantification and communication relevant to climate services.  Drawn from existing literature and reports, and from a community engagement workshop.

• Consider the climate risks that are of most concern to the audience. 
• Use language the audience is familiar with (don’t say uncertainty).
• The precision of uncertainty information should be relevant to the situation.
• Understand existing narratives about climate uncertainty.
• Use communication about uncertainty to build trust.
• Be aware of deep uncertainty.

Standardised approaches to uncertainty communication should consider not only the climate science component, but also the complexities regarding socio-economic vulnerability.

Climateurope2, is a Horizon Europe project with a consortium of 33 parties from 13 countries that includes intergovernmental institutions such as the World Meteorological Organisation, social sciences, humanities and STEM expertise, assurance providers, SMEs, and standardisation bodies. Together we are building a community of practice for the standardisation and support of climate services.

How to cite: Pascoe, C., Dankers, R., Domingo, X., and Pagé, C.: Don't say uncertainty: preliminary best practices and emerging themes for uncertainty quantification and communication in climate services from the Climateurope2 project., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18364, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18364, 2025.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to effectively communicate forecasts and their uncertainty. This is especially important if the aim is to minimize the risk of misinformation and poorly-informed decision-making. Both the IPCC and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction have identified risk communication, complexity and uncertainty as major challenges to decision-making, and call for better understanding of how existing risk communication practices are perceived by those affected and those making decisions.

Despite these calls, many geoscientists, especially early career researchers, lack opportunities to discuss scientific uncertainty and explore ways to communicate uncertainty to different audiences, including the non-scientific publics. To address this demand, we organize the international training school “Understanding the Unknowns: Communicating Uncertainty as a Driving Force for Geosciences”, which is co-sponsored by the EGU and set to take place at the University of Tübingen in Germany from March 17 to 19, 2025. This in-person, three-day training school aims to equip Early Career Researchers with knowledge and skills needed to effectively account for and communicate uncertainty in geosciences with their peers as well as public audiences.

Some of the biggest challenges of training programs on uncertainty relate to the interdisciplinary nature of the concept: understanding and effectively communicating uncertainties requires knowledge and skill sets typically taught and researched across a range of diverse fields. Highlighting this interdisciplinary background, we combine insights from geoscientific uncertainty assessment and outputs (e.g., maps, interpretations, models, simulations, time series) with approaches from (visual) rhetoric, science communication, presentation research, and multimedia competence. 

Building on existing good practice, the training strives to equip geoscientists with the tools and skills they need to communicate uncertainty, help reduce misinformation, and enhance future decision-making. This will be done collaboratively through an interdisciplinary partnership between the Department of Geosciences, the Research Center for Science Communication at the Department of General Rhetoric, and Global Awareness Education at the University of Tübingen. The new approaches and exercises developed for this training will not only be practically applied in the training school, but also reflected and evaluated, including a pre-workshop survey addressing expectations and needs identified by the participants and a concluding qualitative evaluation.

In this presentation, we will discuss our multifaceted practices and strategies applied to foster skills in communicating uncertainty in geosciences, present the results of the accompanying survey and evaluation used in this training, and conclude with lessons learned and best practices recommended to further develop similar opportunities in the future.

How to cite: Pelzer, M., Dietrich, P., and Mohadjer, S.: Fostering Skills in Communicating Uncertainty in the Geosciences: a review of concepts, strategies and approaches applied in the training school “Understanding the Unknowns: Communicating Uncertainty as a Driving Force for Geosciences”, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18655, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18655, 2025.

Sub-seasonal weather forecasting is notoriously difficult, particularly for the extra-tropics. Predictions must be probabilistic, and from weeks 3 or 4 onwards forecast distributions are often very close to model-climate distributions. Together, these facts make conveying a meaningful forecast to customers extremely difficult, and those forecasts are then very vulnerable to misinterpretation. Standard map-based graphical output can show little more than whether the forecast mean is for average, or above average or below average conditions – ostensibly a 3-category classification. And indeed “average” in this scheme can be interpreted variously as a genuine forecast of average, or a “no-signal” prediction, which cannot both be right.

So ECMWF is working towards a new two-layer brand of map-based sub-seasonal forecast products, that succinctly represent both the mean anomaly and the forecast uncertainty. We plan to call these “quantile-based weekly guidance maps”. The overarching aim has been to exploit much better than hitherto the information content of the sub-seasonal forecast system in a compact format. Once these first go public they will be classed as an “experimental product”. We hope for wide-ranging uptake, providing greater outreach for our forecasts than hitherto, to benefit multiple sectors of society.

The new graphical output can be summarised in a 3-by-3 matrix form where one dimension represents the mean anomaly and the other relative spread. So for example a mean anomaly around zero can either represent a high confidence, narrow distribution forecast of average conditions (a true forecast of “average”), or more commonly a no-signal forecast where forecast and climate distributions are much the same (= “we don’t know”), or less often an odd scenario in which forecast spread exceeds climate spread (= “very uncertain indeed”). The graphical versions of the new system, and the 9 classes, will be demonstrated using real ECMWF forecast examples. These will highlight how translating appropriately chosen mathematical metrics into suitable graphics, and on into plain language text, can lie at the heart of successful uncertainty communication. Clear documentation for users is another key requirement.

How to cite: Hewson, T.: Making Uncertainty in Sub-seasonal Weather Forecasts Intelligible, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-19375, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-19375, 2025.

How to cite: Stepanovic, J., Claes, S., and Sermeus, J.: Immersed in Uncertainty: Discussing Uncertainty in Science in a Planetarium, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-21809, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-21809, 2025.

Translation of geoscience research into tangible changes, such as modified decisions, processes or policy in the wider world is an important yet notably difficult process. Co-RISK is an accessible (i.e. open access, paper-based, zero cost) ‘toolkit’ for use by stakeholder groups within workshops, which is intended to aid this translation process. It is given a robust basis by incorporating paradox theory from organisation studies, which deals with navigating the genuine tensions between industry and research organizations that stem from their differing roles. Specifically designed to ameliorate the organizational paradox, a Co-RISK workshop draws up ‘Maps’ including key stakeholders (e.g. regulator, insurer, university) and their positionality (e.g. barriers, concerns, motivations), and identifies exactly the points where science might modify actions. Ultimately a Co-RISK workshop drafts simple and tailored project-specific frameworks that span from climate to hazard, to risk, to implications of that risk (e.g. solvency). The action research approach used to design Co-RISK (with Bank of England, Aon, Verrisk), its implementation in a trial session for the insurance sector and its intellectual contribution are described and evaluated. The initial Co-RISK workshop was well received, so application is envisaged to other sectors (i.e. transport infrastructure, utilities, government).  Joint endeavours enabled by Co-RISK could fulfil the genuine need to quickly convert the latest insights from environmental research into real-world climate change adaptation strategies.

https://gc.copernicus.org/articles/7/35/2024/

How to cite: Hillier, J. K. and van Meeteren, M.: Co-RISK: A tool to co-create impactful university-industry projects for natural hazard risk mitigation, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-291, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-291, 2025.

Skeptical Science is a volunteer-run website publishing refutations of climate misinformation. Some members of the Skeptical Science team actively research best-practices refutation techniques while other team members use these findings to share debunking techniques effectively either in writing or through presentations. During 2024, our team collaborated with other groups specializing in fact checking and countering misinformation about the climate crisis. With this submission we highlight two of these collaborations:

• Creating fact briefs in collaboration with Gigafact
  Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact — a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. 
• Turning a PDF-based report refuting 33 climate solutions myths into stand-alone rebuttals
  In early 2024 we spotted an impressive report addressing climate solutions misinformation, "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles," written by members of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School. We collaborated with the authors to create 33 stand-alone rebuttals based on the report's content to make it possible to link to each of the rebuttals directly.

Both of these collaborations help with sharing fact-based information in order to counter mis- and disinformation spread online.

How to cite: Winkler, B.: Collaborations between Skeptical Science and other groups to spread fact-based information, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1439, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1439, 2025.

In an era characterised by the political economy of financialised capitalism, accounting plays an instrumental role in shaping decision-making through the principle of materiality.  This principle influences how physical climate risks are perceived and addressed.  The role of accounting and the principle of materiality are foundational to using corporate reporting to prepare markets for the effects of climate change.  
The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD, 2023) has highlighted persistent inadequacies in corporate disclosures, particularly their failure to provide decision-useful information for managing or mitigating the financial and societal impact of extreme weather events.  Inspired by the Absurdist literary tradition, the paper offers a conceptual alternative: expressing materiality as an aesthetic performance that embraces the ambiguity and complexity of climate risk.
To visualise this interplay, disclosure is interpreted as a form of communicative storytelling, where accounting frameworks set the plot and characters, shaping stakeholder engagement.  The tangible impacts of physical climate change function as the unpredictable forces driving the narrative, while aesthetic materiality transforms these elements into a cohesive strategic risk management framework.  This dynamic symbiosis, imbued with Absurdist tensions, illustrates how narrative, financial structures, environmental realities, and performative aesthetics collectively influence decision-making in the face of climate risks.
The Absurdist lens reveals how contemporary disclosures embody a condition of "waiting for the correct data," a state of deferral legitimised by incremental approaches to risk management.  Traditional calculative paradigms in accounting—such as materiality thresholds, metrics, and financial quantification—struggle to address the non-linear and interdependent risks posed by extreme weather events.  By aestheticising materiality, this paper argues that corporate disclosures can better cope with these limitations, engaging stakeholders through participatory and relational communication rather than static, deterministic metrics.
Aesthetic materiality shifts the focus from rigid frameworks to systemic interconnectivity, inviting decision-makers to critically reflect on the unpredictability of climate risks and to co-create meaning alongside stakeholders.  This perspective complements tools such as impact-based forecasting and early-warning systems by addressing the socio-cultural dimensions of risk communication.
Empirical insights from 44 interviews with stakeholders across 16 FTSE350 organisations illustrate the limitations of calculative realism in accounting for climate scenarios.  Participants reported deferring action in pursuit of elusive “objective truths,” grappling with helplessness amidst multiple potential realities and feeling hopeless by the inexpressible ambiguity associated with accounting for extreme weather risks.  These findings underscore the Absurdist tension between striving for control and coping with the immeasurable—a tension that current frameworks fail to resolve.
Aesthetic materiality is a conceptual response to the systemic inadequacies of existing corporate disclosure practices.  It disrupts normative accounting principles such as reliability and objectivity, advocating instead for evocative narratives, symbolic imagery, and dialogical engagement that better reprehend the interconnected nature of extreme weather events.  Such a transition also signals a shift beyond the prevailing interdisciplinary accounting discourse by foregrounding the limits of language and representation, emphasising the performative aesthetics of materiality and expressing disclosure as an unending process. 

How to cite: O Rourke, J.: Accounting Beyond the Calculative: Expressing Corporate Disclosure Through Aesthetic Materiality, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1592, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1592, 2025.

Developing innovative public engagement measures are central to addressing many of the key geoscience related challenges within the EU. One of the most pressing European challenges includes achieving a sustainable and secure supply of critical raw materials (CRMs). These materials include vital metals used in renewable energy technologies, for which the EU is often totally reliant on imports at both the extraction and processing level. Hence, EU climate neutrality by 2050, as per the European Green Deal, hinges on CRM supply. However, this is not often discussed in the public realm.

Informal education spaces such as festivals provide unique environments for science communication, where incidental adult audiences can stumble upon new scientific concepts and problems in engaging ways. However, to be successful, science exhibits at such events need to capture attention and stimulate the audience in a short period of time. The critical raw material challenge is underrepresented in the festival environment likely due to historically negative public attitudes towards mining. Hence, a necessary science communication endeavour is to develop a novel engagement activity that engages adult audiences at festivals with this issue and stimulates conversation. We present a hands-on, challenge-based public engagement activity/tool for use in the fast-paced science and arts festival environment, where contact time is limited and interaction is key. Designed to simulate the supermarket experience, ‘GreenDealz’ brings participants through tactile ‘shopping’ tasks, with evaluation points included throughout. The main aim of GreenDealz was to engage participants with the concept of critical raw materials and their demand for renewable energy technologies in a relatable and task-based way.

We outline the iterative process of developing GreenDealz for the festival environment, including ideation, design, and an evolution of evaluation from classic self-reported techniques to more novel and festival friendly ‘embedded assessment’ measures. Importantly, we highlight how this activity has been tested and validated via a mixed methods approach: our quantitative data, collected across several festivals in Ireland, yields significant findings about audience learnings and engagement, while our qualitative data, gleaned through less time-restricted participant interactions sheds a deeper light on the effectiveness of this tool in achieving learning outcomes and sparking interest in critical raw materials within non-specialist audiences.

How to cite: Blennerhassett, L., Schuitema, G., and McAuliffe, F.: GreenDealz: a hands-on shopping activity for public engagement with critical raw materials, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2292, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2292, 2025.

Austrian citizens, like many others worldwide, show high levels of skepticism coupled with low interest in science. This disengagement is closely tied to limited science literacy, characterized by a poor understanding of the scientific process and scientific data generation. Initiatives operating at the intersection of science and education provide a valuable opportunity to develop innovative methods of science communication, enhance science literacy, and positively influence attitudes toward scientific findings. To address these challenges, scientists from diverse disciplines, educators, and administrators have joined forces to establish the “Interdisciplinary Network for Science Education Lower Austria (INSE)”. Led by WasserCluster Lunz and funded by GFF NÖ, this partnership aims to: (i) deepen public understanding of science by engaging students and citizens in scientific processes across disciplines, (ii) spark interest in science through innovative communication strategies, and (iii) build trust in the benefits of science by showcasing its contributions to addressing societal and ecological challenges.

In this presentation, we will introduce the INSE partnership and highlight our science education concepts tailored to different educational levels. At the primary level, the focus was on research in the humanities, emphasizing the significance of reading and writing. At the lower secondary level, the main principles of the "Nature of Science (NOS)" were introduced, while at the upper secondary level, students conducted their own research projects, either in the natural sciences (a respiration experiment in aquatic ecology) or the social sciences (a social science survey). Students explored the principles of specific research methods and examined the similarities and differences among various scientific disciplines. This approach aimed to provide participants with both a solid understanding of general scientific principles and insights into discipline-specific methodologies.

We will also present initial evaluation results on the effectiveness of our educational activities. Additionally, we aim to foster new collaborations at both national and international levels to strengthen our network and expand the resources available for science education.

How to cite: Feldbacher, E., Sippl, C., Lughammer, B., Capatu, I., Jöstl, G., Eibl, D., Panzenböck, M., Coulson, L., Akbari, E., and Weigelhofer, G.: Connecting Science and Education: Innovative Approaches from the INSE Network, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2755, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2755, 2025.

SCAPE° is a new science center under development in Offenbach, Germany, dedicated to making weather, climate, and their profound connections to human life both tangible and engaging. Situated in the heart of the city, SCAPE° aims to bridge the gap between science and society through interactive exhibits, immersive workshops, and dynamic community events.

This presentation will provide an overview of SCAPE°’s organizational structure, the planning and design process, and the challenges encountered in creating this innovative space. Key exhibits will be showcased, including hands-on installations such as turbulence simulators and immersive visualizations of global weather phenomena, demonstrating the center’s commitment to interactive and educational engagement. Examples of workshops and events will illustrate how SCAPE° fosters dialogue and involvement in a scientific, but also artistic way. 

By sharing the experiences and lessons learned in developing SCAPE°, this presentation seeks to inspire innovative approaches to science communication and public engagement in weather and climate sciences, while raising awareness and excitement for SCAPE° itself as a vital new space for exploration and education.

How to cite: Frank, B.: SCAPE° Offenbach: A New Science Center Bringing Weather and Climate to Life in the Heart of the City, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2820, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2820, 2025.

This study investigates how the mining industry employs science communication tactics, specifically framing, warmth, honesty, and relatability when engaging with the public. Guided by three primary research questions, this project seeks to identify: (1) which frames and tactics Canadian mining organizations employ when communicating about mining, (2) how these tactics influence engagement among audiences with pro-, anti-, and neutral attitudes toward mining, and (3) whether the use of tactics varies based on the type of organization.

A mixed-methods approach integrates content analysis, survey responses, and thematic analysis. Advertisements, corporate websites, and corporate responsibility documents from various mining organizations are systematically coded to identify framing strategies and communication techniques. To evaluate changes in public perceptions, knowledge, and behaviours, participants complete pre-engagement surveys to establish baseline attitudes toward mining. They then engage with assigned materials in two stages: first independently and later through guided discussion and interviews conducted via Zoom. Post-engagement surveys capture immediate reactions and subsequent changes in perception, knowledge, and potential actions. Transcribed interviews from guided discussions are analyzed thematically to uncover deeper insights into how audiences engage with mining-related messaging.

This research is significant for its focus on the intersection of industry messaging and public engagement, addressing a critical gap in understanding how science communication influences public trust and opinion in resource-driven sectors. Insights from this study will inform best practices for transparent, relatable, and effective communication in the mining industry, with broader implications for improving public engagement strategies in other science-based fields.

How to cite: Onstad, C. and van der Flier-Keller, E.: Preliminary Insights into Science Communication Strategies in Canadian Mining Messaging: A Mixed-Methods Perspective, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2911, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2911, 2025.

Some environmental issues (nuclear/special wastes, CO₂ storage) are extremely long-lasting, from thousand to one million years (Flüeler 2023). Three aspects are mandatory to recognise them adequately: their complexity (e.g., safety “proof”), uncertainty (aleatory/epistemic …), inequality (today’s risk deciders vs. future risk bearers). All require a deep sense of multiperspectivity: Changing perspectives enables a conscious view of an issue from different angles.

With exceptions, conventional practice reveals “technical” and “acceptance” approaches. The problem is said to be solely political, “the public’s” poor state of knowledge spurs the plea for “outreach”, following the “deficit model”: Specialists inform laypeople to close their “information gap”. The long term is covered by safety margins and, as a last resort, by waste retrievability.

Applied research is more sophisticated. Nuclear waste safety cases have become comprehensive, considering insecurities and stakeholder involvement (NEA 2020b). Still, the very long term (10,000y plus) is left to risk analysts. “Communication Across 300 Generations” (Tannenbaum 1984) or “to bridge ten millennia” (Sebeok 1984) are issues reserved to semiotics and not really developed further (NEA 2019). Conserving artefacts and symbols over time seems unsatisfactory, even unrealistic. Site-selection procedures have, partly, recognised the need for decades-long processes (NEA 2020a).

What is “long term”? (cf. Flüeler 2023, 55ff.) It would be futile for society to deal with the year 800,000 AP, but it is to reckon what Brand and Eno called “the Long Now”, https://longnow.org: 10,000 years back and forth, yet a generations-based approach seems more practical, maybe the Canadian First Nations’ yardstick of the Seven Generations (NCSL 2017): “Traditionally, no decision was made until it was understood how it would affect the next seven generations”. Or we draw on Boulding’s suggestion: 100 years backward and foreward (grandparents to grandchildren) (Boulding 1978).

At any rate, our responsibility to future generations “requires new operationalisations, new norms of practice, new sets of values, new virtues, and – last but not least – new institutions” (Birnbacher 1988). It needs new skills for sustainable governance, transparent (digital) dashboards, open online platforms to table/respond to controversial views/assertions, transdisciplinary labs, ways to address indeterminacy (>>“uncertainty”), VR learning machines to train changing perspectives, etc.

The ethical, political and institutional complexity insinuates that there is no silver bullet to tackle the issue of governance: “The solution is easily summarized, but much less easily achieved: to establish ecological reflexivity as a core priority of social, political and economic institutions” (Dryzek/Pickering 2019). We need continual discourse to transform our societies sustainably, rather than pre-fixed concepts in order to restore supposedly paradisiac past states.

____________________

Birnbacher, D. Verantwortung für zukünftige Generationen. Reclam, Stuttgart (transl.).

Boulding, E. The Family as a Way into the Future. Pendle Hill, Wallingford, PA.

Dryzek, J.S./Pickering, J. The Politics of the Anthropocene. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford.

Flüeler, T. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-03902-7.

NCSL. https://healingofthesevengenerations.ca/about/history.

NEA/Nuclear Energy Agency/2019. Preservation of Records, Knowledge and Memory Across Generations. OECD, Paris.

NEA/2020a. Final Disposal of Radioactive Waste. Policy Brief.

NEA/2020b. Two Decades of Safety Case Development: An IGSC Brochure.

Sebeok, T.A. Communication Measures to Bridge Ten Millennia. BMI/ONWI-532. Battelle, Columbus, OH.

Tannenbaum, P.H. Communication Across 300 Generations: Deterring Human Interference with Waste Deposit Sites. BMI/ONWI-535.

How to cite: Flüeler, T.: How to communicate “long term”? 10, 100, 10,000 years …? Practice, research, reflections, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4847, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4847, 2025.

Similar to X-rays used in medicine to scan human bodies, to understand the characteristics of the oceanic crust that covers >70% of our planet, marine geophysicists conduct controlled source seismic experiments at sea on research vessels. We produce tiny earthquakes using compressed air, which travel through the subsurface built of different rock types; the differences in the rocks introduce changes in the propagated waves, which are registered by an array of receptors and then processed to produce seismic images. However, this field of research is not commonly known by school students or the general public. To bridge this gap, we designed a seismic atelier to expose the less-known but marvelous world of marine geophysics and show it as a possible career path. The atelier includes a presentation of our work at sea supported by pictures and videos, presentation of the Ocean Bottom Seismometer (OBS) developed and designed internally at IPGP, and model that simulates seismic data acquisition. For this model, we obtained the EGU Public Engagement Award in 2023. The elements that constitute the model:

• 400 l water tank, floating LEGO ship
• three 3-D printed OBSs connected to an electromagnetic mechanism that simulate deployment and recovery of the instruments
• ballons that are perforated under the water to mimic the seismic source
• hydrophone connected to a laptop for signal recording

The experiment is accompanied by a 5-question quiz tailored to correspond to the age of the participants; all the topics concerning the questions were covered in the presentations. The quiz is conducted before and after the atelier, which helps us to evaluate the impact of outreach activity. All the questions were designed as a multiple-choice. For example, for the age 11-15 years, one question is: What is the temperature of the deep ocean?, with the offered responses: a) 0-3º, b) 23-25ºC, and c) 0 -10 ºC.

We have already run the atelier on two occasions, and the results are promising. The first time was during the Fête de la Science (Open House event in France) at IPGP in early October 2024, during which we presented our atelier to four groups, 10-12 participants (9-12 years old) in each group. The second session was organized with 30 high-school students (~15 years old). The quizzes' analyses clearly show that the number of correct answers increases by up to 50% after the conducted atelier, demonstrating the positive impact of the activity on student knowledge. The results also show that some questions were tackling less-known topics. For instance, the question we gave as an example above was consistently answered incorrectly by ~80% of students before the atelier; in contrast, after the atelier, the situation was reversed, and >90% of the participants gave the correct answer. Overall, the impressions of the students after participating in the atelier, especially the youngest ones, are highly positive, and we hope they will develop a certain level of passion for marine sciences. The next stage for our project would be to film it and make it available online in different languages to reach students internationally.

How to cite: Marjanovic, M., Besançon, S., Hautemayou, D., Mahato, S., and Luc, T.: How do we make an X-ray scan of Earth’s oceanic crust?, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-6769, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-6769, 2025.

How to cite: Pocaterra, C., Mingardi, V., Mentini, L., Silvi, S., and Careccia, A.: Science Communication through Engagement and Outreach for the bioeconomy, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-7084, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-7084, 2025.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects have historically struggled to be inclusive and accessible to students from diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, STEM subjects have often been rigid in their teaching structure, creating barriers to education for students with more specific (or unrecognised) learning needs. Our STEM outreach course, Think Like A Scientist, has been running in a number of English prisons since 2019, and started in Canada and Australia over the past two years. Our students in prison often have diverse learning needs – a classroom often presents numerous barriers (sensory, communication, information processing, and regulation) which particularly impacts neurodivergent students (e.g., autism, ADHD, OCD, dyslexia, etc.). In our teaching in prison, we have been conscious of creating different educational access points that are not solely reliant on rigid teaching structures.

Although our outreach programme is tailored to the restrictive prison environment, the application of its core principles are fundamental Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) practices that can be applied to university-level teaching and supervision. Here, we outline the choices we have made in prison education to increase educational engagement for those within the neurodivergent umbrella – and how these choices can map onto university teaching to widen participation for STEM students. Specifically, we will describe our university campus work in a few key areas: creating relatable science content for our geoscience student body, giving students a voice in their education, adding reflection activities, and fostering a classroom environment that is inclusive and accessible to all. Finally, we welcome an open discussion on potential best inclusive practices in the geosciences.

How to cite: Heron, P., Osowski, K., Crameri, F., and Williams, J.: Adventures in (geo)science communication: mapping outreach practices into university classrooms, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-7405, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-7405, 2025.

AGROECOLOGY, the European Partnership "Accelerating Farming Systems Transition: Agroecology Living Labs and Research Infrastructures," is a significant European research and innovation initiative involving the European Commission and 26 Member States, Associated Countries, and Third Countries, with a total of 72 partner organizations. The goal of AGROECOLOGY is to assist the agricultural sector in addressing the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, food security and sovereignty, and environmental sustainability, while ensuring agriculture remains profitable, sustainable, and attractive to farmers.

Transforming the agricultural sector to meet societal and policy demands requires bold and systemic changes. AGROECOLOGY fosters for solutions that leverage natural and biological processes, blending state-of-the-art science, technology, and innovation with farmers' knowledge. By pooling resources from the European Commission and the involved member states and regions, the Partnership funds high-level research in Living Labs and Research Infrastructures, co-creating relevant knowledge and technologies aligned with the priorities of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for the Farming System Transition.

To support these efforts, a range of activities is being implemented to inform, engage, and empower stakeholders. These activities aim to enhance capacities, raise awareness, and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and data. A key element of this effort is the Conversations on Agroecology which serve as foundational steps to strengthen agricultural knowledge and innovation systems (AKIS) for agroecology. These conversations foster collaboration and connections between Living Labs, Research Infrastructures and stakeholders across Europe.

The online Conversations on Agroecology are held monthly throughout the Partnership, enabling the mobilization and networking of agroecology actors in Europe and beyond. In 2024, six online conversations were organized on various themes, such as the role of AKIS for agroecology, agroecological transition, and the power of networks for agroecology. Through these monthly conversations, AGROECOLOGY engages diverse groups of actors, ensuring involvement of institutional AKIS actors, farmers, and farming networks to ensure inclusive participation and drive progress toward sustainable food systems by 2030.

How to cite: Sandén, T., Fohrafellner, J., Pires da Silva, A., and Brites, C.: Empowering Stakeholders to Drive Farming System Transition: Conversations on Agroecology, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9684, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9684, 2025.

The popularity and use of Participatory or Citizen Science (CS) in scientific research has increased over the recent years, and the literature reports that CS can promote positive change; enhance public knowledge, understanding, and awareness of environmental issues; and amplify conservation efforts.

Accessibility to polar regions is limited and expensive.  With resources from other traditional platforms (i.e. research vessels and funding) decreasing, research institutions are looking at alternatives that involve partnering with the private sector tourism as a ‘crowdsourcing’ data collection option, with the added benefit of passenger participation and education. CS monitoring is a cost-effective alternative for greater spatial and/or temporal coverage, including geographical areas that remain under-researched. 

HX’s Science & Education Program focuses on broadening guests’ understanding of the polar regions and ecosystems, as well as the impacts of climate change. Our guests become active participants in data collection through an immersive educational onboard program and on-site interaction with researchers. During 2024 we allocated over 1900 cruise nights to welcome 80+ researchers from collaborating institutions on our vessels and our guests contributed more than 30,000 data submissions to over 20 different CS projects globally.

To better understand this potential and to evaluate the longer-term effect of participation in CS and science related activities on guests, HX carried out a research project in partnership with UTAS during 2022 and 2023. Results from semi-structured interviews with over 70 guests on three HX vessels suggest that guests saw CS, and the Science & Education program more generally, as a core part of their experience, and many returned with a heightened sense of the fragility of the region.

However, and as an example, HX represents approximately 8% of the Antarctic expedition cruising tourism. The full potential for future partnerships to tap into these vast resources as an industry is yet to be realized.

How to cite: Meraldi, V., Hess, C., Stainton, H., Evans, H., Leane, E., and Hardy, A.: The untapped potential of Citizen Science to support research in the polar regions while educating captive audiences on board expedition cruise vessels., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11418, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11418, 2025.

Most people in Irish society, when asked, “Do we experience earthquakes in Ireland?” would likely answer, “No we don’t”. However, this is incorrect – earthquakes do occur in Ireland and are occasionally felt. This misconception is understandable as Ireland is not located near the edge of a plate boundary and the earthquakes we experience tend to be of very low magnitude (M2.5 is the largest onshore Irish earthquake recorded so far). As a result, earthquakes are not a regular thought for the population of Ireland. We aim to raise awareness on this topic.

The QuakeShake programme has these main aims:

• Encourage Irish society to consider seismic activity and monitor seismic events both locally and globally and thereby develop an integrated community of citizen seismologists throughout Ireland.
• Provide teaching resources for educators and school students.
• Inspire interest in Physical and Earth Sciences at tertiary levels.
• Support the government’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering Art and Mathematics) initiative.
• Foster a closer relationship between researchers and citizens.
• Gather and share seismic data to support scientific research in various seismological fields.

The programme is managed by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) and co-funded by DIAS, Geological Survey Ireland (GSI), and Research Ireland. QuakeShake functions as the outreach programme for the Irish National Seismic Network (INSN), the national earthquake monitoring body in Ireland. It supports and promotes the monitoring efforts of the INSN.

QuakeShake is facilitating the operation of affordable seismometers, known as Raspberry Shakes, in schools, homes, and public institutions. These compact, professional grade seismometers require only power and internet connectivity to operate. In 2024, QuakeShake distributed seismometers via public raffle and workshops for teachers and the public. In 2025, the aim is to distribute even more Raspberry Shake devices and encourage the public and schools to acquire their own units. 

At EGU 2025 we will showcase the programmes development, aimed at educating people from all backgrounds in Ireland about both Irish and Global earthquakes. We will illustrate how QuakeShake is actively building a community of citizen seismologists across Ireland.

How to cite: Reilly, L., Möllhoff, M., Bean, C., Power, S., Collins, L., Smith, P., Grannell, J., Mohamed, H., Smithers, E., and Grange, P.: Current progress of the QuakeShake outreach programme. How are earthquakes being brought to the attention of Irish society?, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12106, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12106, 2025.

How to cite: Alonso, A., Prieto, D., García-Hernández, R., Afonso, D., de los Rios, H., D’Auria, L., and Pérez, N. M.: GUAYOTA: a weekly multi-language chart information on the seismo-volcanic activity in the Canary Islands , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12352, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12352, 2025.

Rainfall is very commonly experienced by most people, often seen as a constraint. Anyway, usually people are not really paying attention to it, being too busy with their daily life. As rainfall and hydrology scientists, we aim to reach out to the general public to increase knowledge in an area of widespread misinformation. More importantly, we aim to enhance curiosity and awareness of people in their geophysical environment. In order to contribute to this much needed efforts, we designed and implemented a series of multisensory experiences centered on rainfall with three purpose in mind: i) Actively engage people on geoscience topics by pushing them to pay attention to their environment ; ii) Create a simple and pleasant moment for people enabling to focus on geophysical environment. iii) Create some new knowledge on rainfall for them. With regards to the latter point, the involvement of one’s senses is a great tool to facilitate memorization.

The experiences are simple and do not require any material, apart from an available mind and some rainfall. Three examples are feeling the drops and their sizes on the hand or face while walking; listening to the rain falling on something (tent, umbrella, sheet of metal…); looking at the rain falling near a lamppost at night. Each experience has a simple take home message. The first one is related to the various sizes of drops, the second one to the temporal variability of rainfall, while the third one enables to notice the temporal variability of both rainfall and wind. 

The process is designed as follows. A short description of the suggested experience is given to people. Once they have implemented them, they are asked to fill a rather open/free form to report their sensations and findings. After they are given some explanations on the take home messages we originally had in mind, which does not necessarily match their own feeling. If they are interested in doing it again, they are invited to provide new sets of feedback. 

In a first step, the whole process was tested with 10-15 people with various backgrounds and who have no expertise in rainfall. Results of this preliminary implementation will be presented in this poster. They are used to tune the process, i.e. the experiences, the short description and also the explanations of the take home message. In future investigations, it will be implemented with a larger number of people to obtain more quantitative and robust results.

How to cite: Gires, A. and Dallan, E.: Increasing awareness on geophysical environment: a multi-sensory experience of rainfall, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13449, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13449, 2025.

Geoscience plays a vital role in shaping our sustainable future, yet the discipline is at a critical crossroads. Declining student enrolments, reduced course offerings, and the closure of university departments threaten its survival. Key challenges include public perceptions of geoscience and associated industries, its lack of visibility in school curricula, outdated branding and stereotypes, and issues related to diversity and inclusion. As students increasingly seek altruistic, sustainability-focused careers, geoscience must respond rapidly or risk further decline. A more strategic, impact-driven approach to geoscience communication is essential to address the discipline’s struggling brand image. This presentation takes you behind the scenes of the Earth Futures Festival, an international geoscience film and video festival. The festival bridges the arts and sciences to demonstrate how geoscience, combined with long-standing cultural knowledge of the Earth, offers solutions to pressing global challenges. We will explore the impact-focused approach underpinning the festival’s design, including forging value-aligned partnerships, providing communication skills training for geoscientists, and amplifying the visibility of typically underrepresented groups. This talk will provide a step-by-step practical guide to illustrate how impact-focused design can be effectively applied to geoscience communication and outreach.

How to cite: Handley, H.: An impact-driven approach to geoscience communication, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13520, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13520, 2025.

Podcasting about science is thriving.  In the Earth sciences alone, there are at least 15 podcasts.  How do such podcasts fit within the ecosystem of informal science education alongside museums, field trips and other resources?  Can podcasts convey the core results of present-day research without sacrificing their essence and subtlety?  Are researchers willing to make time to contribute to podcasts?  Who is listening to these podcasts and what are they seeking from them?  Does AI-enabled translation and transcription help reach listeners from hitherto less well-served geographies?  The presentation will address such questions and use examples from Geology Bites and other podcasts. 

How to cite: Strimpel, O.: Using podcasts to disseminate the essence and excitement of scientific research, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13862, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13862, 2025.

In the wake of disasters, storytelling can function as a means for collective sensemaking, trauma recovery, and community-centered knowledge co-production. Through the practice of listening and the medium of voice, audio stories can convey culturally specific knowledge that engages emotions while fostering dialogic thinking on complex topics. Here, we detail our experience in research and producing a public-facing audio story series about communities facing displacement and loss from water-related disasters. First, we traveled in 2023 to communities in the central Philippines devastated by 2013’s Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), one of the deadliest and strongest storms to make landfall in modern history. We conducted field interviews with Haiyan survivors and responders, local policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in the months leading up to the tenth-year commemoration of the storm. Their narratives allowed us to ground discourses about learning from disaster in mass media and academic research—discourses that we examined via a computational analysis of over 15,000 newspaper articles and 300 academic abstracts on Haiyan. The second story series explores perspectives on climate retreat in the wake of floods and increasing flood risks in New Jersey. This series centers the voices of homeowners considering property buyouts through a state program, local officials, as well as scientists who are documenting the social and physical impacts of more intense flooding and sea level rise in real time. Titled Carried by Water and produced by Princeton’s Blue Lab, these interrelated series anchor academic framings of disaster in lived experience and first-person narratives. The project does so to shed light on long-term recovery, learning processes applied to everyday decision-making, and diverse understandings of disasters, home, agency, risk, and climate resilience.

How to cite: Soriano, M., Maxwell, R., and Carruth, A.: Audio narratives of long-term disaster recovery and climate change adaptation, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14045, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14045, 2025.

The International Geological Congress (IGC) 2028 is returning to Canada, after an absence of over 50 years (1972, Montreal). Hosted in Calgary, Alberta, this will mark the first IGC to be held in western North America. We look forward to showcasing our “Gorgeous Geology” and “Legendary Landscapes” with the world’s geoscience community. Field trip opportunities include the Mohorovic discontinuity and glacial fjords in UNESCO World Heritage Site (UWHS) Gros Morne National Park (Newfoundland), the Carboniferous Forests at UWHS Joggins Fossil Cliffs (Nova Scotia), the Logan Line separating the Appalachians from the Grenville Province of the Canadian Shield in UWHS Quebec City (Quebec), the Cretaceous Dinosaur fossil beds at UWHS Dinosaur Provincial Park (Alberta), and evidence for the Cambrian Explosion of Life in the Burgess Shale surrounded by glaciers across the UWHS Rocky Mountain Parks (Alberta/British Columbia). Potential Indigenous cultural day trips from Calgary include Blackfoot Crossing, UWHS Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, and UWHS Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, also known as the “Blackfoot Archives” because of the thousands of pictographs throughout the park.

Here we report on the overall communications plan, starting with phase one leading into IGC 2024 in which a powerful social media presence became the potential game-changer to connect with the target audiences such as the national and global geoscience community, as well as the general public. This connection built brand awareness while unearthing enthusiasm for the destination and program. Stage one for the social media campaign involved a recent three-month social media campaign with daily bilingual postings on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube. Social media was important for achieving the goals of: i) promoting Canadian geosciences, ii) highlighting the conference tagline “Geosciences for Humanity” and iii) building awareness about the Canadian bid. During IGC 2024 the social media team also promoted the events that happened at the Canadian Booth and Reception, reflecting Calgary’s renowned hospitality such as the White Hat Ceremony swearing in 30 IGC delegates as honorary Calgarians. This strategy united the international geoscience community, emphasizing the collaborative spirit that we aim to foster for IGC 2028.

The stage two of the social media (post-bid) campaign started at the end of 2024. Weekly themes promote Indigenous and geotourism offerings across Canada, with three weekly postings to showcase content. After winning the bid to host IGC 2028, interest from the local media was sparked after a press release led by the University of Calgary framing this as the “Olympics of the Geosciences”. Co-chairs Boggs and Eaton were interviewed on TV and Radio. Further press releases will follow in upcoming years to profile plenary speakers and advertise the Keynote Daily Themes (KDT) to local public schools and universities across Canada. KDTs such as “Space and Planetary Geosciences” will springboard off the Artemis II Mission which will be circumnavigating the moon in 2025 with Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen onboard.

How to cite: Boggs, K., Dubois Gafar, A., Eaton, D., Navarro, L., Demorcy, J., Bley, H., Rojas Parra, J., and Carlisle, R.: Promoting Geosciences: Effective Communication Strategies for the International Geological Congress (IGC) 2028 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14200, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14200, 2025.

Engaging the community with geosciences has always been a big challenge for geoscientists. It has become increasingly important in the face of widespread misinformation on social media. To address this, the “Talk2Geo: Hablemos de Geociencias (Let’s talk about geoscience)” project was created to bridge the gap between geoscientists and the general public in an informal and approachable setting, where people don’t feel afraid or ashamed to asks questions.

We dropped the traditional structure of the academia and took researchers from the Universidad de Concepción away from the university, to a local restobar. There, through the course of the first semester of 2024, we organized six conservatories. Scientist were asked to present a brief introduction to their research topic in a non-scientific, everyday language. The audience was encouraged to ask questions and engage in discussions throughout the talks. These interactions often guided the development of the topics, fostering an open and dynamic dialogue. The addressed themes were stratigraphy, hydrothermal waters, volcanoes, field geology, earthquakes and landslides.

The talks had a great reception from the public, who participated actively and asked abundant questions. We compiled these questions and general topics of interest about each of the themes and presented the results to academics at the university, not only to bring sciences to the public but to also bring peoples interests to academics, hoping to have an impact in the development of future research topics.

How to cite: Cabello, C., Leal, D., and Riedel-Hornig, M.: Talk2Geo: Hablemos de Geociencias, a geoscience outreach project, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14325, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14325, 2025.

An Exploration of Co-creation Through the Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice discusses a successful co-creation of a film project with sicentsits and film professionals from Europe and the US. The resulting film,The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice is about the science of how a long-lost sediment core reveals crucial clues about the disappearance of the Greenland Ice Sheet and global sea level rise. Scientists find the sediment from a secret sub-ice US Milirary Cold War base in the Arctic holding clues to the stability of the Greenland Ice Sheet and completely transforming our understanding of ice sheet collapse. The film was an enormous undertaking to follow the science across nine laboratories in the US and Europe and highlights some of the most remote locations in Greenland. The E&O generated not only important outreach for science, but also built on practical and theoretical research within film. The collaborative academic model built the E&O team within the science team rather than as an ad hoc external team. This approach developed an atmosphere of co-creation. During this presentation, Kasic will sceen excerpts of the film and will be availabe to discuss the combined traditional and non-traditional approaches the project took to E&O, from conception to completion. 

Here is a private link to the film in its entirety:

The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice

Link to trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukf54a6ZRW0

Full Film available for screening upon request.

How to cite: Kasic, K.: An Exploration of Co-creation Through the Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14662, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14662, 2025.

How do soil scientists perceive and experience soils? They use a wide variety of devices and tools, such as microscopes, laboratory equipment and field campaigns, and they summarize their knowledge through publications, graphs, and tables. Approaching soils with this academic perspective is likely to cause scientists to have different relationships with soils than people without soil science training. Humans have relationships with soils, and in addition to the science-based ones, these relationships can be personal, artistic, cultural, sensorial and more. Clearly, soils matter at many levels since people and communities can feel a deep connection with the soil of their homeland, as a source of identity, sustenance and a sense of place and belonging. What we proposed during the Wageningen Soil Conference 2023 was to let soil scientists discover the diversity in ways that soils can be experienced and perceived so to facilitate a positive transformation on how do we do soil science. During these event we took participants beyond the scientific perspective in an informal and relaxed space where we engaged with soils in unexpected and creative ways. Seventeen ‘stations’ were dedicated to experiencing colors, smells, tastes, textures, sounds, visuals, emotions and feelings peculiar to soils. Each station was organized by either a scientist or an artist that was present to encourage discussions, conversations and sharing of stories to inspire to experience new soil perspectives. One of the goals of this exercise was to expand (transform) the, often narrow, view of soil scientists on soils and let them discover other dimensions which can allow them to better connect with society and inspire them to share their work and knowledge about soil. This event was just the beginning of our collaboration towards experiencing soil perspectives and more events using the same or a similar format for different stakeholder groups (non-soil scientist, general public) were organized. During the conference we will share our concept, experiences and reflection with a broader group of soil scientists also reflecting about the experiences derived from the course ‘Transformative soil science’ hold in November 2024. The course was grounded in transdisciplinary perspectives from natural and social sciences and the humanities, and helped early-career scientists to understand their own perspectives on soil, and how to connect with other perspectives in an integral way of knowledge generation that contributes to meaningful transformations.

How to cite: Bongiorno, G., Stomph, D., Wiersma, W., and Student, J.: Experiencing soil perspectives – an interdisciplinary approach to transform soil science, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15176, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15176, 2025.

Soil health plays a crucial role in ecosystem functioning and is closely linked to human life. However, land and soil degradation are widespread due to environmental and anthropogenic threats. Soil knowledge is essential to address modern global challenges. Despite the important role of soils, they are often underappreciated by the general population, highlighting the need to raise soil awareness. The EU project CURIOSOIL (2024-2028, co-funded by the European Union: URL: curiosoil.eu) therefore aims at raising soil literacy and promoting a positive narrative around soils. CURIOSOIL focuses on enhancing soil literacy by triggering soil curiosity and connections between society and soil. According to the EU Mission Soil Implementation plan, soil literacy refers to both awareness about the importance of soil and practice-oriented knowledge related to achieving soil health. Soil literacy and education are crucial to environmental sustainability and the future of societies.

With this poster contribution, we seek to explore to what extent university students and scientists at EGU are willing to reflect on their own attitudes and behaviors toward soils using a participatory approach. We hypothesize that participating in discussions and reflection exercises about soil helps to increase awareness, spark curiosity, and encourage action to solve soil-related issues. We therefore invite conference participants to actively engage with us through our participatory poster. The participants are invited to answer targeted questions, write down and display their reflections directly on the poster, via post-its and/or via a digital survey. These questions are aligned with learning objectives and competences of soil literacy related to knowledge, attitudes and behavior towards soil.  All collected information will be anonymized to ensure privacy and confidentiality. To the best of our knowledge, this participatory approach is new to soil science as usually data are presented and not collected during a soil science conference. We therefore also aim to introduce the participatory poster as a research tool for data collection. Additionally, it serves as a communication instrument to encourage reflection on individual perspectives towards soil and promote an active role of raising soil awareness in society.

Specifically, our objectives are to: 1) collaboratively (the presenter and conference participants together) reflect on our knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors including emotions and habits related to soils, 2) discuss factors that influence our connection with soils (or lack thereof), 3) brainstorm on ways to create formal and informal environments that improve awareness, curiosity and learning about soils. Our findings will be used to design CURIOSOIL educational materials that will be made available for free on the project website (curiosoil.eu).

In summary, we believe that our participatory approach can enhance soil awareness, curiosity and learning. We intend to bridge the gap between society and soils to encourage careful and sustainable soil use and protect soil health. Moreover, our participatory approach is designed to engage scientists, foster multidisciplinary collaborations between social and natural scientists towards co-creation of educational materials, as well as to contribute meaningfully to natural science research.

How to cite: Huber, S., Gruselle, M.-C., Keiblinger, K., Lubbers, I., Rodrigues, S., Ugstad, H., Stolte, J., Taghizadeh Kerman, N., Bøe, F., and Fischer, F.: CURIOSOIL: Join us to raise awareness and curiosity about soils!, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15618, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15618, 2025.

Inter- and transdisciplinary projects often face the challenge of becoming scattered, due to the challenges of communication, collaboration and data integration. While co-design and close collaboration between all involved actors have been widely recommended to address congruence and representativity of all disciplines on the results and reports, inter- and transdisciplinary research often lacks platforms where these practices can be effectively carried out. The Einstein Research Unit “Climate and Water under Change” (CliWaC) investigated water-related issues in the Berlin-Brandenburg region, Germany, from diverse perspectives of more than 20 individual research groups across a wide range of disciplines - thus making it a perfect case for researching integration tools. By the end of the three-year project, we have developed a knowledge-based interactive data platform called the CliWaC Explorer, that can address the abovementioned issues and present research results and products in a coherent whole.

The CliWaC Explorer is designed as a multi-purpose tool: as a data-exploration platform for researchers studying water-related issues in the region, as a decision support tool for stakeholders and as an education and outreach tool for the wider public. One of the biggest challenges was to appeal to both a natural and a social science user base. We achieved this by allowing the users to both navigate topics spatially, as commonly done in map-based natural sciences or in a thematic plane, where project parts are organized according to their thematic relationships. The explorer has been developed with close collaboration of the project partners, and currently being further developed with a series of workshops, to be accessible by a wider user base including stakeholders and educators. We believe our platform could provide a template of how interdisciplinary research can be integrated, and how its results can be communicated to a wider audience.

How to cite: Somogyvári, M., Brill, F., Alencar, P. H. L., Fischer, J., and Sauter, T.: Integrating the results of an interdisciplinary project over social and natural sciences: the Cliwac Explorer, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-16949, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-16949, 2025.

Ecotourism and rural tourism are pivotal activities for generating substantial income, supporting rural economies, and fostering a deeper understanding of land and soil resources in various regions, particularly in inland areas. Recognizing their significance, the United Nations has included these activities in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (specifically SDG 8.9 and SDG 12), aiming for their accomplishment by 2030. While digital tourism has experienced remarkable growth recently, its focus largely remains on well-known tourist destinations.

This study highlight the potential of a geospatial decision support system (S-DSS) built on a publicly accessible, web-based geospatial cyberinfrastructure (GCI). This system offers a practical and effective tool to enhance tourism opportunities in less-visited inland areas promoting a greater appreciation of soil and land environmental resources.

The S-DSS platform is designed to facilitate the collection, management, processing, and analysis of both static (e.g., information on soil and geology) and dynamic data (e.g., climatic data). It also features advanced data visualization and on-the-fly computational tools, catering to a diverse user base that includes farmers, tourism operators, associations, and public institutions.

The S-DSS tool known as EcoSmarTour operates across the entirety of Italy, providing extensive information, including detailed soil information, to expand territorial knowledge. It supports scenario analysis, map generation, and the assessment of potential trails or ecotourism hotspots. Also, through the use of artificial intelligence, EcoSmarTour can generate text-based narratives of selected routes, tailored to the user’s preferences. This functionality enables the creation of customized storytelling for various audiences, from children and teenagers to adults and experts.

How to cite: Mileti, F. A., Tatone, M., Terribile, F., and Blazica, B.: A Smart Platform for Enhancing Soil and Land Awareness in Italy, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-17396, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-17396, 2025.

“In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.” These words by forestry engineer Baba Dioum in 1968 reflect, how the relationship between people and forests has intensified over recent decades, a development that has significantly contributed to forest conservation. Unlike trees, esthetical and vital soils are rarely exposed for people to see, understand, or appreciate, making it harder to foster a connection to them.

The EU project SOILSCAPE (Spreading Open and Inclusive Literacy and Soil Culture through Artistic Practices and Education) aims to bring soils closer to the public. Alongside modern communication methods, the project places a strong emphasis on artistic approaches to promote awareness, understanding, and love for soils in their context.

In a first step towards this goal, current narratives were analyzed through a media study that examined coverage in newspapers, television, podcasts, and social networks. Thereby, the guiding questions were: What knowledge and opinions are there? Which imaginations and associations regarding soils do we find in society - and of whom? For exploring these questions, we conducted a survey using a verbal and visual questionnaire and follow-up expert interviews. Our analysis aimed at assessing dominant soil narratives and their potential impacts, and at preparing effective strategies to strengthen connections between people and soils, including cultural and artistic approaches. Thereby, we addressed societal narratives, imaginaries, and values related to soils, particularly focusing their perception and communication. The media research, questionnaire-based survey, and expert interviews were conducted in eight European countries: Bulgaria, Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Switzerland. The study yielded almost 100 datasets from the media analysis, 435 complete responses from the visual-based questionnaire, and 24 expert interviews, providing a robust foundation for understanding how soils are perceived and how soil awareness in the European public can be more effectively enhanced.

Our results from the media research show that soils are mostly not in the focus of media, but rather treated as functional elements in discussions related to agriculture, climate change, and urbanization. People tend to perceive soils indirectly, through their use and significance in these broader contexts. Perception of soils varies widely depending on region and prior knowledge. Around 40% of participants felt that soils in their region are in poor condition, while another 40% were unsure. Primary threats to soil that were named by people included agriculture, forestry, biodiversity loss, and climate change.

These outcomes of this study point to a gap between implicit and explicit awareness of soil-related challenges. While artistic and educational approaches seem most promising in bridging this gap, the results of our study highlight the urgent need for targeted communication strategies to raise the awareness of soils and make them a topic of societal concern. Only by fostering a deeper public understanding, a stronger connection to and protection of this critical resource can be achieved.

How to cite: Sauer, D., Schwindt, D., Patzel, N., Luis Lucas, F., Raous, S., Bampa, F., Mellanen, L., and Melkas, H. and the SOILSCAPE Team: Soils in Society: Digging into Narratives and Perceptions for a Deeper Understanding, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18051, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18051, 2025.

Climate change has led to an increase in permafrost warming and thaw at global scale. Land surface changes associated with permafrost thaw include the acceleration of Arctic coastal erosion, increased thaw slumping in ice-rich regions, the drainage and formation of lakes, as well as an intensification of other disturbances, such as forest and tundra fires and droughts. Thermo-erosion threatens infrastructure and leads to gullying, slumping, and even landslides. To detect and map such permafrost disturbances at high spatial resolution across large regions and to quantify land surface change, remote sensing analyses can be applied. In the ERC PETA-CARB, ESA CCI Permafrost, and NSF Permafrost Discovery Gateway projects, a pan-arctic 20-years time series of land surface disturbance trends was produced using Landsat TM, ETM+, and OLI imagery. The dataset presents a valuable source of information for Arctic communities, planners, stakeholders, and rights holders. Arctic communities living on frozen ground are increasingly forced to adapt their livelihoods to permafrost thaw. In some areas, the relocation of settlements has become the last resort and is already actively planned for several communities in Alaska.

To make the large landscape change dataset more easily accessible to non-specialist audiences, within the EU Arctic PASSION project, we designed a new web-based portal tailored towards such audiences and the sometimes limited internet bandwidths encountered in Arctic communities. The Arctic Landscape EXplorer (ALEX, https://alex.awi.de) was launched in early 2024 and provides interactive maps displaying recent information on land surface changes, hot spots of disturbances, and potential areas of active permafrost thaw and erosion. While focusing on the local to regional scale relevant for private users, regional, and state-level decision makers, exploring the data up to the pan-arctic scale may open new avenues for understanding permafrost change for the general public. A new release of ALEX in early 2025 will provide several new features. On the portal's home page, a new section will highlight selected locations in the Arctic with extraordinary land surface changes, accompanied by contextual information. On the map, users will be able to easily compare the change data with satellite imagery and other reference maps using a swipe and fade toolbox. Sharing specific map views will also be enabled. A second story map focusing on shore erosion explains geophysical processes and the role of permafrost.

Consultations with local representatives and stakeholders in Alaska, requests from members of governmental and tribal entities to reuse our data, and inquiries from research partners in the Arctic confirm that our transfer efforts have met real needs. This positive feedback encourages us to continue updating the tool beyond the end of the Arctic PASSION project.

How to cite: Lübker, T., Nitze, I., Laboor, S., Irrgang, A., Lantuit, H., and Grosse, G.: Communicating remotely sensed pan-arctic permafrost land surface changes to non-specialist audiences with the Arctic Landscape EXplorer (ALEX), EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18409, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18409, 2025.

Climate adaptation action is increasingly both local and urgent. Reasons for including citizen and community voices in decision-making range from securing climate justice to generating more apt solutions and increasing public acceptance of interventions. More broadly, attempts to rebuild public trust in democracy and public institutions has led to a surge in citizen engagement initiatives for decision making in a whole range of subjects.

This confluence of trends has generated an ever-growing knowledge and experience base and countless publications that call for citizen engagement in climate change adaptation efforts, provide best practices for citizen engagement, and occasionally both. However, the enormous breadth of the intended audiences means that in almost all cases, these best practice guides focus on citizen engagement in general.

As part of the Adaptation AGORA project – a 3-year Mission Adaptation project that brings together researchers and practitioners from 12 institutes from across Europe – we have spent two years mapping European adaptation-related citizen engagement initiatives ( CEIs), interviewing experts across the CEI value chain and carrying out interactive workshops in attempt to identify best practices. The variety of adaptation contexts and wide range of possible (positive and negative) outcomes and impacts from CEIs pushed us beyond only looking for universal good practices to also consider those that lead to specific outcomes, like generating more just decisions, being tailored to the local settings in which they apply, promoting mutual learning, or producing improved collaboration.

We find that choices taken when designing initiatives are key to the achievement of different goals. Some general good practices can almost universally be applied, like setting a clear objective, and ensuring effective communication before, during and after the initiative. However, beyond these straightforward observations, the variety of primary and secondary objectives (awareness raising, allocating public resources, generating ideas, creating guidelines, forming long-term plans etc.) and the myriad of contextual factors (scale, scope, location, resources, familiarity with citizen engagement etc.) frustrate identifying the best practices to pursue among a surfeit of potential actions. Essentially, what is often missing from existing best-practice guides is a framework to prioritise what can be achieved with limited resources to meet the identified goals. Indeed, the relative merit of different practices in achieving different goals is well understood only by a few seasoned experts, and frequently a challenge to communicate.

Hoping to facilitate discussion and the exchange of different perspectives, we propose a serious game, Citi-Adapt, that seeks to visibilise the trade offs and push collaborative teams to collectively seek better design choices in the pursuit of different goals in unique contexts. Citi-Adapt allows us to add in different constraints, to situate CEIs in different contexts, and for different actors to walk in each other's shoes. It can be played in two ways – 1) exploring the types of resources required to achieve certain goals; and 2) identifying possible outcomes based on available resources – and we would be delighted to present it and hear your thoughts as we move to building a prototype.

How to cite: Pickard, S. and Baulenas, E.: Citi-Adapt: Communicating design decisions for citizen engagement in climate adaptation action via a serious game, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18809, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18809, 2025.

This study investigates the co-production and science communication efforts surrounding the use of storm-resolving Earth system models (SR-ESMs) to support the renewable energy transition. The models were developed under the Horizon Europe EU-funded project Next Generation of Earth System Models (NextGEMS) in the course of 3,5 years. 

By engaging in participatory workshops with stakeholders from the energy sector—including policymakers, energy providers, and civil society—we co-created scenario storylines that integrate the km-scale climate model outputs with socio-political narratives. These workshops served as a platform for dialogue, enabling the communication of complex scientific findings in a manner accessible to non-specialist audiences, and also exploring the way in which SR-ESMs can move forward to support key societal challenges such as the energy transition.

The co-production process and communication strategy were informed by exploring stakeholder perspectives and preferences, which helped design the scenarios that could be later on represented by the SR-ESMs. Specifically, the use of discourse-analytical methods helped identify key narratives that resonate with different audience segments, ensuring the models' outputs are framed in ways that address socio-environmental concerns, such as the public acceptance of renewable energy technologies.

Our communication efforts revealed several lessons: the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, the value of iterative engagement with stakeholders, and the need for flexible strategies that adapt to evolving audience needs. These insights contribute to best practices in science communication, emphasizing the role of co-production in making scientific information actionable and impactful for policy and societal change.

How to cite: Baulenas, E., Bojovic, D., Veerman, M., Dolores-Tesillos, E., Lacima-Nadolnik, A., Haslehner, K., Kumar, A., Delgado-Torres, C., and Soret, A.: Storm-Resolving Earth System Models to Support Renewable Energy Transitions: mixing storyline methodologies to bridge science and society, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-19249, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-19249, 2025.

Soil plays a fundamental role in terrestrial ecosystems, acting as a medium for plants and other organisms while supporting all terrestrial life by providing essential conditions for growth and development. Despite its critical importance, the role of soil is often undervalued. The CURIOSOIL project aims to ignite curiosity about soils, enhance soil literacy, and foster meaningful connections between people and soil. CURIOSOIL focuses on improving soil education, addressing the pressing need for a stronger connection with soil amidst increasing human pressures on this vital resource. The project seeks to bridge gaps in soil knowledge among pupils, students, teachers, citizens, policymakers, and practitioners, thereby addressing soil illiteracy, a significant barrier to sustainable soil use. A key part of CURIOSOIL is the development of the Soil Literacy Assessment Framework (SLAF) for five target groups: primary education, secondary education, tertiary education, teachers, and lifelong learners. To achieve this, we identified the core main domains and subdomains of soil literacy in consultation with soil experts and stakeholders in soil education and lifelong learning. Four main domains have been defined: soil diversity, soil services, soil threats, and soil solutions.

This study prioritized these main domains and subdomains for designing a valid soil literacy assessment framework (SLAF) in diverse target groups. Furthermore, understanding the relative importance of these main domains (and subdomains) enables educators and policymakers to focus on the most impactful areas, ensuring that soil education efforts address the unique needs of both children and adults. By establishing these priorities, resources can be allocated efficiently, and targeted educational activities can be developed to enhance soil awareness and literacy. In this study, we employed the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritize soil literacy's main domains and subdomains for SLAF. AHP is a widely recognized method that provides a systematic framework for pairwise comparisons of variables, enabling a detailed evaluation of their relative importance. Using this approach, soil experts, researchers, and educators assessed the significance of various domains for children and subdomains for adults, yielding valuable insights into the main domains and subdomains priorities.

The AHP analysis was facilitated by specialized software, such as Expert Choice. This study demonstrated its utility in designing an assessment framework and prioritizing the main domains and subdomains of soil literacy for diverse target groups. By utilizing the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in this study, soil experts contributed valuable insights into the prioritization of soil literacy the main domains and subdomains for designing valid questionnaires. This input ensures that the resulting assessment framework and educational activities are scientifically robust and practically applicable.

Keywords: Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), CURIOSOIL, environmental education, Soil Literacy Assessment Framework (SLAF), sustainability

How to cite: Lubbers, I., Taghizadeh Kerman, N., Morias Rodrigues, S., and Noroozi, O.: Prioritizing Soil Literacy: An AHP-Based Approach, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-19274, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-19274, 2025.

The University Partnership for Atmospheric Sciences (UPAS) is a collaborative initiative among ten German universities offering Bachelor's and Master's programs in meteorology. Supported by an executive office at the University of Bonn, UPAS aims to enhance meteorological education and research in Germany by focusing on four key areas:

• Attracting qualified students
• Providing excellent education
• Fostering synergies for successful science
• Engaging in societal and community outreach

A significant component of UPAS is its dedication to advancing science communication and public engagement within meteorology. This commitment is exemplified through initiatives such as MeteoXchange, an international network fostering professional growth among early-career scientists via annual virtual conferences and specialized workshops designed to enhance presentation and communication skills. Additional efforts include interactive science slamming workshops, hands-on climate change experiment demonstrations for classrooms across Germany, the development of a dedicated podcast, and the creation of high-quality Open Educational Resources (OER). These activities not only elevate internal training but also bridge the gap between scientific research and societal understanding, amplifying the impact of meteorology on diverse audiences.

This presentation will highlight UPAS's achievements, providing an overview of our approaches to enhance education, research and outreach in meteorology. We will also discuss challenges encountered and share lessons learned, including strategies for overcoming hurdles and successfully leveraging synergies among our partner institutions. We are more than keen to invite collaboration and idea exchange with other geoscientific networks sharing similar objectives, in particular on the international level.

How to cite: Thiele-Eich, I., Arimond, E., and Uebachs, A.: University Partnership for Armospheric Sciences (UPAS): a joint effort in communicating meteorology , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20089, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20089, 2025.

Scientific research is often inaccessible to non-academic audiences, even when it is publicly funded or conducted in their local area. Bridging this gap is essential to promote public understanding and inspire future geoscientists.

This study presents a small-scale science communication project developed as part of a Master's thesis and implemented in a rural Austrian community within the Hohe Tauern National Park. The initiative involved two local school classes and the general public through interactive activities and workshops. An open lecture on regional geology, given by young scientists from the University of Innsbruck, introduced the project to the wider community. The following day, school classes took part in field workshops led by scientists and National Park rangers on topics such as regional geology, tectonics, ore mining, geoarchaeology, alpine farming and local fauna. Hands-on, outdoor activities proved to be an effective and easy-to-implement tool for geoscience engagement and received positive feedback during this project.

Feedback indicated an increased interest and understanding of geoscience topics among participants. This study highlights how small-scale, low-cost projects can effectively engage local communities and stimulate interest in geoscience. Such efforts are critical to making science communication accessible and replicable for future researchers.

How to cite: Gatt, T., Sieberer, A.-K., Westreicher, F., Mattersberger, M., and Zeiner, S.: Communicating geoscience to the public: insights from an early career scientist, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20316, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20316, 2025.

Tales from Mednight – Junior Edition is an enchanting collection of stories created to inspire children under 12 with the wonders of Mediterranean science. This one-of-a-kind anthology showcases the winning entries from the IV Literary Contest “Tales from Mednight,” a transnational initiative celebrating the fusion of creativity and science.

The stories explore themes such as biodiversity, clean energy, Mediterranean history, and environmental stewardship, sparking curiosity and fostering a love for science among young readers. Written in seven languages—Arabic, English, French, Greek, Italian, Spanish, and Turkish—the winning tales embody the Mediterranean's rich cultural diversity and shared scientific legacy.

To celebrate the launch of the Junior Edition, the Mednight initiative is distributing printed copies to children in hospitals, primary schools, and refugee camps. Free digital copies are also available, ensuring that the inspiring world of Mediterranean science reaches young readers everywhere.

How to cite: Krouma, M. and the Mednight team: Tales from Mednight – Junior Edition: Inspiring Young Minds with Mediterranean Science, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20455, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20455, 2025.

How to cite: von Szombathely, M., Reif, A., Poschlod, B., Blanz, B., Borchert, L., Brunner, L., and Sillmann, J.: The communicative power of climate extremes , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-21677, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-21677, 2025.

Assessing erosion risk is essential for implementing effective soil and water conservation (SWC) measures, a task especially challenging in data-scarce, semi-arid regions of India. This study addresses these complexities by employing a comprehensive prioritization approach to enhance erosion management efficiency in the Devgadh Baria Watershed (DBW) in Gujarat, India. The primary goal is to systematically prioritize sub-watersheds (SWs) using geomorphometric and land use/land cover (LULC) analyses, followed by recommendations for targeted SWC interventions in high-priority areas. Through remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) techniques, the study delineates SWs and evaluates their vulnerability based on seven key morphometric parameters and LULC classifications, including agricultural land, forest, wasteland, and built-up areas. By integrating these parameters, the analysis yields compound values for each of the 30 SWs, resulting in a refined prioritization ranking. Notably, SW26, initially ranked as very high priority due to steep slopes and low drainage density, shifted to medium priority in the combined analysis, highlighting effective agricultural practices that reduce erosion. Meanwhile, SW7 maintained its very high priority ranking across analyses, reflecting persistent erosion risk from extensive built-up areas and limited forest cover. SW30 moved from high to medium priority, influenced by balanced agricultural activities and gentler slopes, while SWs 6 and 24 dropped from very high to medium priority. SW22 remained a high priority, benefiting from moderate forest cover and soil types that mitigate erosion. This research emphasizes the scientific value of integrating morphometric and LULC analyses for accurate SW prioritization. The combined approach enhances erosion risk assessment, facilitating targeted SWC strategies vital for watershed management in semi-arid regions. These findings offer actionable insights that support global sustainability goals, contributing to improved soil conservation and water resource management.

How to cite: Koradia, A., Patel, J. N., Yadav, B., and Rana, P.: Can Remote Sensing-Based Geomorphometric Analysis Combined with LULC Provide Greater Insights for Prioritizing Soil and Water Conservation Measures in Data-Scarce Semi-Arid Regions?, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-81, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-81, 2025.

The study presented in this communication evaluates the evolution of gully erosion over seven decades in the western Campiña of the Guadalquivir River Basin in southern Spain. Gully erosion, a major driver of soil degradation, seems to be intensified in this region in last years. The research utilizes photointerpretation techniques to track the development of gullies from 1956 to 2022, correlating this with rainfall data, land use changes, and the hydrological responses of watersheds. Nine gully systems were selected, and their areas were digitized from historical orthophotos, with volumetric erosion estimates made for select periods using available digital elevation models (DEMs).

The results show that gully development accelerated in response to a combination of factors, particularly the shift from herbaceous crops to olive groves. As olive cultivation expanded and ground cover was reduced, soil became more susceptible to erosion. This was especially evident after high-intensity rainfall events, such as those between 2009 and 2011, which caused significant gully growth. At the end of the study period, approximately 6% of the first-order catchments analyzed were occupied by gullies.

The average erosion rates recorded in this study (47 tons per hectare per year) were consistent with those reported in other Mediterranean regions, and showed a pronounced upward trend, with peak erosion rates reaching 282 tons per hectare per year during the 2008-2010 period. This increase is attributed to more frequent extreme rainfall events, as well as changes in land use. Furthermore, a comparison of gully morphology with global data suggests that the gullies in this region are shallower for a given width, possibly due to the low stability of the soils to lateral collapse.

A key finding is the role of human interventions in gully systems, such as partial filling, contour reshaping, and land leveling, which frequently modified gully erosion rates. These activities result in the underestimation of the volume eroded by up to 28%, with some particular cases showing deviations as high as 393%. This highlights the need for adjusting the temporal scale of monitoring gully erosion to capture relevant interventions, or alternatively inform gully erosion rates with detailed information on the land management between study periods.  

The study concludes by recommending that the design of hydraulic structures for gully control be reevaluated in light of the increasing intensity and frequency of rainfall events with high return periods. Additionally, sustainable land use practices should be implemented from the outset to mitigate gully formation, for example, at the time of establishing a new crop or when making a change in land use. Finally, an empirical expression between contributing area and peak flow for different return periods is stablished to facilitate the implementation of control measures in a region.

Acknowledgements:

This work has been possible thanks to the contribution of the Postdoctoral fellowship (POSTDOC_21_00342) from the Andalusian Plan for Research, Development and Innovation (PAIDI 2020) and the project TUdi (GA 101000224) from European Union's Horizon 2020 research program.

How to cite: Hayas, A. and Gómez, J. A.: Analyzing gully evolution in a rolling landscape over seven decades in SW Europe. Lessons for the future, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-436, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-436, 2025.

Gully erosion is the rapid incision of soils by concentrated overland and/or subsurface runoff. Badlands, which are barren landscapes sculpted through prolonged and intense gully erosion, occur extensively across Central and Western India. These vast and immensely degraded landscapes have had several adverse effects on the regional environment and society. Consequently, they have received considerable research attention since India’s independence, while little information exists about the characteristics of gully erosion elsewhere in India. Therefore, through a detailed pan-Indian mapping of gully erosion landforms, possibly the most extensive fieldwork ever undertaken in the domain of gully erosion research and multitemporal remote sensing, this work highlights the spatial distribution and areal extents of gully erosion, the spatial variability in gully morphological attributes and the dynamics of gully erosion and reclamation in India. Overall, the findings indicate that India not only has some of the largest gullies worldwide (widths up to 412 m and depths up to 78 m) but select locales of the country also experience some of the worst long-term rates of gully erosion (up to 800 t ha^-1 yr^-1) on our planet. Although the badlands account for a large 70% of the total gullying-affected land area in India, we have found that gully erosion in Eastern India is currently a particular cause of concern not only due to the widespread occurrence, but also because of high activity rates that seldom remain within the local permissible soil loss rates. On the contrary, the badlands are stabilised, and the gullies therein exhibit limited activity, if at all, which has prompted large-scale land reclamation activities in these regions. Gully morphological attributes such as top-to-bottom width ratio, width-depth ratio and cross-sectional area differ considerably across India, with statistically significant differences observed across climes, geomorphological settings, soil types and land cover/use classes. We have also observed that stabilised gullies are considerably (by ca. 3 times on average) larger than currently active systems. Similarly, gullies in the badlands are disproportionately larger than that of gully systems elsewhere, with bank gullies characterised by the largest dimensions among the latter. By providing critical insights into the scale, nature, and severity of gully erosion in India, this project not only addresses the glaring lack of knowledge on this subject and advances scientific understanding, but the findings also support practical strategies for sustainable land management by aiding in the identification of particularly erosion-prone regions where management efforts should be prioritised, which has relevance for the ongoing national land degradation neutrality drive.

How to cite: Majhi, A., Mallick, K., Barman, D., Harris, A., Evans, M., Shuttleworth, E., and Bhattacharjee, P.: Gully erosion in India: Land degradation, geomorphology and dynamics, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-563, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-563, 2025.

Most of the mountainous regions in subtropical monsoon-dominated climatic zone experiences considerable soil erosion and related land degradation due to natural factors. Soil erosion by water is frequently regarded as the most severe form of land degradation, with substantial environmental and economic consequences, which is exacerbated by human-caused activities and has an impact on agricultural production, water resource sustainability, and ecological conservation.Mahur watershed, located in Dima Hasao District of Assam in the eastern Himalaya region, is highly vulnerable to erosionand associated geomorphic hazards due to high rainfall, young and highly erodible rock formations, fragmented reshaping geomorphology, and high soil erodibility impacting both land stability and local communities specially during monsoon season. Despite this, anthropogenic activities such as growing unplanned development, silt extraction from rivers, and shifting cultivation techniques have increased the geo-environmental sensitivity to erosion hazards in Mahur Watershed. By using Remote Sensing and GIS tools, this paper tries to understand the soil erosion characteristics, identify high-risk areas and evaluate geomorphic hazards in Mahur watershed of Dima Hasao district of Assam.

Keywords: Geospatial analysis, Soil erosion, Geomorphic Hazards Mahur watershed, North East India.

How to cite: Haflongbar, D. and Singh Rawat, M.:  Geospatial Analysis of Soil Erosion and Associated Geomorphic Hazards in Mahur Watershed, Dima Hasao District of Assam, North-East India, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-606, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-606, 2025.

Soil erosion by water is a critical factor contributing to eutrophication in water bodies, acting as a significant nitrogen and phosphorus input from land. While many models predict soil erosion and sediment transport into lakes and rivers, and the connection between soil erosion triggering eutrophication is considered textbook knowledge, there is, indeed, limited scientific data-based evidence of a direct link between eutrophication and soil erosion. We assessed the impact of soil erosion on eutrophication, considering other covariates such as slope, elevation, phosphorus, nitrogen, and water temperature, by analysing buffer zones of varying sizes around lakes in six different regions of Europe:  Austria (82 lakes), France (313), Germany (294), Hungary (79), Poland (478), and the UK (320). We utilized multispectral Sentinel-2 satellite remote sensing data at 20m spatial resolution for 2021 and 2022 to estimate the Floating Algae Index (FAI) of lakes. Bloom occurrence (BO) – the frequency of detected algal blooms – and maximum bloom extent (MBE) – the total area affected by blooms during the study period were correlated with the aforementioned covariates within contributing terrestrial zones of 100m, 200m, 500m, and 1km using machine learning algorithms. Initial results indicate that soil erosion itself is a the most important driver of eutrophication for many of the selected European regions, with water temperature and elevation also playing important roles. Moreover, the significance of soil erosion varies depending on contributing terrestrial zone across different regions. This study underscores the utility of remote sensing in assessing the impact of soil erosion on eutrophication providing a data based scientific link between the two processes.

How to cite: Gupta, S., Scheper, S., Borrelli, P., Panagos, P., and Alewell, C.: Exploring the influence of soil erosion on lake eutrophication through remote sensing across Europe , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1329, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1329, 2025.

Abstract

Like many areas along the border of the main Ethiopian Rift, the Shafe catchment is severely affected by gully erosion. Many earlier studies hypothesized that this can lead to important crop yield losses and, by extent, other socio-economic impacts. Nonetheless, as in other regions, these effects remain poorly quantified and understood. This research aims to quantify and understand these impacts, a critical step for designing effective and targeted mitigation measures. Given the challenges of accurately quantifying these impacts, a multi-method approach was employed. Household interviews were conducted with 171 randomly selected farmers, each having at least one gully-affected plot, to gather insights on perceived impacts, the allocation of uncropped buffer zones near gullies, and crop desiccation effects. Drone mapping of 85 gully-affected plots was carried out to quantify land losses due to gullies. Daily soil moisture measurements were recorded at varying distances from the gully edge (1m, 5m, 10m, 20m, 25m, and 40m). To quantify crop yield reduction, sorghum, wheat, and haricot bean samples were collected from gully-affected plots over two different seasons, with grain and biomass yields measured. Composite soil samples were also collected and analyzed to determine whether crop yield differences may be linked to soil nutrient contents. The preliminary results indicate that farmers experience direct losses of cropland, reduced crop yields due to a combination of factors, and the need for buffers around gullies as the most significant impacts of gully erosion. Soil moisture analysis indicate significant variations across depth and distance from the gully, with relatively higher moisture levels recorded at 40 m compared to closer distances, highlighting reduced moisture availability near the gully. Such variation in soil moisture corresponds to the observed crop yield trends, which increase with distance from the gully. Among the crop samples collected, sorghum showed the highest sensitivity to desiccation (from 0.1 kg/m² at 1 m to 0.47 kg/m² at 40 m). These preliminary results underline the significant impacts that gully erosion can have but also enhance our understanding for the development of more feasible, site-specific mitigation strategies.

How to cite: Mekonnen, Y., Kervyn, M., Belayneh, L., Tsegaye, G., De Bleser, J., and Vanmaercke, M.: Quantifying the impacts of gully erosion on farmers' livelihoods in the Shafe catchment, southern main Ethiopian Rift: a multi-method approach, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1909, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1909, 2025.

Soil erosion poses a significant global challenge, with an estimated 25–40 billion tons of soil lost annually, threatening food security, water quality, and ecological balance. In Europe alone, soil losses exceed 970 million tons annually, emphasizing the urgent need for precise modeling to assess and mitigate erosion risks. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) serves as a widely used empirical model for quantifying soil erosion risk, incorporating key parameters such as rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), cover and management (P and C), and the Length and Steepness factor (LS). The LS factor, which accounts for slope gradient and length effects on runoff velocity and soil detachment, is critical but often constrained by static Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) that lack the temporal and spatial resolution to capture dynamic topographical changes.  This study introduces the integration of Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSInSAR), a cutting-edge remote sensing technique, with high-resolution Sentinel-1 SAR data and DEMs to enhance LS factor predictions within the RUSLE framework. PSInSAR enables millimetre-scale monitoring of terrain displacement over time, identifying subtle ground deformations that influence soil stability. Applying this approach to two watersheds in Israel—Yarkon-Ayalon and HaBsor—the study refines slope length and steepness estimates with sub-centimetre vertical accuracy, addressing the limitations of conventional DEM-based methods. Time-series displacement analyses derived from Sentinel-1 SAR data (2017–2023) reveal slope deformations, with subsidence rates reaching -14.49 mm/year and uplift rates up to 4.60 mm/year. Stable areas exhibited negligible displacement trends, validating the precision of the method. These displacement trends, supported by statistically significant p-values (< 0.01), highlight the spatial variability of erosion potential and topographical changes. The enhanced LS factor significantly improves soil erosion risk assessments under diverse climatic and land-use conditions. By integrating PSInSAR with the RUSLE model, this study advances soil erosion research and supports sustainable land management and policy development in erosion-prone areas. The findings provide actionable insights for reducing erosion risks and promoting soil sustainability on a broad scale.

Keywords: Sentinel-1, Synthetic Aperture Radar, Soil erosion modelling, Interferometric SAR, SNAP, Persistant Scatterer Interferometry, Digital Elevation Model.

How to cite: Paul, A. and Paz-Kagan, T.: Unveiling Erosion Dynamics: Integrating PSInSAR into Length and Steepness Factor in RUSLE Model., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2510, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2510, 2025.

Long-term, farm-scale research projects were established in the Lower Mississippi River Basin (LMRB), USA, as part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) research program: Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) and Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) Network.  Overall research objective is to incorporate multidisciplinary science to assess sustainability of row crop farming systems using recommended practices.  The USDA CEAP and LTAR projects are nationwide research networks representing a wide diversity of US agriculture, and many network sites include row crop farming.  Croplands include a diverse range with respect to geography, climate, topography, and soils.  At CEAP research sites, efficacy of USDA conservation practices on natural resources are evaluated.  CEAP research sites were initiated in 2003 and include two watersheds, Beasley Lake, Mississippi, and Goodwin Creek, Mississippi.   LTAR research sites include a common experiment whereby prevailing management (PRV) systems are compared with alternative systems (ALT) that potentially enhance and improve sustainability of agroecosystems.  In the LMRB, the ALT includes cover crops, reduced tillage, and precision irrigation management.  With respect to soils research in the LMRB, CEAP and LTAR projects assess processes involved with soil health and erosion.  Geospatial and temporal assessments of ephemeral gullies utilize UAS technology and USDA field and watershed erosion prediction technology.  Supporting data to assess soil loss and soil health processes includes soil sampling, runoff sites, and CO₂-H2O flux.  LTAR research with the current framework is in its third year, and preliminary results from these assessments will be presented.

How to cite: Locke, M., Wells, R., and Bingner, R.: Long-term landscape research to mitigate soil degradation in the Lower Mississippi River Basin, USA.  , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2933, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2933, 2025.

Potato is the main cash crop in Atlantic Canda. Potato cropping is associated with intensive tillage and high levels of fertilizer and pest inputs. Frequent soil disturbance, together with the rolling landscape and loamy soils, has resulted in high levels of water erosion in this region. In order to reduce the water erosion risks, efforts have been made to adopt Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) such as reduced tillage and alternative crop rotations with agro-ecological considerations. However, there is no field study to quantify the effectiveness of these BMPs. To fill this knowledge gap, rainfall simulation experiments were conducted to measure runoff and sediment generations in three crop rotations under two types of tillage. The three crop rotations examined were: the conventional Potato (PO)-Barley (BL)-Potato (POBLPO, used as the control), Corn (CO)-Spring wheat mixed with Triple mix (WT)-Potato (COWTPO) and Corn mixed with Ryegrass (CR)- Wheat mixed with Alfalfa and timothy (WA)-Potato (CRWAPO). The two types of tillage are conventional tillage (CT, used as the control) and reduced tillage (RT). A mini rainfall simulator was used to simulate 20 minutes rainfall. Runoff samples were collected every minute from which the runoff flow rate, sediment export rate and sediment concentration at every minute were determined. Cumulative measures such as runoff discharge, sediment yield and Flow-Weighted Mean Sediment Concentration (FWMSC) were calculated for 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes durations of simulated rainfall.

The results overall demonstrate the strong effects of tillage and crop rotation on runoff and sediment generations although there were some exceptions. In the cash crop year, compared to CT, RT increased runoff discharge for short durations of rainfall but reduced it slightly for long durations of rainfall. For PO, RT only reduced sediment yield and FWMSC slightly but for CO and CR, sediment yield and FWMSC reductions by RT were more than 100 times. Compared to PO, CO and CR significantly reduced runoff discharge,  sediment yield and FWMSC. In particular, the reductions of sediment yield and FWMSC from PO to CO and CR under RT were more than 100 times. In the rotational crop year, compared to CT, RT reduced runoff discharge mostly by more than one third and reduced sediment yield and FWMSC by more than ten times. Compared to BL, WT and WA mostly reduced runoff discharge and sediment yield but the reductions were small. Based on these results, it was estimated that by switching from the conventional crop rotation (POBLPO) with conventional tillage to the alternative crop rotations (COWTPO and CRWAPO) with reduced tillage, runoff discharge, sediment yield and FWMSC on average will be reduced by 13 %, 59 % and 69 %, respectively.

How to cite: Li, S., Kupriyanovich, Y., Zheng, F., and Agomoh, I.: How much will reduced tillage and alternative crop rotations reduce runoff and sediment generations in a potato production system in Atlantic Canada?, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2967, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2967, 2025.

The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, Version 2 (RUSLE2), is the primary water erosion prediction tool used by the USDA National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for conservation planning across the United States. Despite its widespread adoption, RUSLE2’s current reliance on a personal computer-based model constrains its capacity for large-scale, dynamic applications. This research addresses these limitations by developing a novel cloud-based platform to host and enhance RUSLE2, enabling server-based computations, geospatial data integration, and scalable modeling capabilities. Built on Amazon Web Services (AWS), the platform incorporates web-based user interfaces, spatial databases, and geoprocessing tools to streamline soil erosion modeling. It integrates historical data on soil properties, climate, and land management to support precise assessments of rill and interrill erosion. A redesigned database architecture ensures computational efficiency, reliability, and security while fostering collaborative software development. Scientific advancements in RUSLE2 include quantifying the impacts of rainfall and land management practices on the spatiotemporal variability of dynamic soil properties. Leveraging advanced laboratory and field methods, remote sensing, and machine learning, this platform refines the measurement of soil erodibility and soil loss across diverse U.S. agricultural landscapes. These enhancements enable improved predictions of soil erosion risks under varying climate scenarios and support adaptive land management strategies. This transformative cloud-based platform promotes sustainable agriculture and conservation planning by delivering innovative tools for best management practices. Through the integration of cutting-edge technologies and data-driven approaches, this research addresses critical gaps in soil erosion science and contributes to food security, environmental conservation, and resilience to climate change.

How to cite: Darnault, C., Ghorbani, M., Genc Kildirgici, G., Ghimire, B., Sisk, C., Calhoun, J., Momm, H., Yoder, D., Vieira, D., Bingner, R., Locke, M., Wells, R., and Ferruzzi, G.: Advancing Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, Version 2 (RUSLE2) Development: Integrating Cutting-Edge Science and Cloud-Based Innovations for Transformative Soil Erosion Modeling and Conservation, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-3900, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-3900, 2025.

        China’s croplands are facing serious threats of soil erosion, calling for long-term and spatially-explicit assessment to ensure food security and sustainable agricultural development. However, the complexities of topographical, meteorological, and land cover and management factors, which are key determinants of soil erosion, pose big challenges for estimating cropland-related soil erosion in China over an extended time span, especially across diverse agricultural regions and different crop types. 
        To address this issue, this study combines the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model with high-resolution remote sensing datasets to investigate the temporal-spatial evolution of crop-specific soil erosion in China from 1980 to 2018 at a 30 m resolution. When calculating the RUSLE factors, in addition to using well-established methods that have been validated in national and global studies to calculate the crop-specific land cover and management factors for croplands, efforts were made to localize the rainfall erosivity factor and the support practice factor. The rainfall erosivity factor was calculated using a rainfall erosivity model derived from daily rainfall data observed at China’s meteorological stations, coupled with a more accessible global daily rainfall raster dataset. Furthermore, the support practice factor for croplands was categorized based on slope, which could reflect the relationship between cropland topographical characteristics and the benefits of soil and water conservation. 
        The results show that about 60% of China’s croplands experienced slight erosion over the past four decades. Regions with strong and severe erosion intensity are predominantly located in the southern provinces. However, due to the agricultural policy implementations, agricultural shifts, and variations in crop planting patterns, it was revealed that soil erosion intensity in most regions has shown a downward trend. Specifically, in terms of agricultural zoning, the cropland soil erosion rate in the Sichuan Basin has decreased sharply. Moreover, different crop types exhibited differentiated spatial patterns in the cropland-related soil erosion rates. Overall, grains exhibit the highest erosion intensity, while fiber crops have the lowest.
        In summary, this study constructed a high-resolution, long-term dataset of cropland soil erosion in China and analyzed its temporal-spatial dynamics and influencing factors. The outcomes can help facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of soil erosion mitigation and provide a solid foundation for sustainable agricultural production.

How to cite: Xie, Y., Zhang, T., Zhang, Z., and Wu, X.: Spatial-temporal pattern of cropland soil erosion in China over the past four decades, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-3955, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-3955, 2025.

Furrow irrigation is one of the most common irrigation methods across the globe but also contributes to significant sediment discharge to downstream surface waters. Accurate furrow erosion prediction tools are needed but no modeling approach has been widely adopted. In this study, we compare two process-base modeling approaches for furrow irrigation erosion: 1) the transport capacity Tc concept and 2) a semi-empirical approach in which furrow erodibility exponential decreases with length. A dynamic soil erodibility modeling approach whereby soil erodibility is allowed to decrease as erosion progressed was also tested to improve erosion prediction performance.  Performance assessment demonstrated the strength of the Tc model when combined with the dynamic soil erodibility approach. The study also highlighted weaknesses of the Tc model in accounting for observed deposition patterns. The proposed process-based furrow erosion functions can be directly coupled with furrow flow routing models or other hillslope erosion models.

How to cite: Nouwakpo, K., Bjorneberg, D., and King, B.: Modeling furrow irrigation-induced erosion using a process-based approach, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4472, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4472, 2025.

Soil erosion, particularly gully and ephemeral gully erosion, remains a critical barrier to sustainable land management, driving land degradation, reducing agricultural productivity, and amplifying sedimentation in freshwater ecosystems. Despite advancements in soil conservation, the underlying mechanisms governing gully initiation and progression require deeper investigation to support targeted and effective management interventions. This study integrates field data and advanced modeling approaches to evaluate soil erodibility and gully dynamics across diverse environmental conditions. Field investigations in Vermont and Kentucky focused on 10 soil types, capturing a range of physical and chemical properties essential to erosion processes. Laboratory and in-situ analyses quantified critical parameters, including soil texture, organic matter content, and hydrological responses. These data informed the parameterization of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation 2 (RUSLE2) for estimating baseline erosion rates, alongside the Ephemeral Gully Erosion Estimator (EphGEE) for modeling localized gully development. This integrative approach provides a comprehensive understanding of erosion processes across spatial and temporal scales. Results highlight significant variability in soil susceptibility to gully erosion, influenced by intrinsic properties and external factors such as land use and hydrological regimes. Comparative analyses across Vermont and Kentucky reveal the necessity of region-specific conservation strategies that account for localized environmental conditions. The complementary application of RUSLE2 and EphGEE demonstrates their utility in assessing erosion risks and informing adaptive management practices. This research aligns with global priorities, including land degradation neutrality and ecosystem restoration initiatives such as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030). By advancing measurement techniques and modeling methodologies, the study provides actionable insights to guide stakeholders—including policymakers, farmers, and land managers—in implementing evidence-based solutions to mitigate soil erosion and its cascading effects. Integrating empirical data with cutting-edge modeling offers a scalable framework for addressing soil erosion challenges, enhancing soil resilience, and promoting sustainable land use in the context of evolving climate and land-use dynamics.

How to cite: Ghorbani, M., Darnault, C., and Wells, R.: Soil Erosion and Gully Dynamics: Advancing RUSLE2 and EphGEE for Targeted Conservation Strategies, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4605, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4605, 2025.

Sharing success stories in mitigating soil erosion is a common and effective strategy for promoting sustainable land management and fostering community engagement. These stories showcase interventions and bridge the gap between research and practice by illustrating real-world applications and inspiring broader adoption. However, while successes are celebrated and well-documented, failures often remain marginalized or hidden, despite their potential to drive critical reflection, innovation, and progress. This paper argues that embracing transparency about failures in addressing soil erosion is essential for advancing sustainable land management. Failures provide invaluable insights into the complexities and contextual challenges of soil degradation, highlighting the iterative nature of learning and the need for epistemological humility. By analysing failures alongside successes, we can refine strategies, avoid repeated mistakes, and strengthen efforts to mitigate soil erosion. The paper is structured in two parts. The first section explores key factors critical to understanding failures in soil erosion management, including (i) defining appropriate thresholds, (ii) undervaluing local populations and indigenous knowledge, (iii) neglecting scale, and (iv) overlooking processes. These discussions aim to unpack the nuanced challenges of failure, paving the way for more informed and adaptive approaches. The second section explore how failures are addressed from a systematic review of the scientific literature. Ultimately, this work underscores the importance of integrating lessons from both successes and failures to amplify the impact of investments in sustainable land management. By fostering a culture of transparency, we can build a more resilient and effective framework for addressing soil erosion in diverse contexts.

Keywords: Land degradation, Mitigation, Stakeholders, Soil Conservation

How to cite: Frankl, A.: Failing to mitigate soil erosion: a review, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-5616, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-5616, 2025.

Soil degradation threatens ecosystem stability and global food security by undermining soil health and functionality. Certain soil degradation processes can be further intensified under changing climate and with land use alterations. Here we combine projections from 18 global climate models under two emission scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) with land use fractions from the Land Use Harmonization (LUH2) dataset, to assess future soil vulnerability to degradation across Europe. Utilizing a machine learning framework, we linked the Soil Vulnerability Index (SVI), to topography, soil texture, climate, and land use factors.  Our SVI projections for the near future (2031–2060) and far future (2071–2100) show that northern European countries, such as Estonia and Latvia will experience increments in SVI by up to 16% driven by climate factors. Conversely, southern countries such as Spain and Italy may experience declines in SVI, reflecting potential improvements in soil health conditions associated with land use changes. Moreover, our results show that land use changes in arid zones may lower SVI for 45% of observations under SSP2-4.5 scenario. Meanwhile, in colder regions, change in climate factors heightens SVI in 55% of observations under SSP5-8.5 scenario. Our findings highlight the need for targeted soil management strategies that address both land cover management and climate change adaptation to mitigate negative impacts on soil health under future climate scenarios.

How to cite: Afshar, M. H., Hassani, A., Borrelli, P., Panagos, P., Robinson, D. A., Or, D., and Shokri, N.: Effects of the projected changes in land use and climate on soil vulnerability in Europe, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-6131, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-6131, 2025.

Rainfall erosivity is a critical parameter for soil degradation assessment. It is especially important in areas prone to soil erosion due to frequent or intense rainfall events. Rainfall erosivity is typically quantified through the EI30 index, which combines the rainfall's kinetic energy (E) with its maximum 30-minute intensity (I30). Rainfall data with high temporal resolution (e.g., 5-minute) are often limited in availability, particularly across large spatial scales. Gridded rainfall products usually provide half-hourly or hourly data and are frequently used despite the potential biases they introduce into erosivity calculations. In Austria, the introduction of INCA (Integrated Nowcasting through Comprehensive Analysis) has provided an opportunity to enhance rainfall erosivity studies. INCA offers rainfall data at a 15-minute temporal and 1-kilometer spatial resolution. In our study, INCA’s accuracy and limitations in capturing erosive rainfall events, especially extreme events, are carefully evaluated against high-resolution in-situ rainfall station data. Understanding the degree of underestimation or overestimation in EI30 calculations is crucial for applying INCA data in erosion simulations and according to soil conservation strategies. This study focuses on the Main Agricultural Production Zones (MAPZ) in Austria. The study evaluates the performance of INCA in calculating erosivity compared to a dense network of 5-minute resolution rainfall stations. It also investigates the occurrence probability of extreme erosive events using a probabilistic approach, providing insights into long-term erosion risks and regional differences in erosivity patterns. Eventually, the study examines the impact of temporal resolution on erosivity estimates, assessing biases introduced by coarser resolutions (15- and 30-minute) for both mean and extreme rainfall events. Results indicate that INCA overestimates 8.1% of the total event number but underestimates 3.1% of the total rainfall erosivity, with the largest under- and overestimation in east of Austria. On the other hand, the mean annual maximum EI30 was underestimated by 13.6%, and the south showed the most considerable underestimation. It was found that INCA can detect highly erosive events occurring in the in-situ datasets. The underestimation of EI30 sources from the temporally smoothened peak I30 rather than the E of the rainfall events. Long-term extreme EI30 were analyzed using the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distribution, revealing that EI30 values increase with longer return periods (e.g., 50 years) and that the southern region exhibits the largest EI30 values, indicating a greater risk of extreme erosive events. On the other hand,  INCA may emphasize more recent, potentially intense rainfall trends, leading to larger return levels. The impact assessment by coarser temporal resolutions on EI30 confirms that the underestimation substantially increases with lower temporal resolution, primarily due to I30 rather than E. Eventually, a 15-minute temporal resolution dataset may lead to acceptable underestimations across our investigated MAPZ; underestimations ranged from 2.8–8.5% in event numbers and 1.0–10.0% in total rainfall erosivity at 15-minute resolution and from 10.2–33.7% and 5.2–26.6%, respectively, at a 30-minute resolution. The results of this study highlight the potential value of INCA data as a practical source for rainfall erosivity assessments, particularly in regions with limited high-resolution rainfall measurements.

How to cite: Vasquez, C., Klik, A., Stumpp, C., Strauss, P., Laaha, G., Pistotnik, G., Yin, S., Dostal, T., and Strohmeier, S.: Ability of Austria’s high spatiotemporal resolution of INCA  for rainfall erosivity assessment in the main agricultural production zones, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-7246, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-7246, 2025.

Human activities, including deforestation, agriculture, mining, and dam construction, significantly influence erosion and river sediment flux. However, few data exist that constrain how river sediment flux have changed compared to natural conditions. Here we compare natural erosion estimates from millennial time-scale cosmogenic nuclide measurements with sediment yields from sediment gauging and river bedload modelling to study the magnitude and driving factors of anthropogenic erosion change in the Northern Andes of Colombia.

We calculated suspended sediment yields for 139 small to medium sized rivers (10-10’000 km²) in the Northern Andes by fitting rating curves to sediment concentration and discharge measurements. Additionally, we use an empirically calibrated model to account for bedload sediment flux in these mountainous catchments and calculate the total sediment flux for time periods of 1980 to 2000 and 2000 to 2022. We convert our sediment flux to erosion rates under anthropogenic conditions and compare them to millennial time-scale natural erosion rates estimated from cosmogenic nuclide data.

Our findings reveal that river sediment flux was, on average, 78% higher than natural conditions from 1980 to 2000, and increased to 111% above baseline between 2000 and 2022, primarily due to increases in the Central Cordillera. Factors such as agriculture, rainfall erosivity, mining, and deforestation are correlated with increased erosion and sediment flux. Interestingly, the variance in sediment yield also increases with the percentage of agricultural land and rainfall erosivity. On average current river sediment yields match RUSLE soil erosion estimates, suggesting high sediment connectivity and negligible storage of eroded soils in the mountainous catchments. Our data document a doubling of sediment flux in the Northern Andes due to the joint effects of agriculture, mining, and deforestation, however, the erosional response to land use change varies with environmental conditions such as rainfall erosivity.

How to cite: Ott, R., Perez-Consuegra, N., and Restrepo Lopez, J. C.: High-Resolution Mapping of Anthropogenic Impacts on Sediment Flux in the Northern Andes, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-8430, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-8430, 2025.

Land degradation is a critical environmental issue that poses significant threats to ecosystem stability, especially in semi-arid regions, which are highly susceptible to erosion. Addressing this challenge necessitates innovative technologies for accurate and efficient prediction. This study leverages the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) framework, remote sensing, and soil analyses to identify factors driving soil erosion. By integrating these methodologies with machine learning, the research offers a novel approach for precise, real-time monitoring and detection of soil degradation.

The study characterises each RUSLE factor encompassing soil physicochemical properties, rainfall intensity, soil type, land cover, and topography to estimate soil loss and identify erosion-prone areas. Two complementary data sources were utilised: digital data, comprising time-series satellite imagery (LANDSAT, DEM, CHIRPS) processed through Google Earth Engine, Earth Explorer, and ArcGIS to generate RUSLE factor maps spanning 1987 to 2023; and field data, consisting of soil samples collected from various locations to validate digital results and calculate average soil loss across the study area.

Results indicate that the average annual soil loss during this period is approximately 20.65 tons/ha/year, significantly higher than findings from comparable studies. By combining field and digital datasets using the Random Forest model, a predictive map was developed to highlight erosion-prone areas, providing detailed visualisations of spatial erosion patterns across the region. The analysis further identifies the region's geographic characteristics and irregular, extreme climatic conditions as primary drivers of soil erosion. These findings underscore the critical role of advanced data integration and machine learning techniques in developing effective strategies for soil degradation management.

How to cite: Kelkouli, N., Bouacha, M. I., Tarquis Alfonso, A. M., and Maatoug, M.: Integrating RUSLE, Remote Sensing, and Machine Learning for Precise Soil Erosion Assessment in Semi-Arid Regions, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9289, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9289, 2025.

In semi-arid zones, wind erosion is both a consequence and a cause of soil degradation, as it particularly affects unprotected soils and can deplete them of nutrients and organic matter. Thus it represents a major concern for rural populations who depend on soil productivity for income and subsistence. During the last 60 years in the Sahel, an intense drought affected the region between the 1970s and 1980s while major socio-economic changes were (and still are) underway, leading to a profound alteration of agropastoral systems and a decline in soil fertility in some places. In this context, estimating aeolian sediment fluxes generated from cultivated plots and disentangling climate effects from anthropic ones would allow for a better understanding of the role of wind erosion in the perceived land degradation, as well as paving the way for trajectories simulation with future climate projections. 
In this study, we aim to understand and model how the combined effect of climatic and agropastoral changes affected wind erosion in Sahelian conditions for the 1960-2020 period, using the Senegalese groundnut basin as a case study. The Senegalese groundnut basin is the agricultural heartland of Senegal and home to different sociolinguistic groups whose approach to agriculture led to varying responses to the region’s conditions. Using a modeling approach relying on an extensive dataset, we simulated vegetation growth (STICS and STEP models) and estimated the horizontal flux of aeolian sediment (DPM model) resulting from several land uses and managements at the plot scale. We used ERA5 meteorological time series (ECMWF) combined with an extensive review of the literature on the dynamics of land use in the groundnut basin to develop several realistic trajectories for horizontal flux generation in 3 different parts of the groundnut basin (North, Center, South) over the last 60 years (1960-2020). On top of integrating climate variability, these trajectories take into account the use and management of different crops, as well as crop rotation systems, fallow periods, the use of mineral and organic fertilizers, trees and livestock. Average biomass production and yield found in the literature were used to verify the model's reliability.
We found that aeolian flux generation has increased overall since 1960, especially in the northern part of the groundnut basin. The most erosive period took place after 1980 when the Senegalese groundnut basin suffered from drought and the end of government subsidies for agriculture. 

How to cite: Raynal, P.-A., Rajot, J.-L., Marticorena, B., Roehrig, R., and Pierre, C.: 60 years in the Senegalese Groundnut basin : Modeling wind erosion in a changing social and climatic context, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9434, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9434, 2025.

•  Gully erosion represents one of the most severe forms of land degradation. In regional management decisions, gully density serves as a crucial metric. As an essential measure under China’s national strategy for protecting black soil, gully erosion control projects rely on accurate simulation of gully density at the regional scale to enable more efficient and precise management. Taking the northeast China’s Songnen typical black soil region as the study area, this research employed a stratified unequal probability systematic sampling method to select 977 small watershed sample units. Using sub-meter resolution Google Earth imagery, gully density on farmland was visually interpreted. To ensure the interpretation’s accuracy, 55 typical small watersheds were randomly selected as validation units for field investigations. On this basis, the RF algorithm was used with 13 selected factors to predict farmland gully length density. The results showed the following: 1) The Random Forest model demonstrated high accuracy and applicability, with an NSE exceeding 0.5. Residuals primarily centered around -0.1 km/km². 2) Slope was identified as the key influencing factor for farmland gully density, followed by multi-year average May precipitation, slope length, and multi-year average rainstorm volume. Threshold analysis revealed a significant increase in gully density when slope exceeded 1.21° and slope length surpassed 74.15 m, but a weakening effect was observed when the slope and slope length reached certain thresholds. 3) The prediction results indicated higher gully densities in low mountains and hilly areas. Regions with a density range of 0–0.05 km/km², followed by 0.05–0.25 km/km². As density increased, the proportion of area gradually declined, with areas >1 km/km² accounting for no more than 15% of the total. High-density regions were concentrated in low mountains and hilly areas, with average gully densities of 1.33 km/km² and 1.80 km/km², respectively, whereas low-density regions were concentrated in plains, with densities close to 0 km/km². This study provides theoretical and technical support for regional gully management decisions in the black soil region of Northeast China, contributing to the protection of black soil resources.

• Keywords: Permanent gully; Songnen typical black soil region; Random Forest; Regional scale; Gully length density

How to cite: Liu, H., Wang, C., Chen, Y., Ma, L., Zhang, C., Long, Y., and Yang, Q.: Random forest-based prediction of gully density on farmland in the Songnen typical black soil region of the Northeast, China, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9463, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9463, 2025.

Recent studies show that machine learning methods (ML) have a high potential to model various soil erosion processes. The main focus of this research is on qualitative modelling (risk classes, binary occurrence) on smaller scales e.g., probability maps for gully erosion. In this study, we used four machine learning methods to reproduce spatial explicit information on soil loss rates in a 5 m resolution obtained in the Lower Saxonian (Germany) soil erosion monitoring program in the years 2000 - 2020. The monitoring data includes information on soil loss by water erosion (sheet and rill erosion) on 465 ha of cropland in northern Germany derived by continuous erosion feature mapping after erosive rainfall events (see Steinhoff-Knopp & Burkhard (2018) for methods and results). We applied the ML methods Random Forest (RF), a Single-Layer Neural Network (SLNN), a Deep Neural Network with multiple hidden layers (DNN) and a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to reproduce the mapped soil loss rates. Prediction variables included are up to 19 soil, land use, rainfall and DEM-derived topographic parameters. All ML methods were able to reproduce the soil erosion patterns. The comparison between the different models shows that the CNN model outperforms all other tested models in nearly all metrics. Its RMSE of 1.05 and MAE of 0.41 are significantly lower than those of the RF (RMSE: 1.31, MAE: 0.58) and SLNN (RMSE: 1.48, MAE: 0.63). Only the DNN performs similarly, with a slightly higher RMSE of 1.1 and MAE of 0.58. However, the classification performance of the RF, DNN, and CNN models is comparable, with F1 scores ranging from 0.68 to 0.70 and AUC values between 0.92 and 0.94. Additionally, the permutation importance was calculated to assess the influence of the predictor variables. In all four models, the variable with the highest importance is the DEM. Its importance ranges from 15% to 18.3%, depending on the model. All models also strongly rely on USLE C and R factors. Our findings emphasize the high potential of ML-driven erosion predictions and will be rolled out to predict soil erosion rates on cropland in northern Germany.

Steinhoff-Knopp, B. and Burkhard, B.: Soil erosion by water in Northern Germany: long-term monitoring results from Lower Saxony, CATENA, 165, 299–309, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2018.02.017, 2018.

How to cite: Steinhoff-Knopp, B., Barthel, N., Ott, S., and Burkhard, B.: Using Machine Learning Methods to Predict Water Erosion Patterns in Northern Germany, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9574, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9574, 2025.

Gully erosion has long been recognized as an important driver of soil loss and land degradation. However, modeling this process—particularly at larger spatial scales—remains challenging. While recent advancements have significantly improved our ability to simulate the spatial patterns of gully occurrence, understanding their activity and the factors controlling their erosion rates remains a much greater challenge. Similarly, the broader impacts of gullies across diverse environments are still poorly understood and under-researched.

This talk highlights recent progress in modeling gully erosion from regional to global scales. We demonstrate that gully occurrence and activity are governed by distinct yet complementary sets of factors. For instance, land cover plays a dominant role in determining gully occurrence patterns across Africa, whereas activity rates are more strongly influenced by recent land use changes and rainfall intensities. These findings suggest that projected changes in climate and land use could result in far greater increases in gully erosion than predicted by models focusing solely on gully occurrence.

Drawing on case studies from the Global South, we further explore some of the severe and often unconsidered impacts of gully erosion. Key examples include significant crop yield losses due to altered cropping practices and the emergence of highly destructive gullies in urban environments. Notably, many of these impacts are concentrated in regions that are already highly vulnerable to environmental change.

Taken together, these insights suggest that the challenges posed by gully erosion in our changing world may be far greater than previously anticipated. Nonetheless, our findings also highlight that effective land management practices can mitigate or even prevent many of these issues.

How to cite: Vanmaercke, M., Chen, Y., De Geeter, S., Mekonnen, Y. Y., Dujardin, E., Ilombe Mawe, G., Lutete Landu, E., and Poesen, J.: Gully erosion might become a larger problem than hitherto anticipated: insights from fieldwork and recent modelling advancements, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9577, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9577, 2025.

Alpine regions are highly susceptible to rainfall-induced soil erosivity and to its changes in a warming climate. Thanks to their high spatio-temporal resolution and to their ability to explicitly resolve convection, recently developed convection-permitting climate models (CPMs) outperform regional models in capturing intense sub-daily rainfall. Thus, these models offer a high potential for the simulation of rainfall erosivity and its projection in a warming climate.

This study evaluates the ability of a multi-model CPM ensemble to provide reliable rainfall data for assessing rainfall erosivity. This represents a fundamental step for then analyzing the near- and far- future projected changes in rainfall erosivity under climate change scenarios. The study is carried out based on data from an transect in the Italian eastern Alps which offers an ideal case study given its rainfall variability and complex topography. Data from 174 rain gauges are used to evaluate the CPM ensemble in simulating rainfall erosivity.

Preliminary results show that the CPM multi-model ensemble is able to reproduce well the mean annual rainfall erosivity in the study region. However, the CPM simulations over predict the number of erosive events by 21% on average. Also, the quality of the CPM-based simulations is shown to be strongly impacted by terrain elevation, with simulations in low land areas being characterized by an underestimation of number of erosive events and average rainfall erosivity. The bias reverses to overestimation of both number of erosive events and average erosivity with increasing the terrain elevation. Topography also strongly influences the spread of the erosivity simulations within the model ensemble.

These findings underscore the need for bias adjustments, considering topographic influences, for the investigation of projected changes in rainfall erosivity patterns.

How to cite: Ahmed, M., Dallan, E., Vohnicky, P., and Borga, M.: Assessment of rainfall erosivity from a convection-permitting model ensemble in an alpine transect, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10462, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10462, 2025.

Viticulture in North Italy is a very important sector for the local and global economy because it generates a positive impact on cultural and natural landscapes. Traditional vineyard management has been preserved over the years, creating a perfect environment for growing vines also in steep and very steep slope areas.

Climate change emphasizes intense and localized rainfall, which increases the risk of erosive processes in steep slope areas, making here the vineyard farm much delicate.

The study, carried out within the scope of the Italian research program AGRITECH (Spoke 4), develops an erosion index called Potential Erosion Index (PEI), using stations and satellite data from Google Earth Engine for Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions. PEI estimates 5 levels of climate-topographical aggressiveness against the soil. Therefore, an application of a USLE-type tool was studied to identify areas where precise field verification is needed for protective practices, creating a map on the degree of protection requirement (Pr). Future climate models from CHELSA dataset were implemented to detect possible future trends in soil erosion and soil protection requirement.

The results indicate that, under the SSP585 scenario, the PEI values give rise to a potential worsening of soil erosion in the northern part of the region and to an improvement in the southern part during the period 2071-2100. The present condition of Pr shows areas that have a Pr > 50% and 75% affecting 30% and 13% of the total area, respectively. Part of these areas are also localized in vineyard farms. Future projections indicate also an increase of the Pr in the 2041-2070 period, less visible in the 2071-2100 period.

The findings of this study highlight the importance of an upgradeable investigation on the future trends of soil erosions in steep agricultural land. In fact, their quantification can be supportive, particularly in a variable climatic scenario, for drafting management guidelines and planning policies in cooperation with stakeholders.

How to cite: Baldan, V., Tarolli, P., and D'Agostino, V.: Assessing soil erosion risk and soil protection requirement in North Italy’s vineyards, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10727, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10727, 2025.

This research investigates the impact of climate change on streamflow and sediment yield within the Carapelle basin, located in the Apulia Region of Italy, a Mediterranean environment. The study utilized three climate model projections, which were adjusted for bias to enhance accuracy. Statistical evaluations demonstrated an improved agreement between observed data and the corrected projections. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was employed to model hydrological processes and sediment transport, with calibration and validation conducted using data from 2004 to 2011. The model exhibited satisfactory performance in simulating both streamflow and sediment load. Future projections for 2030-2050 indicate a potential temperature rise of up to 1.3°C and a reduction in average annual rainfall by as much as 38% relative to the baseline. These changes are expected to result in decreased water yield and sediment load. Among the climate models, the CMCC projection suggested the most significant decline in mean annual flow (67%), followed by reductions of 35% and 7% predicted by the MPI and EC-EARTH models, respectively. Sediment load reductions were estimated at 52.8% for CMCC, 41.7% for MPI, and 18.1% for EC-EARTH. Spatial analysis indicated that soil erosion remains a critical issue under future climate scenarios, particularly in areas with steep slopes and wheat cultivation, where sediment yield exceeds 10 t ha⁻¹. These findings underscore the necessity for proactive water resource management to address the anticipated decrease in water availability and highlight the importance of adopting sustainable agricultural practices to mitigate soil erosion.

How to cite: Abdelwahab, O. M. M., Ricci, G. F., Gentile, F., and De Girolamo, A. M.: Assessing the Effects of Climate Change on streamflow and soil erosion in a Mediterranean Basin, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11105, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11105, 2025.

Land degradation (LD), which affects soil, vegetation, and water resources, poses serious threats to agricultural productivity, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions. Here, we present a new approach to assess LD at the farm level, specifically within Mediterranean olive orchards, leveraging the modified Land Multidegradation Index (LMI) (Prăvălie et al., 2024) which builds on the framework established by the European Union Soil Observatory (EUSO) (Panagos et al. 2024). The approach identifies and quantifies multiple LD pathways, including soil erosion, salinity, compaction, organic matter depletion, and pollution. Field data from 53 olive orchard sites across Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Marocco, as part of the Horizon Europe project SOIL O-LIVE, informed the methodological development. Indicators of LD were integrated into a scoring system, capturing the extent and interplay of LD processes. Preliminary findings are presented alongside a Shiny App web viewer developed by the Environmental Modeling and Global Change Lab (BorrelliLAB) of Roma Tre University to investigate spatial patterns of LD and land management across the Mediterranean Europe.

Acknowledgement: P.B, K.K, F.M. were funded by the European Union Horizon Europe Project Soil O-LIVE (Grant No. 101091255). P.S. was funded by the European Union Horizon Europe Project AI4SoilHealth (Grant No. 101086179).

References

Panagos, P., Borrelli, P., Jones, A., & Robinson, D. A. (2024). A 1 billion euro mission: A Soil Deal for Europe. European Journal of Soil Science, 75(1), e13466.

Prăvălie, R., Borrelli, P., Panagos, P., Ballabio, C., Lugato, E., Chappell, A., ... & Birsan, M. V. (2024). A unifying modelling of multiple land degradation pathways in Europe. Nature Communications, 15(1), 3862.

How to cite: Borrelli, P., Alewell, C., Kaffas, K., Matthews, F., Panagos, P., and Saggau, P.: Investigating spatial patterns of land degradation and land management in olive orchards across Europe, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11266, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11266, 2025.

Overland flow processes possess key importance for flood generation, erosion and sediment redistribution. Hortonian overland flow occurs often during flash flood events in sub-humid and semi-arid regions in response to high intensity convective rainstorms. The recent increase of these events aggravated by climate change, as well as impervious surface expansion and associated increase in runoff generation, highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the mass, momentum and energy balances of overland flow to predict, prevent and mitigate the response processes such as flooding and erosion.

As erosion is driven by the physical work flowing water performs on the land surface, this study investigates Hortonian overland flow formation from an energetic perspective. Key emphasis is on the partitioning of overland flow and its kinetic energy between sheet and rill domains. Rill formation requires an accumulation of overland flow to provide the necessary shear stress, while rills speed up overland flow velocities due to an enlarged hydraulic radius, which in return increases the shear stress. Due to this positive feedback, we hypothesize that hillslope scale rill networks evolve towards a steady-state configuration, which will result in equal partitioning of the kinetic energy flux into sheet and rill flow. The latter would imply that erosion is neither detachment nor transport limited.

We specifically revisited the hillslope-scale rainfall-runoff experiments of Gerlinger in the Weiherbach catchment located in the Kraichgau region, analyzing in a first step the interplay of surface runoff volume, flow velocity and erosion processes. Secondly, we calibrated the physically based numerical model CATFLOW-SED to reproduce overland flow hydrographs and the observed splitting into sheet and rill flow components using the “open book” approach. In a third step, we determined the spatial distribution of potential and kinetic energy within both domains and their relation to flow accumulation in the rills and surface roughness.

Our findings revealed that overland flow formation correlates positively with antecedent soil water content and negatively with surface roughness. A greater surface roughness promotes increased flow accumulation into the rill domain leading to a reduced particle detachment compared to the sheet domain. The simulation results indicate further that the partitioning of overland flow into both domains was generally well matched.

The analysis of the steady-state spatial energy patterns revealed, furthermore, a local maximum in total potential energy, separating the upslope laminar flow regime from downslope turbulent flow regime, where rills emerge. Moreover, higher roughness values corresponded to a stronger flow accumulation into the more energy efficient rill domain. While sheet domain accounted for the greater portion of potential energy along the hillslope, experiments associated with higher flow accumulation coefficients showed near-equal to equal kinetic energy for both domains at the foot of the hillslope.

To conclude, our study highlights the critical role of soil physical properties and flow characteristics on overland flow formation and erosion processes. The results indicate that emergence of rills suggest a steady-state energy-efficient configuration that balances erosion and transport dynamics.

How to cite: Yahşi, D. and Zehe, E.: Modelling overland flow and its partitioning into sheet and rill domains: An energetic perspective on the dynamics of Hortonian overland flow and erosion processes, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12710, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12710, 2025.

Soil erosion is a critical environmental issue in Mediterranean regions, caused by climate change and unsustainable farming practices. The combination of intense rainfall, extended drought periods, and conventional farming techniques significantly degrades topsoil, creating risks for soil fertility and crop productivity. This study aims to assess soil erosion risks in hilly olive orchards using cutting-edge technologies -drone-based digital elevation models (DEMs) and surface runoff monitoring- to quantify soil loss with high precision.

In the first phase of our research, we focused on direct measurements of soil loss collected from an experimental setup. An experimental area allowed for the collection of sediment samples after rainfall events, which were analyzed to estimate soil loss. Simultaneously, we employed an advanced drone equipped with a LiDAR camera (DJI MATRICE 350 RTK) to create high-resolution DEMs before and after rainfall events. The Difference of DEMs (DoD) methodology was used to calculate soil displacement, with millimeter-level accuracy. These values were then validated using direct soil loss measurements from the experimental runoff collection system.

The second phase of our study explored the use of a more affordable, commercial drone (DJI Phantom 4) for soil erosion analysis. This drone, equipped with an RGB camera, offers a cost-effective alternative but requires orchards with low density vegetation. A newly planted 0.2-hectare olive orchard with low tree density provided an ideal test site. Preliminary findings indicate that tractor operations such as tillage and plowing in combination with intense rainfall events caused the displacement of approximately 80 m³ of soil. As we continue to monitor the site, we are awaiting the end of the rainy season in late spring to use the drone again and estimate additional erosion caused by rainfall events.

By combining both high-resolution LiDAR-based DEM analysis and direct measurements of soil loss, this study demonstrates the potential of drone technology -both advanced and commercial- to accurately assess soil erosion. These methodologies offer valuable insights into the effects of different land management practices and can inform sustainable farming strategies in Mediterranean olive orchards facing the challenges of climate change.

How to cite: Pantazis, C., Nastos, P., Solomos, S., Fountoulakis, I., Konsolaki, A., and Zerefos, C.: High-Resolution Soil Erosion Assessment in Mediterranean Olive Orchards Using Drone-Based Digital Elevation Models and Surface Runoff Monitoring, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12941, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12941, 2025.

Soil structural degradation has been found to be widespread across different countries, including from a 2015/2016 winter survey across multiple catchments in Scotland. Winter is when soil structure can be most degraded, and this work found an extreme storm event exacerbated soil structure degradation over time. The previous research was limited to a simple Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS), so a repeat study in 2022/2023 at the same locations tested the hypothesis that soil structure degradation would recover over time, and that VESS would relate to quantitative soil physical data of penetration resistance, and bulk density, hydraulic conductivity and water retention characteristics from intact soil cores (2-7 cm depth). This research therefore aimed to explore the extent of soil structure degradation and its resilience over time, comparing visual and quantitative methods. Across 42 separate fields, three replicate samples were taken from in-field locations, three from degraded regions with visible damage to the soil surface from heavy traffic, and three from less disturbed field margins. From VESS scores, 59.5% of in-field and 78.5% of margin locations had a good soil structure, compared to 11.1% for degraded soils. This pattern continued for the quantitative core data. For bulk density, in-field soils were 8.3% denser, and degraded soils were 12.7% denser than margins, which was also reflected in porosity. Furthermore, organic carbon content was 10.6% less for in-field and 11.3% less for degraded compared with field margins. Much of the in-field soils had no degradation from VESS scores, but indicators of erosion and structural damage from quantitative soil core data were found. Land use also significantly impacted soil structure, with saturated hydraulic conductivity being highest for in-field soils, which is likely due to tillage practices. Grasslands presented the least degraded physical structure, with significantly greater porosity compared to stubble, ploughed soils and winter cereal cropland. Although we found VESS to be a valuable and rapid tool, data from quantitative measurements found more structural degradation, demonstrating that VESS scoring alone may not provide a holistic assessment of soil structural degradation. These results emphasise the need for improved land management practices in Scotland to maintain good soil structure and retain land productivity.

How to cite: Brook, J., Gaffney, P., Geris, J., Gilbert, P., Baggaley, N., Hall, R., Lilly, A., and Hallett, P.: Broadscale on-farm sampling suggests extensive soil physical degradation in Scotland, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13066, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13066, 2025.

How precipitation recharges the soil water is essential for managing water resources of semiarid rangeland ecosystems. This research assessed the soil water content (SWC) dynamics at soil depths of 0.05 m, 0.25 m, 0.5 m, and 1 m over an annual cycle under four vegetation types—shrubs, tussock grass, meadow, and dwarf heath shrub. In addition, the specific conductivity was measured at each location and used as a tracer in a simple two-component mixing model.

The time series analysis indicates that the SWC response to precipitation differs in different land covers. Shrubs exhibited higher SWC at shallow depths, while tussock grass showed lower SWC compared to other vegetation types in the upper layers. Instead, meadow and dwarf heath shrubs had a similar temporal variability and amplitude which dampened towards deeper soil layers. The temporal variability of new water varied among the different vegetation types.  Shallow soil layers in the meadow had a high temporal variable but where stable in deeper layers.

These findings provide insights into the connectivity and interplay between the atmosphere, vegetation and different soil layers. These first findings offering a better understanding of ecohydrological processes at locations with different landcover and will help to improve our understanding of rainfall-runoff processes at catchment scale to develop water and landscape management strategies for these delicate semiarid ecosystems.

Acknowledgements: P. H-F thanks SIA 85220121 and FONDECYT N°1240314 for funding. While, R. M-A and S. R-S thank FONDEF ID22I10139.

How to cite: Hervé-Fernández, P., Fischer, B., Salinas, C., Muñoz-Arriagada, R., and Radic-Schilling, S.: Contribution of event water to soil water content using specific conductivity as a tracer under different land covers, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14117, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14117, 2025.

The sedimentation issue in Taiwan's reservoirs has been a longstanding problem, significantly diminishing the operational lifespan of these reservoirs and impacting the water supply to the northern regions. To project future sedimentation trends at Shimen Reservoir, this study utilizes numerical simulations to estimate sediment yield, taking into account both landslides and soil erosion. Aerial photography and depth-area relationships were employed alongside a landslide risk assessment of the upstream Sqzyacing watershed to evaluate landslide-derived sediment. Furthermore, this research implemented the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), integrating future rainfall projections from the Taiwan Climate Change Projection Information and Adaptation Knowledge Platform (TCCIP) and streamflow data from the past decade to calculate soil erosion rates. Sediment dynamics within the Sqzyacing watershed were modeled using the SRH-2D hydrodynamic simulation, with parameters such as flow velocity, average slope, and watershed area aiding in the sediment yield estimates from individual sub-watersheds. Accompanying these calculations, sediment yields for Shimen Reservoir under various flow conditions, including Q5, Q10, Q25, Q50, and Q100, were estimated.

How to cite: Liu, S. J. and Liao, K.-W.: Numerical Simulation of Sediment Yield and Reservoir Sedimentation Under Varied Hydrological Conditions: A Case Study of Shimen Reservoir, Taiwan, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14279, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14279, 2025.

One of the major environmental problems of our time is soil erosion, which is a natural process reducing the fertility of soils and leading to land degradation. Soil erosion mapping helps to develop different control methods and is essential for sustainable agricultural practices. Among the modern remote sensing technologies, UAV laser scanning (ULS) is gaining importance as an accurate and efficient survey solution and can be applied in vegetated areas. It generates point clouds (PC) mapped in 3D coordinates during the survey, allowing the creation of detailed digital terrain models (DTM) which allow identification and mapping of soil runoff traces, rills and gullies.

In our research, we were conducting a monitoring study on a 10 ha vineyard in the Balaton Highlands, where three different mulching and row-cropping techniques (disking, natural cover and sown grass) were applied between the rows of vines, so that we could also investigate their impact on erosion.

The area was surveyed five times between October 2023 and December 2024 using UAV L1 LiDAR on board a DJI M350 drone to collect 3D PCs. A temporary GNSS base station was used in the northern part of the vineyard, placed in the same location for each survey. It acted as a local base station, providing RTK correction for the position calculation of the M350 drone and L1 sensor with centimetre-level accuracy. The raw PCs were later pre-processed using the R package lidR to filter for ground points using the Progressive Morphological Filter with window sizes of 1 and 3 m and distance thresholds of 0.1 and 0.3 m. The PCs representing the ground were compared for differences using the M3C2 module. The plugin allows users to select core points, adjust normal and projection scales, and calculate distances using precision maps. For the latter parameter, a constant value of 5cm was set for all PCs, representing the average measurement error of L1 LiDAR for 3D coordinates.

The results showed that rill erosion is present in all areas due to the direction of the rows planted parallel to the general slope of the vineyard, but is most dominant in areas cultivated by disking without cover crops. Surprisingly, the most severe rill erosion (~10 cm) was found along a small ditch created in a row using grass as a natural cover after the winter and spring period in 2024. We also detected a newly formed, early-stage gully in the south-western corner of the bare soil section, which channels the moving soil and sediment into a depot in this corner. Analysis of the robustness of the calculated distances showed that even low vegetation, such as grass, had a negative effect on the LiDAR measurements and PC quality, which (together with the average 3D coordinate accuracy of 5 cm) rendered the distances insignificant.

Despite its current drawbacks, the method is useful for detecting changes and formation of erosion features, and will later be tested against empirical soil erosion models to investigate similar patterns of erosion and also volumetric changes.

How to cite: Takáts, T., Zsigmond, T., Horel, Á., and Mészáros, J.: Application of 3D point clouds derived from repeated UAV LiDAR surveys for erosion mapping, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15207, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15207, 2025.

Wars are usually associated with degradation of natural resources. With the objective of quantifying the effect of the two years’ (2020-2022) Tigray war on degradation of natural resources that have been under restoration, 10 ex-battlefield (ex-BF) and 12 non-battlefield (NBF) sites were selected. The ex-BF sites were further divided into exclosures (n = 5) and farmlands (n = 5), while NBFs were divided into exclosures (n = 6) and farmlands (n = 6). Detail field observations were carried out through transect walks and farmers were interviewed (n=500). To measure the impacts of the war on land degradation, field measurements were conducted on bunds (n = 324), check dams (n = 87), war fortifications (n = 102), tree plots (n = 143), footpaths (n = 17), waterways (n = 44), and gullies (n = 85). These were verified using high resolution Google Earth Imageries as well as  Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data calculated from Sentinel 2 satellite images that were acquired before and after the war and through interviewing farmers (n=500). The findings reveal that the mean proportion of war-induced damaged bunds was 0.246 ± 0.185. A significant difference in bund destruction was observed between BFs and NBFs (p < 0.0001). Combatants used stones from bunds to construct war trenches up to 650 m long. In addition, 52% of the farmers perceived that the war disrupted exclosure management. Plot level analysis also shows that mean proportion of destroyed trees was 0.31 ± 0.15, with greater tree loss in BFs (46% ± 13%) compared to NBFs (19% ± 12%) (p < 0.0001). Besides, 44% of the check dams were damaged across the sites, with 78.3% of check dams in BFs classified as being in poor condition compared to 31.1% in NBFs. Moreover, the average pit volume in BFs and NBFs was 0.503 ± 0.389 m³, with mean sediment displacement in BFs (0.82 ± 0.17 m³) higher than in NBFs (p<0.006). New and reactivated gullies were also found with variable volumes, ranging from 134.3 ± 92.4 m³ in NBFs to 362.7 ± 629.4 m³ in BFs. In conclusion, the war resulted in obstruction of restoration process of the natural resources that have been undergoing in the degraded region over the last three decades. Therefore, integrated post-war rehabilitation strategies are needed to mitigate the environmental problems caused by the war.

How to cite: Asfaha, T. G., Nyssen, J., Annys, S., Gebregergis, H. M., Welemaram, Z. T., gebremeskel, E. N., and Frankl, A.: War-induced obstruction of natural resources restoration: quantitative evidences from the Tigray Region, Ethiopia, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15722, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15722, 2025.

The Qilian Mountains, located in the arid regions of northwest China, are typical high-altitude mountains and represent a significant ecological security barrier for the country. In recent years, these regions, influenced by climate change and human activities, have faced a series of ecological and environmental challenges, including land degradation, vegetation reduction, increased runoff, nutrient loss, and soil quality deterioration. However, the causes of soil quality decline from the perspective of phosphorus migration and loss have not been thoroughly investigated. Colloidal phosphorus is considered to play a crucial role in the migration process of phosphorus in forest soils, and this fraction of phosphorus requires in-depth research and quantification. This project takes the typical forest soil-hydrological system on the northern slope of the Qilian Mountains as the research object, with a primary focus on the following aspects: (1) The distribution characteristics of colloidal phosphorus in forest soils. (2) The forms and distribution characteristics of phosphorus, as well as the spatio-temporal characteristics of ecological stoichiometric ratios in the water of the forest ecosystem. (3) Risk assessment of phosphorus loss in Qilian Mountain ecosystem. The research results indicate that the average total phosphorus content in shrub soils is the highest, while that in Picea crassifolia soils is the lowest. The available phosphorus content in Picea crassifolia forests is significantly higher than that in shrub and grassland areas. Although the content of colloidal phosphorus is the lowest among all vegetation types, it accounts for only 10%-27% of total water-dispersed phosphorus, but this fraction is relatively active and may dominate the migration and transformation of phosphorus in the soil. With increasing soil depth, the content of colloidal phosphorus significantly decreases, suggesting that colloidal phosphorus in the soil may undergo leaching loss. Higher altitudes are associated with higher total dispersible phosphorus content in the soil, while colloidal phosphorus content is lower, indicating that most colloidal phosphorus is concentrated at lower altitudes. This also implies that colloidal phosphorus may dominate the top-down migration of phosphorus within the watershed. The average total phosphorus concentration in various water bodies within the watershed ranges from 0.01 to 0.721 mg L^-1, primarily in the form of particulate phosphorus. The average total phosphorus concentration in most water bodies exceeds the total phosphorus standard for eutrophic surface water (0.02 mg L^-1), posing a potential threat to the downstream water bodies of the watershed. Phosphorus loss restricts the growth and recovery of vegetation in the study area.

How to cite: He, X.: Phosphorus Loss Characteristics in Typical Watershed Ecosystems of the Qilian Mountains, China, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15805, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15805, 2025.

Land degradation in African tropical mountain environments, driven by water erosion and unsustainable land use, is further exacerbated by climate change. This leads to reduced crop productivity, and significant delivery of sediment to downstream rivers and lakes. A thorough understanding of the erosion processes and its drivers, including its spatial and temporal patterns, as well as the quantification of erosion rates is key to mitigate soil erosion, reduce sediment delivery, and ensuring agricultural and environmental sustainability. Such quantitative temporal and spatial data are required to run spatially distributed erosion models that are capable of simulating the impact of various management scenarios. However, these data are often missing for tropical mountain environments such as the southern Ethiopian highlands. Indeed, typical soil erosion models such as the RUSLE or WaTEM/SEDEM require an assessment of the cover management factor, and most applications of these model use standard tabulated values that are not region-specific and are thus not representative for the spatio-temporal vegetation developments. New developments using remote sensing, however, provide an opportunity to better parameterize the crop management factor.

Here we present spatio-temporal data on vegetation and crop types using optical remote sensing for two small catchments (Charcharo, 145ha and Zaga, 87ha) in the Gamo highlands of southern Ethiopia, with the aim to better assess the changing erosion risk and to quantify local cover management factors. We have digitalized all the crop parcels in these catchments and obtained 1538 field observations of vegetation cover for different fields and crop types throughout the year. In addition, we obtained ground-based NDVI values for 264 field parcel-crop combinations at different time intervals using a crop sensor. These field-based observations were compared with the satellite-based time series per crop to produce a better assessment of temporal changes in crop cover management. We also digitized all the soil conservation measures and started monitoring stream flow and sediment sampling using a high-resolution sampler for validating erosion model predictions.

The Charcharo catchment situated at an elevation of 2890 - 3039 meters is dominated by grazing land, with barley and potato as primary crops. Vegetation cover varies between 0% to 70-85% over the course of the growing season. Terraces are the main soil conservation method used in the area with a density of 100 m/ha. Zaga catchment is situated at an elevation of 1898 to 2166 meters and is primarily agricultural land with maize, sorghum and teff as dominant crops. Vegetation cover varies between 0% and 60-80% over a four to six month growing season. Here, stone bunds are the predominant soil conservation practice with a density of 34 m/ha. Upon completion, the study will provide quantitative information on soil erosion and the crop cover management factor in particular. This information will be used to run erosion models and to simulate the impact of climate and land use change. This research will also highlight the benefits of different conservation measures, aiding the local community and governmental stakeholders.

How to cite: Demiss, F. S., Tilahun, A., Minda, T., and Verstraeten, G.: A combined field and remote sensing approach to assess spatio-temporal changes in vegetation cover for erosion modelling, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-16808, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-16808, 2025.

Ephemeral gully erosion is responsible for a great part of the erosion that occurs in agricultural areas. Like any complex system, the formation of an ephemeral gully has an inherent complexity that has led many researchers to study in isolation, through experimentation and modeling, the processes involved in this phenomenon. However, by definition, in a complex system there are many interactions between processes that cannot be ignored. Therefore, it is also necessary to carry out studies that consider all the processes simultaneously. We believe that, to date, there is a lack of studies of this type on the formation of an ephemeral gully that would allow us to advance in the characterization and understanding, to test the hypotheses put forward about it, formulating other alternatives if necessary, and to evaluate the existing models, such as QAnnAGNPS. In order to fill this gap, an experiment has been initiated in November 2023 in which, first of all, an agricultural plot has been selected in an area of highly erodible silty loam soils located in Pitillas (Navarra). The plot has been tilled with conventional tillage to replicate the initial conditions of an average agricultural plot, which has been kept free of vegetation by using herbicide, and in which a rain gauge has been installed as well as moisture probes at different depths. After each precipitation event, drone flights have been carried out to obtain digital elevation models (DEM) with a resolution of less than one centimeter and orthomosaics. The DEMs and orthomosaics generated in each flight make it possible to locate the origin of the gullies formed and to determine their dimensions and their temporal evolution, in this case until November 2024, when the plot was tilled again to restart the observations. Our observations confirm the enormous complexity of the erosive phenomena, highlighting the formation and evolution of hundreds of headcuts of very different typology and size, many of them linked to ephemeral gullies. The first gullies appeared four months after tilling, after a rainfall event of 17.7 mm and high soil moisture conditions. Prior to this rainfall event, 55.4 mm accumulated in different storms, but with an intensity that did not cause the formation of gullies. Subsequent events lengthened and widened the first gullies and created new ones, resulting in a dense drainage network and very high soil losses. Our first results suggest the complexity of the phenomenon, with the formation and migration of headcuts playing a major role, confirming the suitability of the modeling of the phenomenon centered on these headcuts. The proposed experimentation represents a great opportunity to advance in the understanding of the formation and evolution of ephemeral gullies in real agricultural conditions, considering all the typical variables that affect this phenomenon.

How to cite: Barberena, I., Campo, M. Á., van Wiltenburg, K., and Casalí, J.: Field experimentation for a better understanding of the occurrence and evolution of ephemeral gullies in field conditions, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18485, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18485, 2025.

Rain splash, the initial stage of soil erosion by water, is influenced by both rainfall erosivity and soil surface erodibility. Vegetation alters rainfall erosivity—quantified as kinetic energy—by serving either as a protective, dispersive layer or as an amplifying, drip-aggregating layer. Previous research on vegetation's impact on throughfall kinetic energy (TKE) has primarily focused on point-based vegetation data and localized erosivity measurements. However, there is a growing need for spatially continuous, area-wide predictions of vegetation's effect on rainfall erosivity to enhance erosion modeling and conservation efforts. Recent studies emphasize the role of fine-scale tree structures in creating erosivity hotspots, known as drip points.

To address this gap, we employed lidar point clouds across multiple scales to investigate the relationship between 3D vegetation structure and TKE. UAV lidar data were used to derive vegetation cover and gap fractions within a voxel framework, identifying canopy layers that contribute leaf drips reaching the ground without re-interception. Furthermore, we linked field observations of active drip points to tree skeletons extracted from TLS point clouds to establish rules governing drip formation.

Our findings reveal that temperate forest vegetation's impact on erosivity surpasses values reported in prior studies focused on plantations. We observed a strong alignment between predicted and measured vegetation effects on TKE. We could demonstrate the potential of remote sensing for comprehensive, wall-to-wall predictions of vegetation's influence on rainfall erosivity. On the tree scale, lidar can improve our understanding of stemflow and re-interception dynamics on vegetation surfaces. These detailed findings can be scaled up to enhance landscape-level erosion predictions. Overall, lidar technology offers a promising solution to bridging data gaps in conventional erosion research.

How to cite: Senn, J. A. and Seitz, S.: 3d vegetation as a predictor of erosivity, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-19993, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-19993, 2025.

Quantifying soil redistribution rates is crucial for addressing environmental challenges related to land degradation and sustainable resource management. To complement conventional methodologies, alternative techniques were developed to enhance soil erosion model calibration and testing. Fallout radionuclides (FRNs), particularly ¹³⁷Cs, have been widely recognized as reliable tracers for monitoring soil movement and assessing erosion and deposition rates. Existing conversion models using FRNs to estimate soil redistribution rates often struggle to adapt to diverse soil conditions or to incorporate physical processes. RadEro is a mass balance model implemented in R, based on the compartmental, vertically-resolved, physically-based mass balance framework developed by Soto and Navas (2004, 2008). The model calculates simulated inventories by considering ¹³⁷Cs mass specific activity in the fine fraction density, effective volume (Veff), annual ¹³⁷Cs fallout, radioactive decay, and dominant vertical diffusion processes, including the effects of tillage. This enables RadEro to estimate rates while integrating the effects of soil stoniness in both ploughed and unploughed soils with either sectioned or bulk profiles. Redistribution rates are estimated by assuming that reference sites represent the natural profile distribution and decay of ¹³⁷Cs inventory for the study area. Additionally, deposition is assumed to originate from a nearby site with similar ¹³⁷Cs activity to that of the measured soil point. An accurate user-defined configuration of the model is essential for estimating reliable results. The variables in the model optimization process define the limits and resolution of the simulation sampling domain. By specifying the ranges for the diffusion coefficient (𝑘) and redistribution rates (𝑒), the model iterates to align with the measured ¹³⁷Cs inventory of a stable reference profile. The optimal 𝑘 value is then applied to estimate the corresponding soil redistribution rate (𝑚) in eroded and depositional profiles. In cases of extreme erosion or deposition, simulations with wider initial ranges for 𝑒 may be necessary to capture the full spectrum of possibilities. Our contribution highlights the need to understand the limitations of input data and model results. RadEro allows users to adjust parameters to fit their needs but relies on expert knowledge to select appropriate reference values and sampling points. By carefully evaluating input data, RadEro delivers reliable results and highlights the importance of addressing uncertainties in radionuclide distribution for accurate conclusions.

RadEro: ¹³⁷Cs Conversion Model https://github.com/eead-csic-eesa/RadEro

CRAN: Package RadEro https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/RadEro/index.html

How to cite: Catalá, A., Latorre, B., Gaspar, L., and Navas, A.: RadEro model: A Physically-Based Model for Quantifying Soil Redistribution Rates Using 137Cs, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20128, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20128, 2025.

Abandoned terraced landscapes face heightened risks of soil erosion and slope instabilities, contributing to significant sediment dynamics that threaten environmental sustainability and land productivity. This study leverages the LISEM (Limburg Soil Erosion Model) to assess sediment sources, transport pathways, and soil erosion sources within these fragile terrains. By combining very high-resolution spatial data, soil profiling, and hydrological modelling, we identified major sediment-generating zones and quantified their contributions under varying rainfall scenarios.

Our analysis highlights the critical role of land use and land cover (LULC) changes in driving erosion processes, with unmanaged vegetation and abandoned terraces emerging as key contributors to sediment mobilization and slope failures. The model outputs reveal spatial variability in sediment yield and erosion intensity, pinpointing critical hotspots requiring targeted conservation measures.

These findings emphasize the importance of nature-based solutions and sustainable land management practices to mitigate erosion and sediment transport risks. The research contributes to developing adaptive strategies for stabilizing slopes and restoring abandoned terraced landscapes, offering actionable insights for global applications in similar environments.

How to cite: Niyokwiringirwa, P., Maerker, M., Lombardo, L., and Rellini, I.: Modeling Sediment Dynamics and Identifying Key Erosion Sources in Abandoned Terraced Landscapes: Insights from Land Cover Change Analysis. The case study of Vernazza Catchment, Liguria, Italy., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20723, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20723, 2025.

Splash erosion is one of the form of water erosion, where the falling raindrops hit the soil surface and result in detachment and ejection of splashed material, and transport thereof over different distances. This process causes the loss of soil material, the breakdown of soil aggregates or is responsible for the displacement of microorganisms, pathogens, and pollutants within the ejected particles. The ejection of a mixture of solid (soil) and liquid (water) phases is one of the aspects of the energy dissipation of the impacting drop during the splash. Therefore, the aim of the study was to present the method for the estimation of the falling drop energy that was used for the transportation of the ejected material, while considering that such material was a mixture of solid soil particles and water droplets and therefore, “two-phase”.

The use of an innovative multi-method approach allowed for the characterization of ejected particles during soil splash phenomenon affected by a single drop impact. The mass measurements provided by a splash cup and image analysis method based on high-speed cameras gave the possibility to determine average density of the splashed material, the number of ejected particles, their sizes and masses, and their ejection velocities. Consequently, it enabled the calculation of the summed kinetic energy of ejected particles expressed as a percentage of falling drop energy transferred to splashed material. Based on the obtained results, this value ranged from 1% to 14 % and was strongly dependent on soil texture as well as initial moisture content. The study should be considered, in the context of physical modelling of splash erosion, as an important step for calculation of the energy balance of a single drop impact, i.e., the energy dissipation allowing for the determination of which processes absorb the kinetic energy of the falling drop during soil splash phenomenon.

This work was partly financed from the National Science Centre, Poland; project no. 2022/45/B/NZ9/00605.

References:

Beczek M., Mazur R., Ryżak M., Sochan A., Polakowski C., Beczek T., Bieganowski A.: How much raindrop energy is used for transportation of the two-phase splashed material? GEODERMA 425, 2022

Beczek M., Ryżak M., Sochan A., Mazur R., Polakowski C., Bieganowski A.: A new approach to kinetic energy calculation of two-phase soil splashed material. GEODERMA 396, 2021

How to cite: Beczek, M., Ryżak, M., Mazur, R., Sochan, A., Polakowski, C., Beczek, T., and Bieganowski, A.: Soil splash phenomenon - how much energy of raindrop is used for transportation of the splashed material?, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-345, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-345, 2025.

Soil erosion research is essential for sustainable development due to its significant impact on soil health through different erosive processes. One of these processes is subsurface erosion by soil piping, which is often overlooked in research. Recently, some progress has been made in detecting surface piping features using UAVs, while the identification of underground pipes remains challenging. Therefore, this study focuses on the innovative geophysical approach in studying subsurface soil erosion. The main aim is to assess the effectiveness of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in detecting soil pipes. Field experiments were conducted in the Bieszczady Mountains (Carpathians, SE Poland), alongside theoretical modelling using Resistivity 2D software. The findings were compared with existing research and validated through trenching. We evaluated different measurement settings, including array configurations (Wenner – W, Wenner-Schlumberger – WS and dipole-dipole – DD), electrode spacing, and measurement directions along the pipe system, to assess their effect on detecting pipes regarding their size, shape, and depth. We performed six ERT profiles in the field and we modelled the electrical response of a theoretical void at various subsurface positions, assuming the root-mean-squared error (RMS) of 0% and 5%. The results revealed that higher resistivity anomalies correspond to pipes, with the DD configuration showing lower resistivity (105 Ωm) compared to the W and WS configurations (268–427 Ωm). A comparison with other studies suggests that there is no universal threshold for confirming the presence of soil pipe; rather, a clear electrical contrast with the surrounding area is crucial. Our findings suggest that while all tested configurations effectively detect pipes, the choice of configuration impacts image quality. We recommend using the WS configuration for detecting both vertical and horizontal features. The number of anomalies influences the RMS and should be critically evaluated during surveys. These findings can help researchers and practitioners in designing more effective ERT studies in different environments to detect subsurface soil pipes.

The study is supported by the National Science Centre, Poland within the first author’s project SONATINA 1 (UMO-2017/24/C/ST10/00114).

How to cite: Bernatek-Jakiel, A. and Kondracka, M.: Assessing electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) to detect soil pipes: theoretical modelling and field experiments, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-571, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-571, 2025.

Land cover in areas undergoing long-term shifting cultivation typically represents a mosaic of agricultural fields, fallows in different stages of regrowth, remnant forest, and degraded grasslands. The Ankeniheny Zahamena corridor in eastern Madagascar represents a case in point. Previous research revealed major differences in hydrological response between forests, fallows or reforested sites, and degraded grasslands. We used these field data in the physically-based RoGeR_Dyn model[1] to examine the effects of topography and land cover on hydrological processes at the meso-catchment scale (58 km²). Using historic land-cover maps, predicted deforestation rates, and a theoretical reforestation rate, we created eight land-cover scenario’s with forest fractions ranging from 25 to 97% and combined these with five rainfall scenario’s (range: 1050 – 2100 mm/year).

The simulations showed that total evapotranspiration increased with rainfall and was ~20% less for the most degraded land-cover scenario than for a land cover dominated by (non-degraded) forest in all rainfall scenario’s. Topsoil infiltration capacities were reduced following soil degradation but still exceeded maximum hourly rainfall intensities. The lower vegetation water use in the degraded scenario produced wetter soil conditions, leading in turn to moderate increases in saturation-excess overland flow as well as deep percolation (baseflows). Deep percolation increased >2.4 times when annual rainfall was increased two times (regardless of land cover). The total stormflow in the dry scenario was more than three times larger for the most degraded land cover than under full forest (48 mm vs. 14 mm) and increased by an order of magnitude when rainfall was doubled (359 mm vs. 220 mm, respectively). Restoring forest on degraded soils is thus seen to change runoff processes, mostly by reducing overland flow and stormflow, and to a lesser extent by decreasing deep percolation due to increased evapotranspiration.

Above all, the simulations show that a hydrological model driven by measurements at the point- or plot-scale and very limited calibration, can provide useful information on how climate, land cover and soil degradation together affect the occurrence of high and low flows.

How to cite: Zwartendijk, B., van Meerveld, I., Bruijnzeel, S., Batenburg, S., Ghimire, C., Leistert, H., Weiler, M., and Teuling, R.: Combining field data and a spatially distributed model to understand the effects of land cover, soil degradation, and climate variability on the hydrological response of a meso-scale catchment in Eastern Madagascar, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1687, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1687, 2025.

How to cite: Vinci, A., Tosti, G., Parisi, A., and Vergni, L.: Impact of Soil Management Practices on Soil Loss and Runoff: First-Year Results from a Plot-Scale Experiment in Central Italy , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2123, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2123, 2025.

A variety of applications are informed by hydrological and agricultural models that simulate soil erosion using point-scale precipitation inputs. This becomes a challenge in an era of climate change because most climate projections are only available over coarse grids, yet soil erosion modeling is sensitive to the spatial resolution of precipitation input. This study aims to demonstrate a recently developed global dataset of CLIGEN parameters in terms of driving soil erosion models. The study examines the sensitivity of soil erosion to spatial resolutions of precipitation inputs of CLIGEN and other popular grid datasets. Case studies of the climate drivers involved model simulations at selected international sites using the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model and the Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM). The modeling results show point-scale precipitation leads to considerably higher erosion rate than the grid-scale precipitation. Such scale dependence is expected to be more pronounced under the future climate due to the intensification of storm intensity. Overall, the research outcome can facilitate environmental assessments globally and provide insight into the expected changes in soil erosion and conservation under climate change.

How to cite: Gao, S. and Fullhart, A.: A Global CLIGEN Parameter Dataset to Enable Soil Erosion Modeling Driven by Point-Scale Precipitation Dynamics , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2619, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2619, 2025.

Soil and water conservation is a pressing global challenge, exacerbated by land use changes, cover transitions, and extreme rainfall events. Rainfall plays a pivotal role in soil erosion due to its ability to detach and transport soil particles. Understanding its spatial and temporal variability is critical for devising effective conservation strategies. Rainfall erosivity studies typically focus on the RUSLE R-factor to quantify monthly and annual trends. However, these broader timescales may overlook event-based dynamics captured by metrics like EI30, which considers storm kinetic energy and maximum 30-minute rainfall intensity. Such event-based analyses are especially important in regions with irregular rainfall patterns or increasing extreme weather events. Developing countries lack spatial representativeness of sub-hourly monitoring stations, demanding modelling strategies to address these data limitations. Relying only on the traditional R-factor may underestimate the soil loss quantification in regions experiencing intense land use transition (e.g., deforestation and urban expansion) and significant changes in rainfall patterns due to climate change. Such underestimations can have severe consequences in the management of river and reservoir silting, loss of agricultural land, and increased landslide risks. In this context, technological solutions based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and satellite data present a promising alternative for addressing these challenges in countries like Brazil. In this study, we proposed a general framework to estimate the EsRE in a spatiotemporal fashion by leveraging the strengths of AI and the temporal and spatial availability of satellite-derived rainfall data, such as CHIRPS (available since 1981). The traditional and well-stablished event-based seasonal model is used as baseline model. As case study, both the AI-based model and the seasonal model used daily rainfall and the fortnight of the event as inputs to estimate the EsRE (retrieved from monitoring stations available since 2015 in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Brazil). The predictive performance of the models was evaluated using R², Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), and Pbias. Additionally, a bootstrap approach was employed to assess the uncertainty of the models. To evaluate the local applicability of the proposed model, we analyzed the impacts of the improved EsRE on the erosion process in the peri-urban Ibirité watershed, which faces intensified erosion and reservoir siltation. The AI-based model outperformed the traditional model, achieving R², NSE, and Pbias of 0.73, 0.73, and 2.4%, respectively, compared to R², NSE, and Pbias of 0.62, 0.62, and 0.13% for the traditional model. The observed uncertainty on EsRE simulation was expected due to the parsimonious model and problem complexity. Nevertheless, the AI-based model was able to track the overall spatiotemporal pattern, shedding light on the potential of this approach in modelling EsRE in poorly monitored regions. When replacing rainfall observations with CHIRPS-retrieved rainfall, uncertainty of EsRE increased, which was improved after bias correction. The bias correction addressed challenges related to intense rainfall events, such as convective storms, which are often underrepresented in satellite-derived data. The AI-based model improved the spatiotemporal analysis in the Ibirité watershed. Future studies should test other AI-based structures, input variables, and calibration strategies to decrease uncertainties on EsRE simulations.

How to cite: Rodrigues, A., Brentan, B., Bezerra, R., and Eleutério, J.: Spatiotemporal assessment of event-scale rainfall erosivity (EsRE): a modelling approach based on artificial intelligence and satellite information, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4767, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4767, 2025.

Savanna ecosystems cover about 50% of Africa, forming a spectrum from grasslands with scattered trees to bush thickets. These ecosystems are shaped by water availability, seasonal rainfall patterns, grazing by wild and domestic animals, and soil and landform features that influence nutrient and water distribution. The Greater Maasai Mara Ecosystem (Mara) in Kenya is a prime example of such an ecosystem, rich in biodiversity but increasingly degraded by invasive species expansion, climate change and agricultural activities. Degradation processes such as reduced vegetation cover due to overgrazing from livestock herds, leads to soil exposure, increased soil erosion and decreased organic matter inputs, and subsequent impacts on nutrient cycling and biotic activity.

In response to soil degradation in the Mara, afforestation using native plant communities has been proposed as a restoration strategy. Research has focused on identifying optimal tree species for soil restoration through experimental treatments. Three 50 m x 50 m treatment plots were established: Savanna Mimic, reflecting native woodland patterns; Diversity-Rich, with 30 tree species; and Themed Species Assortments, focusing on bioculturally relevant species. A fourth control plot outside the fenced area represented degraded conditions.

Soil samples collected from the plots revealed significant insights. The control plot exhibited the lowest soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, about 40% lower than the treatments. This decline in SOC was linked to overgrazing, which limits plant growth and rhizodeposition, reducing carbon inputs to the soil. The control area also had the highest Carbon Quality Index (CQI = 0.64), indicating highly resistant organic matter, and a high dsDNA:SOC ratio (4.20 mg g^–1), suggesting microbial communities are under stress due to limited organic carbon.

The Diversity-Rich plot emerged as the most effective restoration strategy, promoting SOC accumulation with higher carbon quality (CQI = 0.57). This treatment avoided nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) limitations, with the highest ratios of microbial C:N, N:P and C:P acquiring enzymes and available P concentration (18.7 mg kg^–1). Enhanced nutrient cycling in the Diversity-Rich treatment highlights the role of plant diversity in restoring degraded soils.

Overall, the study demonstrates that overgrazing significantly depletes SOC and disrupts ecosystem functions. High-diversity planting schemes offer the most promising outcomes for soil restoration, enhancing carbon storage, nutrient availability, and microbial activity, thus contributing to the resilience of savanna ecosystems. However, we are aware that further monitoring activities should be carried out to have a more reliable picture about the effect of the applied restoration on the investigated soil properties.

How to cite: Di Bonito, M., De Feudis, M., Falsone, G., Trenti, W., Guatelli, F., Vittori Antisari, L., Boumezgane, A., Fornasier, F., Gichira, A., Nabaala, H., Njenga, P. K., Warui, C. M., and Limbua, P. G.: Restoring degraded savannas: a case study of soil carbon and nutrient dynamics in Kenya's Maasai Mara., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-5949, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-5949, 2025.

The world faces unprecedented land-use pressures, and one of our societal roles as geoscientists is to document, measure, and analyse landscape degradation, producing understanding that can mitigate or help prevent ongoing damage. We do this in a framework of prior studies that shape the way we understand the system and how it operates, which thereby also shapes how we construct research questions and design data collection. This is, of course, how science operates. However, sometimes we need to step back and examine the foundations of our guiding framework.

Doing this exercise for geomorphologic interpretations of landscape change in the Global South reveals a buried legacy of colonial-era assumptions and assertions about harmful impacts of indigenous/traditional land-use practices: a “narrative of blame” that targets Global South populations. Global North colonists, seeing unfamiliar countryside managed with unfamiliar techniques, wrote interpretive descriptions of what they perceived as degraded landscapes—but which were based primarily on their experiences elsewhere and/or which drew on gut feelings coming from a lack of local knowledge and inherent disdain for the native population and their methods. These ideas were published, repeated, restated and rephrased, achieving over time the status of received wisdom. They are still recycled today, as part of literature review and project justification. They provide rationalisation for assumptions that we build into project design, and they give license for interpretations on the basis that overarching controls have already been established; e.g. “It is well known that …… and therefore …. “. But tracing individual precepts back through the literature often reveals that in fact the variables in question have never been subject to rigorous testing or verifiable measurement.

Examples of the impacts of these colonial narratives on modern science are widespread, and include over-interpretation of small amounts of data (e.g. short-term and/or small-scale measurements in areas of high erosion being extrapolated to represent regional or national erosion rates) as well as conclusions being formulated without perceived need to perform measurements or comparative analysis (e.g. inferring that because deforestation elsewhere has been linked elsewhere with erosion, tree removal in a study site must also have caused rapid and intense soil loss).

This is not to say that humans do not cause erosion or landscape degradation. Damage that we do throughout the world is indisputably documented. But there is a clear imbalance in the way we measure and analyse geomorphic change, and—particularly in the Global South—there is a history of embedded assumptions, fed by strong implicit bias that indigenous and traditional land-use practices are inherently damaging. This means that many projects are (unintentionally) preconditioned to return results that will be in line with expectations set by the governing assumptions. Which of course strengthens those assumptions. To properly quantify and understand anthropogenic impacts on the landscape we must test all our embedded expectations. The colonial-era narrative of blame is pervasive and deeply entangled in our science. It is our job to learn to identify it and uproot it. And to avoid setting expectations in project design and analysis.

How to cite: Cox, R. and Rakotondrazafy, A. F. M.: Setting expectations: how colonial narratives continue to shape our analysis of geomorphology in the Global South, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-7130, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-7130, 2025.

Identifying anthropic infrastructure and soil erosion systems is critical for analyzing the P-factor of RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) formula which plays a crucial role in assessing the effectiveness of conservation practices at reducing soil erosion. SEEDs is a CMCC (Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change) project for IFOA (Training organization) focused on the production of high-resolution assessments of soil erosion risk, combining Earth Observation data and advanced analytics to support sustainable land management in Italy. The current work explores semantic segmentation of Sentinel-2 imagery, utilizing both its native 10-meter resolution and super-resolved 3-meter images, to map urban infrastructure (buildings and roads) and agricultural terraces critical for soil erosion analysis, within the context of SEEDs project.

It is focused on two distinct areas in Italy: the Lattari Mountains (Campania, southern Italy) and the Idice river basin (Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy), which was impacted by significant flood events in May 2023 and September 2024. These regions differ in landscape characteristic and erosion control measures, providing a valuable comparison to evaluate influence of these factors on erosion dynamics.
The methodology incorporates deep learning U-Net architectures, fine-tuned using Sentinel-2 multispectral data and elevation (DEM) data. Mask preparation for training and validation involves data from OpenStreetMap, Corine Land Cover and visual interpretation using QGIS software, specifically for Liguria terraces mapping, which were used as a unique training dataset for identifying terraced landscapes in the study areas, due to the scarcity of available labelled datasets.  

The analysis mapped key infrastructures in the study areas using both original resolution and super-resolved imagery.  In addition, preliminary results indicated differences in infrastructure before and after the flood events of 2023, suggesting potential impacts on both agricultural lands and urban areas. This approach demonstrates potential for precise urban and agricultural mapping in erosion-prone landscapes. Ongoing work focuses on refining model performance and validating results across diverse terrains and regions, ultimately enhancing soil erosion risk assessments and supporting more effective land management strategies.

How to cite: Magazzino, S., Fazzini, N., Ricciardelli, A., Folegani, M., and Houël, M.: Semantic Segmentation of Super Resoluted Sentinel-2 Images for Urban and Agricultural Surface Mapping in Soil Erosion Studies, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9981, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9981, 2025.

Larger samples of measurement data unlock far-reaching opportunities to improve our predictive capabilities and process understanding in erosion and sediment load modelling through: (i) streamlining model applications to compare performance and understand model generalizability across differing environments, (ii) improving upscaling capacity and predictive capabilities in unmonitored locations via data-oriented approaches, and (iii) developing new modelling approaches better suited to data ingestion. Despite the tangible benefits of applying soil erosion models over multiple spatial domains, indicative overviews of modelling efforts show efforts in 3 or more catchments remain considerably less abundant. This study synthesises the currently available measurement data available for in-stream monitoring of hillslope sediment fluxes to stream channels in Europe. By combining purpose-compiled community data from small to medium catchments in EUSEDcollab (a European Union Soil Observatory initiative) with other open-access water quality data (e.g. GEMSTAT) and other resources, we give an overview of the current state-of-the-field. Key findings show: (i) data is significantly less abundant from small catchment drainage areas, limiting the potential inferences on hillslope processes, (ii) catchment data on the long-term average annual sediment load (e.g. statistical aggregations) is significantly more abundant than time series data, reflecting limited open sharing of historical measurement data, (iii) sediment load measurements are decreasing in modern time periods, limiting our potential to capitalise on modern revolutions in domain-agnostic geospatial data (e.g. remote sensing data). Further community efforts to compile current and legacy data across Europe with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) standards are vital for scientific advancements and data rescue, following similar data sharing efforts (e.g. CAMELS for hydrology). Extensions of catchment data with large-scale feature compilations of (time series) of hydrometeorological, soil and management attributes data may further strengthen efforts to provide ready-to-use data for models. To conclude, open data is pivotal for multi-scale, open, and collaborative research which requires ongoing collaboration between research groups, national agencies, and multi-national institutions.

How to cite: Matthews, F., Vieira, D., Panagos, P., Saggau, P., Kaffas, K., Tan, F., and Borrelli, P.: Towards large-sample data availability for applications in soil erosion and sediment transport studies in Europe, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10939, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10939, 2025.

Wildfires affect land surface and post-fire geomorphological activity worldwide, increasing surface runoff and soil erosion. Here, we present a global assessment of post-fire soil erosion, considering cumulative wildfire driven geomorphological changes over the last two decades. Stemmed from the largest database on wildfires occurrence and fire severity in the globe, this study estimates global trends of post fire soil erosion together with the recovery of those burned landscapes.

Our results show that when considering multiple wildfire events, global post-fire soil erosion accounts for 8.1 ± 0.72 Pg annually, representing 19% of the global soil erosion budget, and additional 5.1 ± 0.56 Pg soil erosion annually in comparison to pre-fire conditions. Moreover, soil erosion attributed to the first post-fire year represents 31% of the total soil erosion, whereas the remaining share can be attributed to previous wildfires occurrences. In what concerns the spatial distribution, Africa is the continent that is impacted the most in terms of post-fire soil erosion, given its significantly larger burned area.

The results of this study can illustrate the magnitude of post-fire soil erosion globally, and therefore support post-fire management actions towards the mitigation and restoration of affected areas, and policies towards Land Degradation Neutrality.

How to cite: Vieira, D., Borrelli, P., Scarpa, S., Liakos, L., Ballabio, C., and Panagos, P.: Post-fire soil erosion. How much land are we degrading globally?, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10986, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10986, 2025.

Agricultural-driven land-use changes have extensively reshaped landscapes, leading to increased soil erosion and water demand. Achieving long-term agricultural sustainability requires a balanced interaction among water resources, land cover, and climate. However, how this interconnected system will respond to climate change remains uncertain. This study aims to assess (i) the current impacts of land cover changes on water balance variables and soil erosion and (ii) the projected impacts of future climate conditions.  Field observations were conducted on 100 m² experimental plots in Brazil, maintained over the past decade. We evaluated the long-term trade-offs between common agricultural land covers—sugarcane, pasture, and soybean—and their effects on runoff and soil loss rates. Results were compared to those for native forest (wooded Cerrado) and bare soil. A significant difference between agricultural land and native forest were found. For instance, areas converted to pasture experienced nearly 20 times higher runoff, while sugarcane cultivation resulted in soil loss rates five times greater than native forest. To analyze future impacts, we applied the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and Hydrus model, integrating them with CMIP6 climate projections under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios for the intermediate (2040–2070) and distant future (2071–2100). The results indicated that climate change will variably affect water flux components in a hierarchical sequence: soil-water storage, bottom flux, infiltration, surface flux, evaporation, and root uptake. For example, we estimated an increase of 23% in root water uptake and reduction of 8% in soil-water storage in sugarcane. This pattern was consistent across all types of land cover, differing primarily in magnitude. Regarding soil erosion, our projections indicated increases of 4.9% under SSP2-4.5 and 7.6% under SSP5-8.5 scenarios for all land covers. The observed soil loss rates highlight the critical need for sustainable land management to mitigate soil degradation. Notably, ongoing land cover changes pose a greater risk to water fluxes than projected climate changes. However, shifts in rainfall patterns due to climate change are likely to increase rainfall erosivity, amplifying soil erosion potential. Consequently, land conversion presents substantial risks to soil stability at both local and continental scales. These findings underscore the urgency of adopting targeted soil and water conservation strategies in the Cerrado biome. By mitigating soil erosion and promoting sustainable land-use practices, these strategies can help balance agricultural productivity with ecological preservation under current and future climate scenarios.

How to cite: Schwamback, D., R. Amorim Brandão, A., Zhang, L., Berndtsson, R., Wendland, E., and Persson, M.: What is more impactful on water fluxes and soil erosion: changes in land cover or climate variability? , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12570, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12570, 2025.

To reduce the potential threat of soil loss due to ephemeral gullies, it is crucial to adopt Best Management Practices (BMPs) that prevent damage to landscapes by reducing sediments load. This study combines two approaches to evaluate and optimize BMPs for reducing sediment load from sheet/rill and ephemeral gully erosion. The research applied a novel methodology integrating a genetic algorithm with the Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution model (AnnAGNPS) to optimize the model and also strategically select and place BMPs in Southern Ontario, Canada, to reduce sediment load cost-effectively. The study assessed five BMPs: cover crops, grassed waterways, no-till, conservation tillage, and riparian buffer strips. Considering the average annual sediment load, riparian buffer strips were consistently successful in decreasing average annual sediment load of sheet/rill erosion, with 69% reduction efficiency. Similarly, grassed waterways were the most effective BMPs for reducing average annual sediment load of ephemeral gully erosion, with an efficiency of 81%. These BMPs were integrated into a cost-optimization framework, demonstrating that strategic placement of BMPs could enhance their efficiency. The optimized placement reduced sheet/rill sediment load by 84.6%, ephemeral gully by 85.4%, and total erosion by 86.3%, achieving these results at minimal cost. The study highlights the significance of targeted BMP placement rather than uniform implementation across entire watersheds. This integrated approach is a viable solution for watersheds with limited resources, facilitating decision-makers and aiding in the adoption of BMPs that can comprehensively reduce sediment load. The developed model in the current study can be applied by decision makers in other watersheds with limited resources for implementing BMPs.

How to cite: Daggupati, P., Mohebzadeh, H., Biswas, A., Rudra, R., Devris, B., and Yang, W.: Optimizing Best Management Practices for Efficient Sediment Load Reduction in Agricultural Watersheds, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12661, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12661, 2025.

The construction of bench terraces has become a common practice in north-central Portugal for establishing eucalyptus plantations on steep hillslopes. Terracing is commonly considered as an effective soil conservation technique for steep terrain, with a long tradition in agricultural practices. This method typically involves extensive redistribution of topsoil, potentially causing substantial changes in the soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties, as well as its associated functions. Additionally, modern terrace construction using bulldozers can exacerbate soil instability, leading to soil mobilization through the collapse of risers. Modern forest terracing transforms hillslopes into flat terrain, facilitating the use of machinery for planting, fertilization, vegetation control, logging, and log extraction. However, terracing removes all surface vegetation, leaving the soil exposed to raindrop impact. Moreover, the mechanical forces exerted by bulldozers break, mix, and loosen the soil, detaching particles and compromising soil structure and stability. Historically, terraces were separated by stone walls that provided structural stability and erosion control. Today, however, they are often divided by steep, unsupported sections known as risers. Despite their widespread use in forestry, the impacts of modern terracing on water and soil conservation remain poorly studied. This study aimed to (1) quantify the collapse of modern forest terrace risers during the first year after construction and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures such as anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) and hydromulch. In a eucalyptus plantation in north-central Portugal, nine sediment fences were installed at the base of three different risers (three pairs per riser). One riser was left as a control, while the others were randomly treated with PAM or hydromulch. Preliminary results revealed substantial soil mobilization from the risers, with a median sediment deposition of 258 Mg ha⁻¹ during the first post-terracing year. Landslides affecting risers from top to base were frequently observed, further demonstrating their instability. Both hydromulch and PAM treatments significantly reduced cumulative annual sediment deposition to averages of 113 and 105 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively. However, neither measure completely prevented the collapse of certain riser sections. These findings highlight the urgent need for multidisciplinary approaches to assess and mitigate the adverse effects of modern terracing in forest plantations.

How to cite: Martins, M., Simões, L., Basso, M., Gholamahmadi, B., González-Pelayo, O., Ben-Hur, M., and Keizer, J.: The erodibility of terrace risers in eucalyptus plantations in North-Central Portugal, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14029, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14029, 2025.

Hope Mwanake¹, Gabriel Stecher¹, Bano Mehdi-Schulz¹, Karsten Schulz¹,  Nzula Kitaka², Luke Olang³, Mathew Herrnegger¹

¹Institute of Hydrology and Water Management (HyWa), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria

²Department of Biological Sciences, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 – 20115 Egerton-Njoro, Kenya

³Department of Biosystems and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

The complexity of shared governance, the variety of land use practices that affect water quantity and quality, and the fluctuating socioeconomic conditions that lead to different regional priorities are some of the reasons that pose particular challenges for sustainable resource management for transboundary river basins. This study carried out in the Sio Malaba Malakisi River Basin (SMMRB), shared by Kenya and Uganda, examines how combining a scientific evaluation of local soil erosion risk together with farmer-reported views of soil erosion and field conservation measures enhances soil conservation efforts.

Through participatory surveys involving 200 farming households to gather data on their estimations of soil loss, and on their farm management practices, together with the regional application of geospatial analysis to estimate soil erosion with the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), we identified significant discrepancies between farmer perceptions and estimated USLE soil erosion outcomes. While 60% of farmers reported visible soil erosion and 92% noted declining soil fertility, the spatial modeling of the USLE estimates revealed that over 76% of the region lacks effective soil and water conservation practices (SWCPs), leaving vast areas vulnerable to erosion. These findings highlight a substantial gap between farmer perceptions and modeled estimates, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Furthermore, transboundary water quality assessments revealed nutrient "hotspots" linked to erosion, stressing the need for joint management strategies to address shared challenges.

To address these challenges, a Best Management Practices (BMPs) scenario was developed based on the knowledge of the 200 farmers interviewed within the basin and the practices of "best-practice farmers" from the survey results. This scenario assumes that farmers are more likely to adopt measures already practiced in their vicinity, such as terracing for steep slopes or crop rotation for maize and beans, reflecting local topography and cropping systems. The BMP scenario predicts a 25% reduction in severely eroded areas, demonstrating the transformative potential of scaling up the SWCPs to reduce soil loss. These outcomes reinforce the importance of leveraging local knowledge to design regionally relevant conservation strategies.

In this study, farmers expressed a strong willingness to share their insights on soil erosion and conservation, highlighting the need for community-driven conservation efforts that integrate farmer knowledge into scientific frameworks. These efforts can lead to more effective erosion control and sustainable land management by fostering a sense of ownership and encouraging locally informed decision-making.

This research highlights the need for data-driven, context-specific conservation strategies in data-scarce regions like the SMMRB, emphasizing the importance of local data, and farmer engagement for the adoption of BMPs. The results provide a scalable model for comparable data scarce areas around the world and highlight the significance of coordinated transboundary collaborations, and inclusive capacity-building balancing between ecosystem restoration and sustainable livelihoods.

How to cite: Mwanake, H.: Integrating Farmers’ perspectives and Scientific Knowledge to Manage Transboundary River Basins Sustainably: A case study of the Sio Malaba Malakisi River Basin, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15493, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15493, 2025.

Surface Coal Mining activities have significant effects on vegetation and land use/land cover (LULC), resulting in environmental degradation and changes in ecosystem services. In this study, geospatial methods, incorporating spatial autocorrelation tools like Moran's I, were adopted to identify and assess notable spatial patterns of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and LULC alterations in areas impacted by mining for the years 1997 and 2022 in the Damodar River basin, India. Spatial autocorrelation assessments were performed in ArcGIS to identify patterns of clustering and dispersion in NDVI and LULC changes to get an idea about the emerging hot spot and cold spot patterns influenced by surface coal mining in the Damodar River basin, India. The methodology involves calculating Global Moran’s I to analyze overall spatial trends and the Mann Kendall Trend test to analyse the temporal trend. Following this, Hot Spot Analysis (Getis-Ord Gi*) are employed to identify regions undergoing notable vegetation decline or shifts in land use. The spatial weights matrix, an essential element for these evaluations, is configured to reflect spatial relationships, such as contiguity or distance-based interactions.

Initial findings reveal significant clusters of NDVI decline in active mining areas, aligning with widespread deforestation and land cover transformations from natural green cover to mining infrastructure, the mining area shows an increase of 6.89 per cent of the total geographical area of the basin. Hotspot analysis indicates crucial locations that necessitate prompt environmental intervention. The whole basin exhibits a statistically significant temporal trend of high-value aggregation of NDVI. This research underscores the effectiveness of spatial autocorrelation tools in tracking and managing the ecological consequences of mining operations. The results offer valuable information for policymakers and environmental managers to focus restoration efforts and adopt sustainable land use strategies.

How to cite: Anjali, K. and Remesan, R.: Hotspots Analysis and Spatial-temporal Trends of NDVI and Land Use Land Cover Changes in Surface Coal Mining -Affected Regions Using Spatial Autocorrelation Analysis, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-19697, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-19697, 2025.

Water-induced soil erosion is a critical threat to the sustainability of agriculture worldwide, as it destroys nutrient-rich topsoil and causes significant economic costs. Conventional soil erosion monitoring methods, such as the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and its revised version (RUSLE), often face challenges with data collection for calibration or validation. Although machine learning offers promising alternatives, they usually require large data sets, which can limit their practicality. Recent advances in deep learning have introduced several innovative techniques such as transfer learning to reduce the need for extensive data. This study presents Erosion-SAM, a novel framework that fine-tunes the Segment Anything Model (SAM) to automatically identify erosion and deposition features using high-resolution remote sensing imagery. RADOLAN radar rainfall data with a spatial resolution of 1 km was used to identify erosive events and determine erosion-prone agricultural fields including grassland, vegetated cropland, and bare cropland, in southeastern Bavaria, Germany. High-resolution orthophotos (0.2 m) were taken for fields with erosive events indicating significant erosion potential. These orthophotos were then manually segmented by experts to delineate precise erosion and deposition features and subsequently used as input data for fine-tuning SAM. Three pre-processing strategies were evaluated during the fine-tuning process: resizing, cropping, and prompt-based resizing. The prompt-based resizing method performed best, especially in grassland, with an IoU of 0.75, a Dice coefficient of 0.86, a precision of 0.82 and a recall of 0.90. While the baseline SAM performed better than the cropping method in bare cropland, it overestimated erosion and deposition, which increased the recall values. The fine-tuned methods agreed well with the actual soil erosion severity ratios, with the prompt-based resizing method achieving an R² of 0.93, demonstrating superior predictive performance. Erosion-SAM showcases the potential to revolutionize soil erosion monitoring by automatically detecting erosion and deposition features across different land covers with high accuracy. Moreover, it generates high-quality, consistent data sets as valuable input for machine learning-based erosion modeling for different land covers. Its scalability and high spatial and temporal resolution also make it invaluable for large-scale erosion monitoring and risk assessment, including applications in the insurance and reinsurance industry.

How to cite: Shokati, H., Engelhardt, A., Seufferheld, K., Taghizadeh-Mehrjardi, R., Fiener, P., and Scholten, T.: Automated high-resolution detection of soil erosion and deposition features in agricultural fields using the fine-tuned Segment Anything Model, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-827, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-827, 2025.

Testing the performance of soil erosion models against observational data is a critical step in any model application. This is particularly important when models aid land-management decisions, e.g. planning and implementing soil conservation practices in agricultural landscapes. However, observational erosion data are uncertain and typically restricted to measurements of sediment fluxes at the outlet of a system, e.g. plot or watershed. This has limited utility for testing a model’s representation of landscape sediment connectivity processes, which is crucial for planning soil conservation and off-site pollution control measures. Here, the performance of a Python-implemented version of the spatially distributed soil erosion and sediment yield WaTEM/SEDEM model was evaluated for simulating sediment yields under soil conservation conditions across contrasting watersheds at an experimental farm in Southern Germany. To do so, we used an eight-year monitoring dataset (1994-2001) that includes high-resolution measurements of soil properties, plant traits, and land management operations, as well as event-based sediment yield measurements for (I) four small-scale watersheds (0.8 to 4.2 ha) primarily representing in-field erosion processes (mostly supply-limited) and (II) two cascading watersheds (5.7 to 7.8 ha) dominated by sedimentation processes along a grassed waterway (mostly transport-limited). Further, we employed a Generalised Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) rejectionist framework utilising Monte Carlo simulations with 25,000 iterations to condition model parameters. The model performance was evaluated across two spatial scales - from individual watersheds to aggregated supply-limited and transport-limited watershed groups - and temporal scales ranging from single-year to eight-year averages. Model iterations were considered as behavioural when their simulated sediment yields fell within an estimated error range derived from the monitoring dataset. The model demonstrated capability in simulating low sediment yields when aggregated spatially and temporally. However, the annual-scale model applications were rejected due to insufficient representation of temporal dynamics. The results indicated a systematic overestimation of sediment yields across most watersheds, with a notable exception in one transport-limited catchment where underestimation occurred. The influence of retention features within watersheds was reflected by the behavioural parameter selection: in cases of sediment yield overestimation, parameters enhancing deposition produced superior results, while in watersheds with underestimated sediment yields, parameters reducing deposition improved model performance. These observations underscore the model's capability to represent low sediment yields in agricultural landscapes under soil conservation while highlighting temporal resolution limitations and the importance of comprehensive uncertainty analysis in measured and simulated data.

How to cite: Seufferheld, K. D., Batista, P. V. G., Shokati, H., Scholten, T., and Fiener, P.: WaTEM/SEDEM's capability in simulating watershed-scale soil conservation: Using the GLUE approach to analyse the representation of in-field processes and connectivity features along thalwegs , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1799, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1799, 2025.

Soil erosion models are complex and inherently uncertain. This limits their perceived trustworthiness and hinder their use in practical decision making, in particular by non-technical users. Paradoxically, understanding, reducing (when possible) and explicitly incorporating this uncertainty is crucial for building trust and improving decision-making. For this purpose, we are developing iMPACT-erosion, an open-source soil erosion modelling toolbox based on Jupyter Notebooks. Integrating interactive elements and visualization, iMPACT-erosion fosters a more fluent user-model conversation, targeting students, professors, researchers, and decision-makers. The toolbox comprises three components: iMPACT-start (basic concepts and initial steps), iMPACT-test (model evaluation), and iMPACT-explore (scenario assessment). This work focuses on iMPACT-test and iMPACT-explore, emphasizing the combination of Monte Carlo simulations and interactivity. This approach addresses not only uncertainty quantification and attribution but also tests model behaviour plausibility, identifies controlling factors and conditions leading to unsustainable soil loss rates, and reduces uncertainty by optimizing model evaluation against field measurements. This toolbox empowers users to gain a comprehensive understanding of model behaviour, assess model suitability for specific applications, and ultimately make more informed and robust decisions regarding soil conservation and land management.

How to cite: Peñuela, A.: Interactive uncertainty and sensitivity analysis: building trust on soil erosion models and making better informed decisions, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-3581, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-3581, 2025.

Soil loss prediction models are designed to aid making decisions on land management. To do this, they predict erosion for existing and proposed land management options that are tenable on a given soil on a given topography in a given climate. The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and subsequent revisions of it provide the most widely used model for this purpose in the world. While the climate input is reportedly based on the product of storm kinetic energy (E) and the maximum 30-minute rainfall intensity (I30), the model ignores the fact that storm kinetic energy per unit of rain varies with the synoptic conditions that dominate the production of rainfall at a particular location. It also ignores the fact that runoff per unit area can vary with slope length and gradient. However, these failures exist for pragmatic reasons. The mathematical structure of the USLE models is based on predicting the long-term soil loss from the unit plot so that any method that enables that to be achieved can be used to predict erosion for situations that do not conform to the unit plot using appropriate USLE equations for factors such as slope length and gradient. WEPP has for a long time been touted as a replacement for USLE models in the USA but does not predict event soil loss on bare fallow areas better than the EI30 index. Also, parameterization of WEPP focussed on areas where crops are grown on ridges rather than planar slopes. Consequently, WEPP is not an appropriate replacement for USLE models in making land management decisions. Other models like APEX break mathematical rules.:

How to cite: Kinnell, P.: All soil loss prediction models are wrong, some more than others, some are useful, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-3845, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-3845, 2025.

Heavy precipitation and resulting erosion of arable land present ongoing challenges in disaster prevention and agricultural management. This interdisciplinary topic is gaining significant attention due to increasing frequency of extreme events linked to climate change (IPCC, 2021; Robinson et al., 2021). According to Parkin et al. (2008), the largest amount of erosion results from extreme individual events.

State-of-the-art methods for simulating heavy precipitation events involve two-dimensional, hydrodynamic-numerical models (2D models) (LUBW, 2016). Traditional erosion simulations have relied on simplified hydraulic calculations, but in this study, the hydraulics, and forces acting on the soil were precisely calculated using a 2D model as the erosion simulation critically depends on the quality of this hydraulics (Morgan et al., 1998).

In contrast to well-known stream transport capacity approaches (e.g. Meyer-Peter & Müller), the Govers (1990) approach is effective for surface runoff and is particularly suitable for simulating soil erosion on arable land (Wang et al., 2019). Therefore, this approach was selected and integrated into the existing sediment transport module of the 2D HydroAS model.

To calibrate and validate the model, natural erosion events caused by heavy precipitation were recorded using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and analysed. Erosion areas were chosen and simulated using the combined model. The simulation results show both sheet and rill erosion. To assess the simulation results, the spatial distribution of the rill erosion and the erosion quantity were determined and compared with the natural events. Erosion on arable land can be simulated both spatially and quantitatively by coupling the Govers approach with the 2D HydroAS model. However, erosion quantities are highly dependent on the rill size and model resolution, representing minimum erosion.

Assessing sedimentation amount and its spatial distribution is also crucial for evaluating erosion risks due to heavy precipitation. The transfer of sediments from erosion areas to downstream ecosystems or settlements can negatively impact farmers, residents, and ecosystems. Sediment flow analysis is currently being conducted.

How to cite: Hinsberger, R. and Yörük, A.: Numerical Simulation of Sheet and Rill Erosion using 2D Modelling, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-5175, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-5175, 2025.

Traditional soil erosion models often oversimplify the mechanics of detachment by assuming vertical raindrop impacts (KE_y = KE_r), neglecting the critical role of shear forces (KE_x) in wind-driven rain (WDR). This study investigates soil detachment rates under both wind-free rain (WFR) and WDR using four soils of differing textures: Efb (high clay and organic matter), Lda (low clay and sandy), Abd (intermediate clay and sand), and Nukerke (high clay, low organic matter, and coarse particles). Experiments conducted in a wind tunnel with a rainfall simulator evaluated the effects of vertical (KE_y) and horizontal (KE_x) kinetic energy fluxes on detachment rates (D_u) across rainfall incidence angles (α = 0^o, 53^o, 68^o, 73^o).

The results reveal that soil detachment rates peak at α = 53^o, where compressive and shear forces are balanced, enhancing detachment efficiency. Beyond this angle, as shear forces dominate and compressive forces diminish, D_u declines significantly, particularly in wet soils. Soil texture and moisture content further modulate these effects, with sandy soils (e.g., Lda) being more sensitive to shear forces and cohesive soils (e.g., Efb) exhibiting higher resistance across conditions. These findings underscore the importance of integrating the dynamic partitioning of kinetic energy, soil-specific properties, and rainfall inclination into predictive erosion models to capture the complex interplay of forces driving soil detachment.

Keywords: Soil erosion modeling, Wind-driven rain (WDR), Rainfall incidence angle, Soil detachment rates

How to cite: Kaplan, S., Erpul, G., Gabriels, D., and Cornelis, W.: The Dynamic Interplay of Compressive and Shear Forces in Soil Detachment Under Wind-Driven Rain: Insights from Texturally Diverse Soils, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-8097, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-8097, 2025.

Caribbean islands face significant soil erosion and landslide challenges driven by extreme events such as tropical storms and hurricanes. These processes have substantial impacts on agriculture, ecosystems, infrastructure, and local communities. Despite the availability of Earth Observation (EO) and geospatial datasets, their potential for land degradation monitoring and management remains underutilized due to the lack of accessible methodologies and technical barriers to implementation.
To address this gap, we developed a multi-scale geospatial framework integrating open-access satellite data and national LiDAR datasets for monitoring surface processes and soil erosion in Saint Lucia and Dominica. The methodology aims to build capacity among local officers, equipping them to identify erosion hotspots and implement mitigation measures effectively, with potential for replication in similar contexts. At the island scale, global Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) were employed to compute hydrological and geomorphological indicators, delineating areas at risk of erosion and sediment transport. At the local scale, high-resolution LiDAR data facilitated detailed analyses, including: (1) identifying erosion-prone areas and sediment transport pathways; (2) assessing road infrastructure to detect drainage inefficiencies and processes contributing to slope destabilization; (3) analyzing runoff dynamics from upslope regions to coastal zones.
Our framework does not aim to improve model accuracy for purely research purposes. Instead, it adopts a simplified, yet science-based modeling approach tailored to the unique challenges of small-island settings. By focusing on actionable insights, it provides local experts with practical, science-based strategies to address land degradation issues and contributes to building resilience within local communities.

How to cite: Straffelini, E., Pijl, A., and Tarolli, P.: Embracing imperfection: how an unvalidated remote-sensing based land degradation workflow helped Caribbean experts in disaster management, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-8372, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-8372, 2025.

Floods are among the most common natural disasters worldwide. Caused by heavy rainfall events, they are responsible for significant damage to populations and infrastructure. Climate change is likely to increase the frequency and intensity of these extreme precipitation events. Furthermore, floods are often associated with significant sediment transport, which tends to increase damage to infrastructure and poses a threat to agriculture and river ecosystems. As a result, numerous studies have been conducted to estimate sediment production and transport, primarily using empirical models and, more recently, physically based models. However, whether empirical or physically based, it is generally difficult to estimate the parameter values of these models. Very few sediment transport measurements are available, and these generally consist of turbidity and/or suspended sediment concentration measurements at a single point, which do not provide information on the spatial variability of the processes at work.

The main objective of this study is to investigate the possible correlations between the characteristics of a catchment, such as its topography, soil texture, morphology or land-use, and its hydro-sedimentary response during flash flood. Calibration of hydro-sedimentary models could also benefit from knowledge of these correlations.

This work is based on open access databases containing discharge and suspended sediment concentration time series collected for more than 100 European and American catchments, together with complementary data on catchment characteristics. These databases are used to calculate catchment-scale indicators such as average slope, connectivity, percentage of sand or clay, precipitation intensity, etc. In addition, we characterized the hydro-sedimentary response using several signatures extracted from the time series of discharge and suspended sediment concentration, such as peak discharges, volume of sediment transported per year and per event, etc. Then, we used Spearman-rank correlations to measure the strength of the links between catchment characteristics and its hydro-sedimentary signatures. We calculated these correlations at different temporal and spatial resolutions to investigate whether the strength of these correlations is scale-dependent.

Preliminary results show a strong control of hydraulic connectivity and precipitation intensity on eroded volumes. Relationships already reported in the literature are also observed here, such as those between the Lloyd index and fine particle content in soils. Contrasting relationships are also found depending on the size of the catchments or their topography. This multi-scale approach could provide a more detailed understanding of sediment mobilisation and deposition mechanisms, and consequently suggest relevant indicators to characterise the sensitivity and origin of soil loss.

Further research includes using random forests to rank the catchment characteristics based on their importance in controlling the hydro-sedimentary signatures.

How to cite: Aurélien, S., Hélène, R., Ludovic, C., and Mohamed, S.: What are the main regional and temporal controls of the hydro-sedimentary response of European and US catchments during floods ?, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10075, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10075, 2025.

How to cite: Saggau, P., Augustin, K., Steinhoff-Knopp, B., Tetteh, G., Matthews, F., Kaffas, K., Erasmi, S., Borrelli, P., and Kuhwald, M.: Finding the right direction: An approach to determine cropland management direction and its implications for soil erosion risk assessments on large spatial scales. , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10363, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10363, 2025.

Mankind has been actively reshaping and altering the soil system since the dawn of agriculture in the Neolithic. As our impact on the soil system has grown throughout the millennia, so has the need to understand its complex dynamics. This has led to the creation of mechanistic soil-landscape evolution models to simulate the long-term development of soils and landscapes. These models discretize the soil column in layers, which represent how the soil profile is handled in the model, rather than real geopedological horizons. As a result, the layer thickness directly impacts the resolution of the geomorphic and soil forming processes being modeled. It is still unclear how different layering options impact the outcome of the simulation and therefore which discretization would be preferable when developing or choosing a soil-landscape evolution model.

This work aims to bridge this gap by investigating how different soil layering options impact simulations of soil thickness, organic matter content, soil texture and computational efficiency.

We tested the impact of a) the number of layers and b) the thickness of these layers. The former was investigated by comparing simulations carried out with 2, 8 and 16 layers, while the latter was explored by simulating layers of uniform thickness (UT) and layers which increase in thickness with depth (IT), which provides a higher resolution closer to the surface. To ensure a general yet realistic setting, the model was applied to a silty soil profile from Canneto Pavese, in the Oltrepò Pavese region (Italy).

For this work, the mechanistic soil-landscape evolution model LORICA was chosen due to its ability to simulate both geomorphic and soil forming processes in the entire soil profile and for its ability to simulate soil layers with varying and dynamic thickness. We simulated the processes of bedrock weathering, physical and chemical weathering and carbon cycle dynamics and observed their impacts on soil properties 10, 100, 1000 and 10000 years of calculation.

We found that a greater vertical interaction between layers resulted in differences in the outputs, which occur both when a higher number of layers is adopted, and in the IT mode compared to the UT mode.

This work provides insight into the impact of layering options in soil-landscape evolution models, so that other researchers will be able to select the most apt and efficient set up for their simulations depending on their specific circumstances and needs. In the future, the action of water erosion will additionally be assessed on a landscape scale to consider spatial variations in soil development as well.

How to cite: Giarola, A., van der Meij, M., Meisina, C., Bordoni, M., and Temme, A.: The impact of soil layering in a mechanistic soil-landscape evolution model , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11244, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11244, 2025.

Soil erosion, hydrogeologic risk, and land degradation are serious issues that receive due attention in policy and scientific research. As soil scientists with years of experience in both research and (agricultural) projects, we observed erosion issues in both simulations and field measurements - yet at the same time we observed another interesting trend. The researcher sometimes seems more concerned with long-term soil loss processes than the person owning and working that very soil: the farmer.

This leads to the interesting question: is erosion an actual concern for the average farmer?

In our most recent scientific work within the https://phito.eu/ project, we conducted an elaborate questionnaire among 650+ smallholder farmers throughout Europe. Two questions in particular returned surprising insights in this farmer perspective on erosion:

• To the question what kind of map data would be useful for their farming, soil erosion was ranked as the least useful information out of 11 variables. In fact, more than ⅓ of farmers rate soil erosion risk maps as not useful at all. This was notably low compared to water- and meteorology-related variables (e.g. temperature and precipitation maps were desired by >88% of farmers).
• To another question about the importance of climate-induced risks, land degradation was ranked as the lowest concern out of 8 risks, again in contrast to concerns about water- and meteorology-related events (heatwaves and drought). Tellingly, even ecological degradation was ranked higher (biodiversity being a concern among > ½ of farmers) than land degradation (soil erosion, landslides and hydrological risk not being a concern for ~ ½ of farmers).
  
  NB: the 650+ respondents are diverse Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian, Albanian, Hungarian and EU-overseas smallholder farmers, the majority of which are working in hilly environments.

These results offer the soil science community a rich basket of food for thought, straight from the farmer. In this session, alongside a unique (3D) poster illustrating the different views on erosion, we welcome an open discussion to exchange ideas about possible explanations, its implications for our discipline, and possible solutions that are supported by farmers.

How to cite: Pijl, A., Straffelini, E., Pezzutti, C., Vogel, T., and Tarolli, P.: Soil erosion: who cares? An EU farmer perspective (in 3D)., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13804, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13804, 2025.

Current process-based soil erosion models face significant challenges stemming from data availability, parameter uncertainty, and the dynamic nature of evolving environmental conditions. These limitations restrict the precision and applicability of existing models in capturing the complexities of soil erosion processes. To address some of these challenges, this study introduces an innovative approach that leverages nested, continuous, high-resolution spatio-temporal data obtained through Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry. The technique enables detailed monitoring of soil surface changes caused by precipitation events across multiple spatial scales, ranging from plot-scale observations to slope-scale and micro-catchment-scale analyses.

The study's methodology incorporates an extensive and unprecedented dataset, blending time-lapse photogrammetry, comprehensive field measurements, and data collected via uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) over an extensive period of 3.5 years. This robust dataset allows for a detailed monitoring of soil erosion dynamics, including flow velocity, soil consolidation and compaction process measurements. Moreover, it provides a critical foundation for the calibration and evaluation of soil erosion models, demonstrated by its application in refining the RillGROW model.

To further advance the field, the study offers an open-access dataset to the scientific community, intended for model parameterisation, calibration, and testing. Researchers are invited to build on this work by employing similar methods to collect complementary soil erosion data, thereby contributing to an expanded, high-resolution dataset. This collective effort aims to foster the development of more accurate and reliable soil erosion models, ultimately improving our ability to predict and mitigate soil degradation in diverse environmental contexts.

How to cite: Eltner, A., Epple, L., Grothum, O., and Bienert, A.: High-Resolution Insights from Photogrammetry: Tracking Soil Surface Changes Across Scales with Time-Lapse Data over 3.5 Years for Enhanced Soil Erosion Modelling, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15752, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15752, 2025.

Rainfall-induced soil erosion is recognized as a significant threat to both human and ecosystem health, leading to habitat degradation, food insecurity, disruptions to socio-economic activities, and damage to infrastructure. Addressing and mitigating soil erosion has become a priority in global and national strategies, therefore requiring multitemporal large-scale assessments to understand how precipitation patterns, soil properties, and surface conditions interact and contribute to erosion in specific areas and over time. In these assessments, the land cover and management, and natural vegetation dynamics components play a critical role in reducing soil susceptibility to erosion. These components are represented by a specific parameter (C-factor) in the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and its updated versions. While numerous methods exist for determining the C-factor (e.g., in situ survey, remote sensing observation, data-driven models), these approaches are diverse and often have limitations, from neglecting phenological sub-annual dynamics to long timeliness, low update frequency, and coarse spatial resolution, among others. As a result, making their selection for specific purposes is challenging.  In this talk, we will present a comprehensive review of existing methodologies to assess C-factor by examining their development, strengths, and drawbacks. We will provide practical examples from selected case studies across Europe to show methods’ applicability, allow cross-comparison, and guide their choice. Finally, we will explore emerging methodologies leveraging Earth Observation and Artificial Intelligence and the advances in neural networks trained on ESA Sentinel-2 data within the framework of two European-funded projects (i.e., SDGs-EYES and EO4EU).

How to cite: Latella, M., Cerveira, G., D'Anca, A., Santini, M., and Balzarolo, M.: Land cover and management factor in soil erosion assessments: where do we stand and where are we going?, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15855, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15855, 2025.

Terrigenous inputs from hillslopes to hydrosystems can alter the quality of Fort-de-France Bay’s waters and sediments and so the balance of ecosystems (notably the degradation of coral reefs). Depending on the intensity of rainfall episodes, terrigenous inputs increase the turbidity the bay’s water and potentially result in the arrival of pollutants (including pesticides) in coastal waters leading to the ban of certain coastal economic activities. Another major impact is land degradation in upstream watersheds, leading to the impoverishment of agricultural soils.  Furthermore, there has been much less research in soil erosion and sediment transfer in these tropical volcanic island settings compare to other environments.

In order to analyze the rate and the spatio-temporal dynamics of water and suspended particles fluxes, the objective of this study is to model runoff and erosion on the two main watersheds (100 and 65 km²) draining into the Fort-de-France Bay, including a variety of soil type, land use and morphology. The modelling approach was used to perform an in-depth analysis of runoff and erosion processes. Various hypotheses were tested at different scales, particularly on the genesis of runoff (hortonian or soil saturation), soil depth, soil percolation. etc. Our results suggest the importance of saturation processes in controlling flood event occurrence. Compared with more traditional soil erosion modelling studies, this study on large watersheds have also enabled us to analyze upscaling effects’ aspects.

This calibrated runoff and erosion model will be used to simulate different management or remediation plan to reduce sediment exports to the bay. Management plan will deal with agricultural practices and soft hydraulic systems such as grass strips, hedges (planted with local or endemic plant species) or fascines.

How to cite: Vandromme, R., Bizeul, R., Grangeon, T., Nachbaur, A., Evrard, O., and Cerdan, O.: Runoff and soil erosion modelling at catchment scale in a tropical volcanic Island (Martinique, Lesser Antilles), EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18474, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18474, 2025.

A Lakatosian history of soil-erosion modelling as a scientific research programme

Here I employ a Lakatosian theory (Lakatos, 1978) to explain the history of soil-erosion modelling as a research programme that went through a progressive phase during the 20^th century and early 2000s, with the formulation of novel models with excess empirical content over their predecessors and the prediction of new facts that were corroborated or at least falsifiable by empirical evidence. I argue that the research programme then entered a so-called degenerative phase with an increased prediction of truisms, lack of falsifiability, and theory lagging behind the empirical evidence (Parsons, 2019).

I revisit a scientometric analysis (Batista et al., 2019) using new data that suggests that soil-erosion modelling is becoming increasingly polarised between application- and understanding-driven research clusters, with little connection between experimental work and model applications. Moreover, the scientometric analysis demonstrates a decreasing interest in process-oriented models in favour of USLE-type approaches.

I argue that questionable modelling practices, e.g. extrapolation of empirical models outside their domain and ignoring or hiding uncertainties, have entrained the research programme and are likely to persist without targeted action (Smaldino and O’Connor, 2022). I explain this scenario as being caused by both internal, i.e. related to particular developments in the research programme, and external drivers, e.g. the current incentive structures in science (Tunç and Pritchard, 2022).

References

Batista, P. V. G., Davies, J., Silva, M. L. N. and Quinton, J. N.: On the evaluation of soil erosion models: Are we doing enough?, Earth-Science Rev., 197, 102898, doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.102898, 2019.

Lakatos, I.: The methodology of scientific research programmes, Cambridge Univeristy Press., 1978.

Parsons, A. J.: How reliable are our methods for estimating soil erosion by water?, Sci. Total Environ., 676, 215–221, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.307, 2019.

Smaldino, P. E. and O’Connor, C.: Interdisciplinarity can aid the spread of better methods between scientific communities, Collect. Intell., 1, 263391372211318, doi:10.1177/26339137221131816, 2022.

Tunç, D. U. and Pritchard, D.: Collective epistemic vice in science: Lessons from the credibility crisis, [Preprint], 2022.

How to cite: Batista, P.: A Lakatosian history of soil-erosion modelling as a scientific research programme, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18554, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18554, 2025.

The EU’s proposed Soil Monitoring Law recognizes soil erosion as major threat to soil health and requests Member States to monitor different soil erosion processes. Amongst the major soil erosion processes tillage erosion has received rather limited attention. Unlike water and wind erosion, whose effects are often easily visible in the landscape, the extent and severity of erosion caused directly by soil tillage only become evident after decades of tillage through spatial variations in soil properties. Tillage redistributes large amounts of soil from convexities to concavities within fields of rolling topography thus driving a spatially heterogeneous evolution of soil nutrient and carbon stocks. Currently, the few tillage erosion models available are based on a modest number of field surveys and tillage tracer experiments, and we are lacking operational tools for monitoring tillage erosion and its impact on soil health in the long-term.

To explore the potential impact of tillage erosion on the crop land in Denmark we have done a scenario analysis comparing the output from a robust soil redistribution model with remote sensing data of topsoil carbon contents. Our study aimed to (1) map tillage-induced soil redistribution across Denmark at a 10-meter resolution and (2) assess its impact on estimating topsoil organic carbon (SOC) content on arable land. Running the WaTEM model with a LiDAR-derived DEM smoothed to different degrees and assuming a typical tillage intensity, we estimated tillage-induced annual soil redistribution rates. We then used Sentinel 2A-derived bare soil composites and other co-variates together with the soil redistribution rates as predictors for mapping SOC via machine learning.

Our modelling results showed that without smoothing the 10-m resolution DEM, 23% of the arable land in Denmark had tillage-induced soil loss rates >2.5 t ha^-1 a^-1 while 12% exceeded 5 t ha^-1 a^-1. At the highly eroding sites, measured plough layer SOC contents obtained from a national survey tended to be lowest. Soil redistribution modelled with the less smoothed DEM showed stronger correlations with the bare soil composite bands in erosional zones. While the bare soil composite was the main predictor for SOC contents, tillage erosion rate was the only other important predictor at a national scale.

In lack of a mechanistic model for mapping the effect of tillage on SOC stock evolution and other soil properties on the arable land across Denmark, our scenario analysis highlights the unsustainability of current intensive tillage practices. To comply with the Soil Monitoring Law the development of operational tools for mapping actual tillage erosion and its impact on soil health must be prioritized.

How to cite: Heckrath, G., Gutierrez, S., de Carvalho Gomes, L., and Greve, M. H.: Tillage Erosion in Denmark and Its Effects on Soil Organic Carbon Distribution, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20911, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20911, 2025.

The environment of the Czech Republic has long been significantly affected by anthropogenic influences that negatively impact the condition of landscape ecosystems. One such influence is accelerated soil erosion and excessive sediment loading of watercourses, primarily from agricultural landscapes. This process reduces soil fertility, degrades water quality, and increases the transfer of contaminants into aquatic systems.

This study analyzes sediment transport in the Elbe basin using monitoring data from the Labe (Elbe) and Vltava (Moldau) river basin authorities. The investigated area covers approximately 49,000 km² and includes 600 watercourse sampling profiles with monthly suspended solids measurements. The focus is on comparing measured and modeled sediment transport. WaTEM/SEDEM (based on USLE/RUSLE methods and sediment transport capacity assessment) was chosen as the modeling tool. The main objectives were to (i) assess long-term and episodic sediment loading, (ii) identify factors affecting the agreement between measured and modeled values, and (iii) evaluate the potential for model calibration and validation.

Calculations indicate that 1.5 million tons of erosive sediment enter the streams of the study area annually. Of this amount, 59% is captured in reservoirs, corresponding to 627,000 tons deposited each year. The analysis showed a strong correlation (R² = 0.94) between modeled and measured data for the entire dataset. However, after excluding 21 high-transport profiles (above 20,000 t/year), the coefficient of determination dropped to 0.50, revealing that outliers significantly affect the model’s match. This study provides a detailed comparison of modeled and measured sediment, including the influence of catchment characteristics and major rainfall episodes on model suitability.

The paper further discusses the limitations of the data sources used for both calibration and validation, with a strong emphasis on constraints arising from user-level mistakes—both minor and major—in data preparation and model computation. It is crucial for all users (and scientists) to acknowledge these limitations, address them openly, and strive to reduce errors in future modeling, validation, and publications.

Research has been supported by project TUDI (European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 101000224), QL24020309 (The Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic) and TAČR SS03010332 (Technology Agency of the Czech Republic).

How to cite: Bauer, M., Dostál, T., Krása, J., Jáchymová, B., Devátý, J., and Mazancová, M.: Models or users - who is guilty? A large-scale case study of sediment transport modelling - validation datasets, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-21288, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-21288, 2025.

Peatlands have been widely recognised as important carbon stores, ecological habitats and natural hydrological buffers. However, comparatively less attention has been given to the role of peatlands as long-term stores of pollutants, particularly toxic metals and metalloids (TMMs). Furthermore, the potential for their release is poorly understood. An improved understanding of TMM distribution and release in peatlands is critical, because climate warming risks increasing their mobilisation, through enhanced decomposition and changes to hydrological processes, with potentially significant implications for natural ecosystems and human health. The PIPES project (Pollutants In Peatlands: from sink to Source) aims to identify global “hot spots” of peatland pollutants and establish likely release mechanisms of currently inert TMMs. We use a unique combination of observational and controlled-experimental approaches to address two research questions: (1) What is the content and distribution of pollutants in global peatlands? and (2) Under what conditions, and through which pathways, are these pollutants most likely to be released? In this presentation, we share early findings from both components of the PIPES project. Firstly, we present our ongoing analysis of the distribution of TMMs in global peatlands, with a primarily focus on spatial patterns identified across our comprehensive network of sites in the UK and Ireland. We quantify the total content of TMMs using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) in peat cores compiled by a network of > 90 international collaborators. Secondly, we present preliminary results from controlled environmental simulations of TMM release in peat monoliths from subarctic Sweden. We explore both pore-water and atmospheric release under scenarios of drought, climate warming and a shallow burn. Our findings provide crucial new insights into the potential fate of pollutants in global peatlands and their implications for human health and natural ecosystems.

How to cite: Fewster, R., Swindles, G., Clay, G., Shuttleworth, E., Galloway, J., Gallego-Sala, A., Kelly, T., McCarter, C., Purdy, E., and Sloan, J. and the PIPES research group: Global stocks and release pathways of pollutants in peatlands, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-296, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-296, 2025.

The role of alternative terminal electron acceptors in peatland restoration.

Emily Fearns-Nicol, Catherine Hirst, Julia Knapp, Fred Worrall

Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK. 

The existence of peatlands relies on the balance of primary productivity and oxidation of organic matter. Oxidation requires a terminal electron acceptor (TEA). The most energetically favourable TEA is O₂ followed, in order of reducing energy return, by NO₃, Mn, Fe, and SO₄. Organic matter itself can become a TEA with the production of methane (CH₄). Organic matter will degrade faster the better access to the more energetically favourable TEAs. Therefore, the fate of the organic matter turnover in peatlands is related to the supply of TEAs. We hypothesize that if the supply of TEAs can be limited, then more organic matter could be preserved, and so enhance carbon sinks. Typically, water tables are raised to limit the access of TEAs into the peat porewater, however, it is not only high water tables that are required but also stagnant water tables otherwise fresh TEAs are brought into the porewater.

Bunds are used in peatlands to manipulate the water table to create environments for peat-forming species such as sphagnum mosses. However, bunds may also create areas of high and stable water table, and therefore allowing us to test our hypothesis. To test the hypothesis that stagnant water tables control organic matter storage, this study considered a peat covered hillslope where bunds had been installed. Monthly monitoring of these bunds, started in January 2024 and is being undertaken for soil water chemistry (pH, conductivity, absorbance, DOC, cations, anions), CO₂ gas fluxes and water table depth. The site enables us to consider 9 bunded plots, alongside 9 control plots, with each plot having monitoring upslope, within and downslope of the bund.

There was a significant difference in ecosystem exchange down the hillslope, but no difference within individual bunds. Ecosystem respiration showed no signifncnat difference down the hillslope or relative to the individual bunds. There was a significant difference in absorbance and DOC down the hillslope, but no difference relative to the individual bunds. Equally, there was no significant difference in iron or sulphate concentration down the hillslope or relative to the individual bunds. Water tables were not significantly changed by the presence of the bunds nor was conductivity. In this blanket bog we are seeing that high water tables and swift transport pathways persist despite the presence of multiple bunds.

How to cite: Fearns-Nicol, E., Hirst, C., Knapp, J., and Worrall, F.: The role of terminal electron acceptors in peatland restoration., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-825, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-825, 2025.

Water quality can be negatively impacted by tree felling operations and peatland restoration. This research considers how different and innovative brash (a by-product of felling trees - their tops and branches) management techniques might impact water quality following forest felling and subsequent peatland restoration.

The research design consisted of a Before-After Control-Impact experiment, wherein three different management techniques on three paired sites were compared. Two of these techniques are standard for the industry: conventional felling of trees, and the mulching of trees in-situ followed by ground smoothing. The third technique (felling multiple drifts of trees into one followed by ground smoothing) is novel and endorsed by the Scottish Government but it has not been studied previously.

Every four weeks (for 32 months) water samples and water table depths have been taken in and around treated sites. Water samples are tested for a range of water quality parameters in the laboratory. These quality indicators included: phosphate, ammonium, nitrate + nitrite, dissolved organic carbon, heavy metals, suspended solids, pH, conductivity, turbidity, etc.

Findings show that the novel technique resulted in little water quality impact (i.e., on suspended solids and nitrate + nitrite) in impacted watercourses. A spike (4.0 - 8.7 fold, mean 35.1) in ammonium occurred around one year after works were completed, and phosphate and potassium showed an elevated pulse soon after the works. Dissolved organic carbon showed strong seasonality which mirrored the control sites.

The novel technique considered here is an understudied method that is being recommended by Scottish Government agencies, and as such, science is chasing industry practice. This research aimed to sense check the impact of this technique on water quality and consider how it may impact the effectiveness of peatland restoration.

How to cite: McWilliam, A., Gaffney, P., Shah, N., and Taggart, M.: Science chasing industry: Is this novel technique as good as it seems?, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-966, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-966, 2025.

Wet fen meadows are a traditional form of land use that is nowadays mainly preserved through nature conservation measures. Recent discussions suggest that this land use may also be considered as a form of paludiculture (that is, wet peatland use with the preservation of the peat body). However, the climate effect of this land use type is largely unknown. My presentation shows a complete two-year greenhouse gas (GHG) balance of two previously unexplored, long-term rewetted fens under a nature conservation management regime resulting from biweekly chamber measurements of GHG fluxes at two north-east German sites with acute sedge and at one site with creeping bentgrass from 2014 to 2016. Including harvest and dissolved carbon export, the three sites emitted between 10.4 and 16.3 t CO₂-eq ha^-1 yr^-1, with mean annual water levels between -10 and -19 cm. Emissions consisted mainly of CO₂ uptake and release and were influenced by harvest time and frequency as well as inundation periods during vegetation growth. In addition, CH₄ emissions contributed to the net GHG balance at two sites due to inundation in late summer 2014. N₂O emissions were of minor importance at all three sites. The presentation demonstrates that, depending on proper water management, nature conservation-managed fen meadows can have a similar climate effect as other fen paludicultures, with a GHG mitigation potential of between 15 and 20 t CO₂-eq ha^- 1 yr^-1 compared to drainage-based grassland use on fens. 

How to cite: Wolf, R.: Managing wet fen meadows for nature conservation leads to a moderate warming effect, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1354, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1354, 2025.

The Flow Country in the Scottish Highlands spans 400,000 hectares of actively accumulating peat bog, providing critical habitat and serving as a vital source of rivers essential for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) recruitment. Recognized for its outstanding ecological value, it recently achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status. However, historical land-use changes, including drainage and forestry plantations, have degraded large areas, transforming them into sources of carbon emissions and compromising water quality. Restoration efforts, particularly forest-to-bog restoration, aim to reverse these impacts, yet their effects on freshwater quality and ecosystem health remain underexplored, especially concerning Atlantic salmon in upland peatland catchments. This study assesses the effects of forest-to-bog restoration on water quality (nutrients, dissolved metals, suspended sediments, dissolved organic carbon, and colour) and evaluates the implications for freshwater ecosystems, with a focus on macroinvertebrates and salmon populations. Short-term changes in water quality were observed in smaller streams draining restoration areas, particularly during the first three years, but these differences diminished over a decade. Importantly, no significant ecological impacts on macroinvertebrates or salmon populations were detected. Moreover, downstream dilution ensured that larger rivers maintained high water quality standards throughout the study. Our findings suggest that well-managed peatland restoration poses no lasting harm to freshwater ecosystems, even when short-term water quality challenges occur. However, high-water temperatures recorded during the study highlight climate change as a critical threat to cold-adapted species like salmon. This research underscores the importance of adaptive management, long-term monitoring, and large-scale restoration efforts that incorporate climate change mitigation strategies to safeguard the ecological integrity of peatland-dominated landscapes.

How to cite: Godwin, L. J., Andersen, R., Gaffney, P., Hancock, M., Youngson, A., and Geris, J.: From landscapes to freshwater invertebrates: understanding the effects of peatland restoraiton on Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) habitat in the Flow Country., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1487, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1487, 2025.

Globally, millions of hectares of peatlands have been drained for agriculture and forestry by the digging of ditches, amounting to millions of kilometres of drainage ditches. It has been known for three decades that these ditches can be landscape-scale hotspots of the potent greenhouse gas (GHG) methane (CH₄), as well as acting as sources of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Rewetted peatlands also feature remnant ditch networks that may be partially infilled or blocked, or still used for water management, and these waterbodies can continue to emit large amounts of GHGs.

Although a growing number of studies have measured and reported peatland ditch emissions, substantial knowledge gaps remain. Here, I will draw on my own research and that from the literature to give an overview of the importance that ditch emissions play in the GHG budgets of peatlands. This will include peatlands drained for forestry, grassland, and cropland, as well as rewetted peatlands. I will also highlight knowledge gaps and questions that remain to be answered about the role peatland ditches play in the carbon and GHG cycles.

How to cite: Peacock, M.: The importance of ditches in the greenhouse gas balances of managed and rewetted peatlands, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-3205, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-3205, 2025.

Pristine boreal peatlands store vast reserves of terrestrial carbon and have a net cooling impact on climate in the long term. Peatland drainage increases CO₂ and N₂O emissions and decreases CH₄ emissions, leading to a net warming impact on climate. For example, cultivated peatlands can have high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per area and are therefore attractive targets for national aims to reduce GHG emissions. Raising water table depth (WTD) level can decrease the climate-warming impact. However, as drainage changes peat properties, the WTD elevation may lead to additional leaching of e.g. redox-sensitive phosphorus (P), which often restricts primary production in freshwaters. To support environmentally sound climate actions, we aimed to study the simultaneous impacts of different WTD conditions on GHG emissions and P leaching in variably managed peatlands.

Our study sites include cultivated peatland plots with different peat thicknesses, peatland forest, abandoned peat field, and pristine peatland. The chemical potential for P retention in different soil depths was studied using chemical extractions of soil. The GHG emissions in field conditions were studied with year-round GHG emission inventories, which were conducted with chamber methods in snow-free conditions and otherwise with the snow-gradient method. Besides the effect of WTD, also the effects of vegetation and several environmental variables were considered. The simultaneous effects of different WTD conditions (saturation, slowly lowering WTD, quick fluctuations) on GHG emissions and P leaching were studied using intact soil profiles with a column experiment in controlled conditions.

Our results help to find the best water management solutions considering both GHG emissions and P leaching. This knowledge is especially important in countries with large areas of drained peatlands and attempts to lower both GHG emissions and nutrient leaching. Sometimes land use changes may be unavoidable, and our studies with different land use options also support decision-making in these situations.

How to cite: Höyhtyä, I., Liimatainen, M., Tolvanen, A., Ronkanen, A.-K., Pham, T., Niiranen, M., Kujala, K., Läpikivi, M., Hyvärinen, M., Kløve, B., and Marttila, H.: The impacts of water table dynamics on greenhouse gas emissions and phosphorus leaching in managed boreal peatlands, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4016, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4016, 2025.

Northern peatlands store ~500 Pg C and are important ecosystems for global climate regulation. Wildfire is the largest natural disturbance to peatlands within the Boreal Plains of western Canada. Historically, low-severity fires in this region release less carbon than accumulates over a fire return interval (~120 years), allowing peatlands to maintain their carbon sink function. While peat combustion (measured as the depth of burn; DOB) is typically low, ranging from 5-10 cm (representing carbon emissions of ~1 kg C m^-2), during prolonged drought, or in drained peatlands, peat burn severity can reach depths >1 m (~100 kg C m^-2), threatening the carbon sink function of boreal peatlands. We aimed to assess how peatland drainage altered the spatiotemporal variability in forest cover, aboveground biomass, and tree productivity and how these changes related to the spatial variability in peat burn severity from a fire 24 years post-drainage. Using remote sensing techniques, forest cover and biomass were estimated through time and with distance from the nearest ditch. Field surveys and a LiDAR-based analysis were conducted to measure the spatial variability in peat burn severity. Peatland drainage increased forest cover and aboveground biomass. Drained peatland margins had the greatest peat burn severity with a mean depth of burn of 26.9 ± 12.6 cm (34.0 ± 10.1 kg C m^-2) and some locations experienced DOB >90 cm (>87 kg C m^-2), where peat burn severity increased with proximity to drainage ditches and greater aboveground biomass. Peatland drainage increases both aboveground and peat fuel loads through the triggering of positive peatland drying feedbacks which increase peatland vulnerability to deep smouldering, with peatland margins experiencing the greatest peat burn severity. Drained peatlands represent a severe fire risk that can be challenging for communities and fire management agencies. Peatland restoration should be integrated into fuel management strategies to reduce the fire risk that drained peatlands pose.

How to cite: Verkaik, G., Eckert, M., Wilkinson, S., Moore, P., and Waddington, M.: Fuel loads and peat smouldering carbon loss increase following peatland drainage, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4542, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4542, 2025.

The UK’s lowland peatlands occupy ~465,000 ha and are distributed across much of the country. The large majority (90%) of this lowland peat has been drained for agriculture, creating productive, fertile soils, but also exposing previously waterlogged organic matter to decomposition. Peatland drainage can alter aquatic biogeochemistry by increasing dissolved organic carbon fluxes to surface waters and promoting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from drainage ditches. Peatland rewetting has been demonstrated as an efficient mitigation technique for peatland GHG emissions. It is critical to understand how peatland drainage and subsequent rewetting may influence GHG emissions, as drainage may have allowed long-term accumulation of substances of agricultural or industrial origins, such as macronutrients (e.g. carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous) and heavy metals, which are released upon rewetting. Here, we present the results of an on-going, national-scale field study (part of the LowlandPeat3 project, https://lowlandpeat.ceh.ac.uk/lowlandpeat3) examining the spatio-temporal dynamics of GHG emissions in ditches draining arable lands (including conventional and regenerative agriculture) at paired “business as usual” and rewetted sites, during the baseline period prior to rewetting. We have measured carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide concentrations (and modelled fluxes) approximately monthly from sites across England. The results of this research will help us understand the risks and benefits of peatland rewetting on water quality, drinking water, aquatic ecology, and climate, to help inform lowland peat management and policy.  

How to cite: Silverthorn, T., Andrews, L., Baker, F., Baugh, L., Bell, C., Chiverrell, R., Cumming, A., Evans, C. D., Evers, S., Flint, L., Holman, I., Jovani, J., McKenzie, R., Monsen-Elvik, E., Southon, F., Thenga, H., and Peacock, M.: Land management effects on ditch greenhouse gas dynamics in UK lowland peatlands , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-8601, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-8601, 2025.

Large areas of peatlands have been drained for agricultural and forestry purposes due to human activities. This drainage disrupts the natural hydrology of peatlands, leading to increased peat decomposition and turning these ecosystems into significant sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Since the 1930s, extensive peatland areas in northern Norway have been drained and converted to agricultural land. To mitigate GHG emissions while maintaining biomass production, various management practices, including rewetting, are being promoted for these peatlands. Nevertheless, the impact of these mitigation measures on the peatland GHG balance remains largely unexplored.

We investigated grass productivity and the GHG balance in response to peatland cultivation under varying fertilization and hydrological treatments at a site in northern Norway. GHG fluxes (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O) were measured using 30 automatic chambers at sub-daily intervals during the growing seasons of 2022-2024.

High water levels inhibited CO₂ emissions by suppressing ecosystem respiration, converting the ecosystem from a substantial CO₂ source to a sink or neutral state. Conversely, high water levels enhanced CH₄ emissions, while low water level plots remained CH₄ neutral. Sporadic N₂O emissions were observed to be higher under the more intensive fertilization regimen. Our results further highlight the critical role of harvest in determining the overall GHG and carbon balance in the ecosystem. This study has significant implications for guiding sustainable peatland management in Arctic regions.

How to cite: Zhao, J., Mastepanov, M., Klutsch, C., Silvennoinen, H., Kniha, D., Wara, S., and Kjær, R.: Can peatlands be used sustainably for agriculture in the Arctic Norway?, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9025, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9025, 2025.

How to cite: Tenhovirta, S., Schindler, T., Mander, Ü., Espenberg, M., Truupõld, J., Kamil-Sardar, M., and Soosaar, K.: CO2, CH4 and N2O balances of restored forestry-drained and natural peatlands in Estonia , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9657, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9657, 2025.

Rates of peat extraction have rapidly declined in Finland, leaving thousands of hectares of formerly cutaway peatlands in need of management. Unlike in some other regions, in Finland there is no obligation to restore former peat extraction sites to wetlands. Afforestation is the most popular after use option of cutaway peatlands by landholders in Finland, however it is unclear how the ecosystem will respond to afforestation and whether the system can become a carbon sink quickly. In this study, we present a 3-year record of eddy covariance measurements from an afforested cutaway peatland site in Finland. We examined the carbon dioxide (CO₂)exchange dynamics of the site as it was afforested and calculated annual totals to determine whether it is a carbon source or sink.

The study site, Naarasneva, is in Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland. Peat extraction ceased in 2020 and there is an average of 1 m depth of peat remaining. The eddy covariance system was installed in August 2021. Wood ash fertilisation was applied in January 2022, followed by the planting of 2-year old Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine) saplings in June 2022. Sentinel-2 derived leaf area index (LAI) observations were used to investigate the revegetation of the site during afforestation.

The timeseries of NEE shows the exchange (uptake and emission) of CO₂ increasing over time. There was a clear effect of fertilisation, with a steady increase in the amount of CO₂ uptake in the months following fertilisation. After fertilisation, the most dominant vegetation species growing were Calamagrostis spp. (reedgrass), Epilobium spp. (willow herb) and Betula pubescens (downy birch). The increase in CO₂ uptake corresponded well with the LAI observations, which also showed a year on year increase. Annual totals of NEE show the site was a net source of 5.30 ± 0.46 t CO₂ ha^-1 yr^-1 (mean ± 95% CI) in 2022, followed by two years where it was a net sink of -1.36 ± 0.42 t CO₂ ha^-1yr^-1 in 2023 and -0.75 ± 0.56 t CO₂ ha^-1 yr^-1 in 2024.

Our results show that afforestation of a cutaway peatland can quickly turn the site into a carbon sink. While it is positive that the carbon sink functionality of former peat extraction sites may be restored quickly, the long-term climate impact of afforestation is unclear due to the continued drainage of the peat and the uncertain fate of the carbon stored in wood.

How to cite: Buzacott, A., Laasasenaho, K., Lauhanen, R., Minkkinen, K., Ojanen, P., and Lohila, A.: Afforestation turns cutaway peatland into a carbon sink, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9706, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9706, 2025.

Coastal peatlands are vulnerable to environmental changes, including salinity fluctuations caused by storm surge-induced seawater intrusion. This study investigates ammonium (NH₄⁺) release patterns during simulated sea flooding event in two locations of a coastal peatland in Northeast Germany (Hütelmoor): a near-natural location and a historically drained and rewetted location. Undisturbed soil samples (N=18) were collected from two depths (0–10 cm and 30–40 cm) at each location. A leaching experiment was conducted using three salinity treatments (N=3): groundwater (control, <1 ppt), Baltic Sea water (10 ppt), and mean seawater salinity (35ppt). Soil hydro-physical properties were determined following leaching experiment.

Results showed that NH₄⁺ release varied with salinity, soil depth, and land management. In the topsoil (0–10 cm), both locations exhibited high NH₄⁺ release at <1 ppt initially; however, higher salinity treatments (10 ppt and 35 ppt) continued to release elevated NH₄⁺ over time. In the subsoil (30–40 cm), rewetted samples under 10 ppt salinity released the most NH₄⁺, highlighting them as hotspots for nutrient mobilization during Baltic Sea flooding events.

Soil hydro-physical properties varied significantly across locations and depths, with a notable negative correlation between NH₄⁺ release and both saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and macroporosity. This correlation was primarily driven by subsoil samples. While differences in hydro-physical properties were evident between near-natural and rewetted topsoils, they did not significantly influence NH₄⁺ release, suggesting that other factors, like soil organic matter (SOM), may play a more critical role in topsoil NH₄⁺ dynamics. In the subsoil, near-natural peat, characterized by higher Ks and macroporosity, retained less NH₄⁺ and released smaller amounts. Conversely, the rewetted subsoil, with lower Ks and macroporosity, accumulated and released more NH₄⁺, identifying it as a hotspot for nutrient mobilization.

Overall, by examining how local variations in soil hydro-physical properties across different locations within a single site influence NH₄⁺ release, this research identifies key hotspots for nutrient mobilization in a rewetted peatland. The findings highlight the necessity of accounting for both spatial and vertical soil property variations in coastal peatland restoration and management, especially regarding the prediction of environmental risks associated with nutrient release. Future research should examine how biogeochemical processes and microbial activity interact with soil hydro-physical properties to influence nutrient dynamics, especially under changing climate scenarios.

*Note: The first and second authors contributed equally to this work and share first co-authorship.

How to cite: Wang, M., Liesirova, T., Liu, H., Voss, M., and Lennartz, B.: The influence of local variations in soil hydro-physical properties on ammonium release during flooding events in a coastal peatland, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9974, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9974, 2025.

Paludiculture is the productive use of wet or rewetted peatlands. Typha spp. is a promising paludiculture crop with usage options, including as building or insulation material. As part of the Paludi-PROGRESS project (Putting paludiculture into practice – optimization of cattail and reed cultures, project period 2022-2025) a mesocosm experiment was conducted to assess the above- and belowground biomass production and decomposition of Typha latifolia and Typha angustifolia to different water level treatments.

Using non-destructive sampling methods, we examined the annual biomass production of T. latifolia and T. angustifolia from April 2023 to April 2024 in response to either a water level gradient of -20 to +6 cm or to a drought gradient of 2 to 11 weeks. Phenospex PlantEye was used to assess the aboveground biomass production with a multi-spectral scanner. Belowground biomass production was examined with minirhizotrons and decomposition was assessed using litter bags.

At higher water levels, T. angustifolia showed higher aboveground biomass production whereas T. latifolia had higher aboveground biomass production at lower water levels. The latter also expressed higher belowground biomass production at lower water levels, whereas T. angustifolia’s belowground biomass response shifted during the vegetation period, benefitting from higher water levels until June 2023, afterwards showing higher belowground biomass production at lower water levels. Whereas both species benefit from short drought periods (2-4 weeks) with increasing belowground biomass production, longer drought periods negatively affected both species above- as well as belowground biomass production. T. angustifolia seemed to be more resilient against drought than T. latifolia. Information about the optimal water level and drought resistance of potential paludiculture crops are important information for a successful cultivation of Typha spp.

How to cite: Brendel, M., Joshi, S., and Kreyling, J.: Impact of water levels on Typha spp. in a mesocosm experiment, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10318, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10318, 2025.

Sphagnum moss plays an important role in regulating toxic metal and metalloid mobility by influencing peatland pH, dissolved organic matter composition, and ecohydrology. However, historical toxic metal and metalloid pollution has led to the absence of Sphagnum moss peatlands in many landscapes globally. Other often co-occurring pollutants, like sulphate, alter peatland biogeochemistry, leading to enhanced peat decomposition and altering peatland pH, dissolved organic matter composition, and ecohydrology. Furthermore, in these polluted landscapes, toxic metals and metalloids are preferentially stored in organic soils relative to mineral soil ecosystems and peatlands are thought of as landscape sinks for these pollutants. As Sphagnum moss returns to these polluted peatlands, whether naturally or from peatland restoration activities, it is unknown whether these landscape stores of toxic metals and metalloids is at risk of mobilizing to sensitive downstream ecosystems.

During historical smelting operations in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada an estimated 12,000 t of copper and nickel were released to the atmosphere, most of which was deposited within 100 km of the smelters where peat concentrations can exceed 1000 mg kg^-1. Here, we used a spatial gradient of peatlands at varying levels of impact (high, moderate, low, none) in the region surrounding Sudbury as a model for recovery over time to understand the potential mobilization of toxic metals and metalloids due to the return of Sphagnum moss. In peatlands with no Sphagnum recolonization, both copper and nickel (along with other toxic metals and metalloids like methylmercury and arsenic) pore water concentrations were elevated (> 10 µg L^-1) relative to peatlands with higher Sphagnum moss cover and lower initial impacts. These conditions coincided with higher dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentrations and humification levels but divergent relationships between DOM humification and copper/nickel concentrations were observed. There was no clear trend in apparent partitioning coefficient with Sphagnum recovery, while pH was the highest in the most impacted peatlands (no Sphagnum recovery, pH ~4 - 5). In the surficial peat (i.e., the surface of moss recolonization, 0-10 cm), a decrease in pH was not correlated (p > 0.1) with either water extractable copper or nickel and the apparent partitioning coefficients of either metal. While, in deeper, lower hydraulic conductivity peat, (10-20 cm) only the copper apparent partitioning coefficient significantly (p < 0.0001) declined with decreasing pH, suggesting increased geochemical mobility but decreased ecohydrological mobility.

The combined results suggest that the return of Sphagnum moss does not necessarily increase the risk of historical toxic metal release due to the numerous hydrobiogeochemical feedbacks that operate in peat and peatlands. As such, promptly returning Sphagnum moss to these polluted peatlands is critical to mitigating the potential for catastrophic metal release due to wildfires and droughts.

How to cite: McCarter, C., Pawson, K., Mclean, C., and Emilson, E.: Does returning Sphagnum moss to toxic metal polluted peatlands increase aqueous metal mobility?, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10338, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10338, 2025.

To meet climate targets, drained peatlands will need to be rewetted, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural landscapes. However, possibilities for continued productive use of these landscapes are also necessary. A novel concept that has emerged in recent years is peatland photovoltaics (PV) in combination with peatland rewetting. Until now, there is almost no practical experience with peatland PV on rewetted peat soils; our project explores the biodiversity of a ‘wet’ peatland PV site.

For a comprehensive understanding of the biological implications of rewetting and solar power generation, a multi-taxon study is being conducted on vegetation, spiders, carabid beetles, birds, amphibians and bats. Paired with traditional field survey techniques, methods from the rapidly evolving field of bioacoustics including passive acoustic monitoring and machine learning are being used to gather data from the entire growing season. This presentation will provide initial results on plant and bird biodiversity at a 30-hectare rewetted peatland PV site in Northern Germany. A space-for-time approach was used to assess biodiversity in a drained, intensively used peatland site compared to the rewetted solar park. Initial results indicate that while species diversity is not significantly different, the plant community is. The plant community within the rewetted solar park has more species adapted to wet conditions, while the species within the drained peatland site are largely typical agricultural species.

Given the need to rewet peatlands and the rapid growth of the solar power industry, it is necessary to understand the biological implications of such a land use, as well as any possibilities for synergies between climate protection and renewable energy production. 

How to cite: Martens, H. R., Kreying, J., and Tanneberger, F.: Biodiversity Potential in Solar Parks on Rewetted Peatlands, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10373, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10373, 2025.

The Paludi-PROGRESS project (Paludiculture in practice: Optimisation of cattail and reed cultures, project period 2022-2025) aims to test and further develop the cultivation of cattail (Typha spp.) as a new permanent crop on wet peatlands. One of the main tasks is to evaluate the productivity and biomass quality of cattail on a 10 ha rewetted peatland, established in September 2019.

In the time period of 2021 until 2024 biomass samples were collected twice a year, in summer (July) and winter (November/December). Prior to the first sampling in 2021, four different density categories were identified based on the visual impression of the cattail vegetation (dense to rare cattail plant occurrence). Sampling plots were randomly distributed within these sub-areas of the pilot site (10 per density category). Since a partial harvest took place on a small area in December 2021 and 2023, the influence of cutting on the biomass could also be observed in the following years. Furthermore, the site was fully harvested at the beginning of 2023. To monitor the cattail vegetation, several parameters were recorded for each plot: e.g. number of cattail plants and spadices, plant height and diameter, dry weight, water content and chemical composition (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose).

From winter 2021 to winter 2024, cattail biomass productivity has more than tripled from 1.8 to 6.8 t dm/ha when considering the total pilot site. In the areas with dense cattail vegetation, the biomass increased from 4.1 to 8.2 t dm/ha. Different stand densities showed an influence on morphological parameters, but had a minor effect on the chemical composition of the biomass. The harvest trial in 2021 did not have a significant impact on the parameters considered. In winter 2023, the biomass productivity declined to 3.6 (total site) and 4.9 t dm/ha (dense areas). Next to other environmental factors, harvesting the total site could have shown a negative effect on the regrowth of cattail in 2023.

The collected data show unique results about the development of cattails on a large-scale pilot site and therefore provide important information for future use of cattail from commercial-scale cultivation. Additionally, it is important to evaluate whether the given growing conditions lead to appropriate biomass quality for various utilization options.

How to cite: Köhn, N., Brendel, M., Neubert, J., Wichmann, S., and Kreyling, J.: Productivity and biomass quality of cattail (Typha spp.) on a 10 ha paludiculture pilot site in northeast Germany, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10490, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10490, 2025.

Drained peatlands under intensive agricultural land use are hotspots of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While management intensity and soil water status have been identified as major controlling factors, only few studies focussed on temporal dynamics and the contribution of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) to full annual GHG balances, mainly due to the lack of continuous observations in high temporal resolution. We present four years of parallel eddy-covariance (EC) and chamber GHG measurements at an intensively managed grassland site on bog peat soil. The site (DE-Okd) is part of the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) and represents common agricultural practice in Northwest Germany.

Average N₂O fluxes measured by EC were consistently higher than those obtained by chambers. Following a grassland renewal, vegetation development in chamber frames was found to be more favourable than the average growth on the entire field that is seen by the EC tower. Poor grass development was identified by vegetation indices from remote sensing data and probably led to nitrogen surplus in the soil as observed by high ammonium and nitrate concentrations in drainage ditches. These conditions likely favoured both high N₂O emissions and simultaneously high rates of nitrogen leaching. While N₂O emissions made up considerable fractions of full annual GHG balances (~5 to 31%), the contribution of CH₄ was negligible with hardly any significant fluxes detected by chambers and both seasonally varying emissions and uptake measured by EC cancelling out to non-significant shares to the overall budget.

N₂O and CH₄ emissions were strongly influenced by biometeorological factors and land management. Highest N₂O peaks were observed two days after fertilizer application coinciding with about one week after grass cutting and highlighting a well-chosen chamber sampling scheme after management events. Further, N₂O emissions were elevated during daytime under medium soil moisture and high soil temperature regimes, while CH₄ emissions were strongly correlated with soil moisture dropping to nearly zero exchange under dry conditions.

Based on chamber measurements, the overall GHG balance of the site including harvest and carbon input through organic fertilization was in the range of 20 to 25 t CO₂-equivalents ha^-1 yr^-1 in the period from 2020 to 2023 with generally higher emissions in dryer years. Replacing chamber N₂O and CH₄ by EC data for the full budget, individual annual values increased between 0.8 and 10.1 t CO₂-equivalents ha^-1 yr^-1.

We conclude that the combination of EC and chamber measurements helped identifying temporal dynamics of GHG exchange for a better understanding of ecosystem functioning and quantifying method-based uncertainties. Conventionally managed grassland on drained peat soils with high fertilizer input and 4 to 5 grass cuts per year proved to be a significant net GHG emission source. Accounting for footprint heterogeneity – for example through adequate positioning of chamber frames – is of utmost importance for robust determination of total GHG balances at site-level scale.

How to cite: Lang, T. T. M., Tiemeyer, B., Wintjen, P., Düvel, D., Rüffer, J. J., Offermanns, L., Dettmann, U., and Brümmer, C.: Seasonal conditions and flux footprints control the contribution of N2O and CH4 to the full GHG balance at grassland on peat soil, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10958, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10958, 2025.

This study examined the impact of different water management (WM) strategies and farming practices on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from organic soils at two sites in Southern Germany—the Altbayerisches Donaumoos and the Freisinger Moos. The aim was to assess whether specific WM and land-use measures could stabilize water tables and reduce CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O emissions, while maintaining agricultural productivity.

In our test site in the Altbayerisches Donaumoos (arable land growing grain maize under conventional and organic management), four field treatments were established: two with controlled WM via subsurface irrigation and two reference sites without active WM. Results from 2022 showed reduced total GHG emissions—mainly driven by lower CO₂ and N₂O fluxes—on the WM plots compared to references, especially under organic management. CH₄ fluxes were negligible, indicating a minor effect on the overall budget.

In the test site Freisinger Moos (grassland with three cuts per year), four treatments (two with subsurface irrigation at 30 and 50 cm depth, one with a simple raised water table through a weir, and one “pipe-less” subsurface system) were monitored during 2022 and 2023. Despite generally higher water tables in the irrigated plots, both CO₂ and N₂O emissions remained substantial. The 50 cm subsurface irrigation consistently showed the highest GHG fluxes, partly due to more intensive management and greater biomass exports. Notably, all treatments displayed increased emissions in 2023 compared to 2022—a rise attributed to possible changes in water availability, climatic factors, and residual effects of organic fertilization.

These findings highlight the complexity of balancing water management, agriculture, and climate protection in peatland regions. While raising the water table can reduce peat decomposition, achieving significant mitigation requires careful consideration of fertilizer inputs, crop type, and long-term soil conditions. While water management did have an effect on reducing CO₂ emissions, this is not yet sufficient to be seen as a climate friendly practice. Future research should address long-term impacts and refine water-level targets to further optimize land use on organic soils and mitigate associated greenhouse gas emissions.

How to cite: Lenz, D., Schlaipfer, M., Meyer, H., Gutermuth, S., Jörg, L., Ludwig, R., and Drösler, M.: Influence of water management on GHG-balances along a land use intensity gradient in fen peatlands , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11079, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11079, 2025.

Drained agricultural peatlands are a large source of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) due to peat oxidation. Paludiculture, where flood-tolerant grasses are grown on rewetted peatlands, might be a potential strategy for climate change mitigation by reducing GHG emissions while maintaining biomass production. This study assessed the impact of different harvest and fertilization treatments of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea, cv. Lipaula; RCG) on GHG exchange dynamics and global warming potential (GWP) in two measurement periods (5 May 2020 to 4 May 2021, and 18 May 2021 to 17 May 2022) at a fen with shallow water tables depths (annual mean WTD of -10 cm and -8 cm, respectively) and ca. 2 m deep peat. RCG was established in 2018 and in the following years management strategies with 2 or 5 cuts per year were compared with a non-harvested scenario (0-cut). Treatments involving 2 and 5 annual cuts were fertilized with 200 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 in equal split doses for each cut while the 0-cut scenario remained unfertilized. Fluxes of CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O (only 2020-21) were measured with fortnightly intervals using the manual chamber technique and cumulative fluxes were derived by empirical models.

Yields of RCG decreased slightly over the years with 15.6, 11.5 and 8.9 t DM ha^-1 yr^-1 for the 2-cut system and 14.5, 9.4 and 8.6 for the 5-cut system in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Mean annual WTD of -13 cm in 2019 was slightly lower than the following years. In general, photosynthetic CO₂ uptake was higher in treatments with active biomass management, but carbon export in the harvested biomass offset this benefit, resulting in a near-equal net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) across all treatments ranging from 36.0 to 43.6 and 17.1 to 28.2 t CO₂ ha^-1 yr^-1 in 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively. The mean NECB of 22.5 t CO₂ ha^-1 yr^-1 in 2021-22 across treatments was significantly lower than the mean of 38.7 t CO₂ ha^-1 yr^-1 in 2020-21. This might be partly explained by the slightly increasing WTD due to lack of ditch maintenance and more precipitation, but the flux effect of increasing WTD on decreased peat oxidation may also be delayed by a few years. Emissions of CH₄ remained low during 2020-21 (1.1–1.9 t CO₂e ha^-1 yr^-1), while N₂O emissions were relatively high (4.0-5.7 t CO₂e ha^-1 yr^-1) without any treatment effects. In 2021-22, CH₄ emissions increased to 2.6-3.7 t CO₂e ha^-1 yr^-1 equivalent to 11.3 % of the total carbon emission in CO₂ equivalents. Although the peat field seemed uniform, large variation within treatments was seen across the experimental blocks which could be linked to differences in soil nutrient concentrations and water chemistry. Overall, it can be concluded that paludiculture and the non-managed restoration scenario exhibited comparable climate outcomes thereby offering flexibility in land-use options for peatland restoration. However, results also suggested that biomass harvest can reduce GHG emissions in the more productive area, while leaving the biomass unmanaged was advantageous in the less productive area of the field.

How to cite: Lærke, P. E., Pullens, J. W. M., Christiansen, J. R., Larsen, K. S., and Rodriguez, A. F.: Two years of GHG emissions from reed canary grass under different harvest management intensities in a rewetting fen peatland, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11328, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11328, 2025.

The UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) has set a target to increase the area of peatlands in good condition to 55% by 2050 through restoration and improved management. However, due to limited data, it remains uncertain how much greenhouse gas a restored peatland emits or sequesters over time, making these interventions difficult to assess.

Northern Ireland has a peat soil coverage of about 242,600 ha, representing approximately 18% of its land area. Around two-thirds consists of semi-natural peatlands, defined as areas that have experienced some human intervention (like grazing and drainage) while retaining natural peatland characteristics. The total greenhouse gas emission from peatlands in Northern Ireland were previously estimated at around 2,232 kt CO2e (Evans et al., 2017), representing 10% of Northern Ireland's total emission. However, some emissions were estimated using the IPCC’s emission factors (Wetlands Supplement, 2013), which may not represent the specific character of peatland in Northern Ireland.

To develop better estimates for Northern Ireland and reduce uncertainty, we measured CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes to create carbon and greenhouse gas budgets for four semi-natural peat bogs using the eddy covariance method between 2022 and 2024. These sites represent different degrees of human intervention, including a grazed blanket bog, two relatively natural raised bogs with some hydrological intervention, and a recently restored raised bog. Our results show that the IPCC Tier 1 emission factors tend to overestimate the emissions from peatlands in Northern Ireland. In fact, on average, these sites appear to function as net carbon and greenhouse gas  sinks, with the grazed blanket bog showing the highest uptake. Here, we present results from these sites, and a discussion on the temporal and spatial dynamics of peatland carbon fluxes.

How to cite: van den Berg, M., Riutta, T., Reeve, E., Thompson, H., Cumming, A., Jovani, J., Oakley, S., Cooper, H., Evans, C., Jordan, P., D'Acunha, B., Bodo, A., and Morrison, R.: Greenhouse gas balance for peat bogs in Northern-Ireland: moving towards Tier 2 emission factors using distributed eddy covariance measurements, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11779, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11779, 2025.

Peatland ecosystems, while covering only ~3% of the land surface area, are globally-important sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide and regionally-important sinks of pollutants such as toxic metals and metalloids. While metal concentrations in peatlands are generally low, concentrations can be far higher near current and historic industrial centres, particularly in the upper few decimetres of the peat profile. Under normal conditions these metals remain safely sequestered in the peat. However, there is concern that, in addition to direct carbon emissions, peatland wildfires could represent a major pathway for metal mobilization and transport. Moreover, peat fires are dominated by smouldering, which is a low temperature combustion that leads to high concentrations of particulate matter within the smoke, representing a major health risk for communities impacted by wildfire smoke plumes.

With projected future climate change, annual area burned and subsequent carbon emissions are expected to rise, with drastic increases associated with high climate-forcing scenarios. In addition to greater area burned, higher evaporative losses associated with warming conditions may lead to increased peat smouldering vulnerability during wildfire. However, differences in local climate, projected changes in precipitation, and peatland type may have strong regionally-dependent mitigating effects.

Using the MODIS burned area product, we first develop an empirical relationship between current average area burned and regional climate. Using the climate-driven relationship, we estimate future changes in area burned from multiple climate models (CMIP6 GCMs) and across several climate-forcing scenarios (SSP 2-4.5, 3-7.0,and 5-8.5). In addition to changes in area burned, peat smouldering carbon loss is evaluated by simulating peat moisture profiles using HYDRUS-1D within a phase-space defined by evaporative demand and water table (WT) position. Under contemporary conditions, peat smouldering loss is concordant with the depth of peat that exceeds a critical soil water tension threshold under steady state conditions using the mean WT position. The impacts of climate change on smouldering carbon loss is then estimated based on the change in position within the evaporative demand–WT phase space. Peatland WT sensitivity to temperature and precipitation are taken from the literature and used to estimate changes in WT based on GCM projections across SSPs. Combined with published data on peatland type and location, we produce some of the first ever hemisphere-wide estimates of northern peatland carbon loss from smouldering due to climate change. 

These spatially explicit results are used to highlight regions of overlap between increased burn area and severity with areas of high peat metal contamination. Taken together with estimates of particulate emissions from smouldering combustion, we provide an estimate of how climate change may increase global particulate matter emissions from northern peatlands. Moreover, uncertainty in the empirical relation and inter-model variability are used to quantify the confidence intervals for both projected area burned, peat burn severity, and thus particulate matter emissions, in order to highlight where future efforts are best focused for improving robustness of future projections.

How to cite: Moore, P., McCarter, C. P. R., Sutton, O., and Waddington, J.: Northern peatlands under fire: Projecting smouldering combustion loss in an uncertain future with implications for atmospheric metal emissions, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11827, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11827, 2025.

In this work, the annual CO₂ and N₂O balance and analysis of the drivers for fertilized grassland on peat for a dairy farm under three groundwater level control options will be presented. This experiment is conducted in the context of the Dutch NOBV project (National Research program on GHG for peatland areas) as part of the Dutch Climate Agreement which has a chapter to reduce GHG emissions from peatland areas by 1 MtCO₂-eq annually.

The groundwater level control options applied are the conventional ditch water level control system, nowadays often being replaced by drainage and ditch level control, and finally drainage and pressure control. Several fields of the Zegveld experimental farm are divided in three segments, each which a control option applied and a such allow study under comparable conditions.

Two years of GHG fluxes are reported and measured using one closed-path Aerodyne system switching inlet line each half hour using three small towers equipped with a Gill sonic anemometer at 1.75 m height in the middle of the largest elongated farm field. The eddy-covariance method was used to calculate half-hourly fluxes. The location and low measurement height maximize the representation of the field in the flux measured from all wind directions. CO₂ fluxes showed uptake during the day and respiration during nighttime. After harvesting and grazing, emission fluxes prevailed. N₂O peaks coincided well with agricultural management, e.g. grazing and fertilization, but also biometeorological factors like water temperature and ground water table influenced N₂O emissions. From October 2023 to March 2024, N₂O emissions were close to zero due to prolonged precipitation resulting in a shallow water level across all fields inhibiting production of N₂O in the subsurface layer. Due to the high contribution of the field to the footprint compared to surrounding ditches, CH₄ fluxes didn’t correlate with any in-field measured parameters driving the hypothesis that ditches appear to be the main source of CH₄.

Flux loss corrections based on an empirical approach using measured ogives. Gap-filling of the N₂O and CO₂ fluxes was done using the gradient boosted regression trees XGBoost. The gap-filling process utilized a comprehensive set of predictors to enhance the accuracy and reliability of flux measurements. A comparison with an open-path CO₂ system installed at one location showed a reasonable agreement with CO₂ fluxes of the closed-path measurement system.

How to cite: Wintjen, P., Frumau, A., van den Bulk, P., van Mansom, H., and Hensen, A.: Groundwater level control as GHG emission reduction option tested using eddy covariance for peatland in the Netherlands, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12079, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12079, 2025.

Plant-available phosphorus (P) is the quantity of labile P that can be utilised by soil biota. This P pool is a major driver of plant growth, affecting the mineralisation of soil organic matter and the risk of P leaching. A common agronomic soil test (calcium-lactate extraction, P_CAL) is regularly used to assess the status of plant-available nutrients in cultivated soils, while extraction with a bicarbonate-buffered dithionite solution (P_DT) is suggested as a proxy for redox-sensitive P that might be released upon rewetting. However, systematic P studies on peat and other organic soils are scarce. The few studies that are available mostly describe P stocks over large depth increments or focus on leaching risks only. Organic soils are characterised by a high heterogeneity of the accumulated substrates and by a complex differentiation of the soil horizons. In addition, peatland management practices vary considerably from region to region, strongly influencing the level of water and nutrient management. Therefore, assessment of P status requires a specific soil sampling approach that reflects the genuine characteristic of organic soils and consider specific differences in peatland management. This is particularly relevant for paludiculture sites, where information is needed on both the beneficial and potentially harmful aspects of labile P (i.e. plant nutrition and risk of eutrophication). However, there are no agreed sampling and analysis methods especially for wet organic soils.

Here, we analyse data on the labile P pool (P_CAL and P_DT) from about 100 sites comprising more than 500 horizons of the German Peatland Monitoring Programme, covering a wide range of organic soils and land use types. In addition, data from a fen paludiculture project are used to elucidate spatial and temporal variability. These results will allow us to derive a baseline data set of the labile P pools in different organic soils depending on land use type, land use intensity and water management. Furthermore, appropriate sampling schemes will be derived specifically for paludiculture sites. Thus, the results can be used to contextualise specific (future) paludiculture site conditions with respect to biomass production and P leaching risks.

How to cite: Heller, S., Tiemeyer, B., Dettmann, U., Köwitsch, P.-F., Heidkamp, A., Kuwert, M., Laqua, S., Piayda, A., Schemschat, B., and Frank, S.: Labile phosphorus in peat and other organic soils: baseline data and sampling protocols for paludiculture , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12506, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12506, 2025.

Peatlands store around 30% of the world's soil organic carbon and therefore play a significant part in mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Some peatlands have been converted to agricultural use through artificial drainage and farming practices,leading to the accelerated release of carbon from the land to the atmosphere. However, the combination of soil characteristics, hydraulic properties and field management operations all play an important role in determining how much GHGs are emitted from the agricultural sites. The aim of this study is to 1) evaluate the applicability of the LandscapeDNDC model to cultivated peatlands by comparing the simulation outputs with the corresponding observations in the study site, and 2) assess the effects of the water table changes on GHG emissions. The LandscapeDNDC is a process-based model that can handle carbon and nitrogen cycling. The model can incorporate various input data, such as management, meteorological and water table data, and therefore provides a well-rounded framework for studying the effect of manipulating these input data on GHG emissions.

We performed the study at Luke Ruukki Research Station on the NorPeat platform, divided into 6 separate drainage blocks with varying peat depths (20 - 80 cm). Continuous flux measurements (June 2019 onwards) were collected at the site as well as block-specific dark chamber measurements of CO2 and N2O emissions. Each of the blocks had groundwater pipes equipped with pressure sensors to continuously measure the water table level. In addition, intensive measurements of soil properties and yield were carried out on the site during the study years 2019 - 2022, allowing us to establish a realistic site profile for our simulation runs.

The simulations were first validated with two meters: the satellite measurements of leaf area index and measurements of soil moisture. The model reproduced the observed variability in all blocks for both meters (R2 > 0.5) and was sufficiently able to simulate the observed CO2 and N2O fluxes. After analysing and ensuring that the model was able to reproduce the biochemical and hydraulic dynamics observed in the study site, we studied the three different water table scenarios and their effects on the GHG fluxes. In the scenarios the water table was raised on average to 15, 30, and 50 cm below the soil surface. These water table changes altered the soil respiration and nitrogen cycling, and provided insight into how peat thickness affects emissions. In addition, the study helped to quantify the mitigation effect of the raised water table, relieving the potential that water management could have on controlling GHG emissions.

How to cite: Kajasilta, H., Niiranen, M., Läpikivi, M., Liimatainen, M., Gerin, S., Kraus, D., Kulmala, L., Liski, J., and Vira, J.: The effect of water table depth on GHG emissions in an agricultural peatland with varying peat depth, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12529, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12529, 2025.

Peatlands are globally significant ecosystems with high organic carbon storage capacity due to slow litter decomposition in water-saturated soils promoting anoxic conditions. However, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change and land-use pressures. In the Pyrenees, mountain peatlands have become relict ecosystems, reduced to small isolated areas of just over one hectare. There, hydrological conditions and vegetation cover are severely impacted by rising temperatures, reduced water availability, and intense livestock activity from large animals (i.e. horses and cows). Effective management strategies to mitigate potential large greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from these ecosystems are urgently needed.

The ALFAwetlands and Pyrepeat projects investigate the effects of grazing exclusion (i.e. enclosures installed in 2016) and hydrological variation (i.e. strong seasonality) on GHG fluxes in two Pyrenean peatlands, Rubió (42.41º N, 1.24º E) and Estanyeres (42.61º N, 1.05º E). Both peatlands are characterized by contrasting pH (5.97 ± 0.08 and 7.78 ± 0.21, respectively) and water saturation levels. Over two years, monthly measurements of carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions were conducted across three plot types outside and within grazing exclusion zones: (1) low livestock trampling and soil disturbance, with barely vegetation gaps (mosses and sedges species); (2) pugged soils with wide exposed peat areas increasing CO₂ oxidation potential, and large vegetation gaps; (3) peatland margin areas with the driest condition, rarely flooded, and continuous vegetation cover of grass-like plants. Within the enclosure, these three types of plot were identified before fences were installed and nowadays they are partially recovered.

Preliminary results highlight the vulnerability of these ecosystems to climatic changes. CO₂ emissions were highest in dry plots of both peatlands, where reduced water content accelerated organic carbon oxidation. In the drier peatland, emissions were further amplified outside exclusion zones. CH₄ emissions were higher in the wetter peatland, consistent with anaerobic conditions that promote methanogenesis, while N₂O emissions remained consistently low across both sites due to nitrogen limitation.

These findings emphasize that climate-driven drying poses a significant threat to peatlands by increasing CO₂ emissions, a risk that is exacerbated by livestock disturbances. Management actions such as grazing exclusion are critical to maintain peatlands’ carbon storage capacity and mitigate GHG emissions from these vulnerable ecosystems. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge needed to align peatland conservation and restoration with climate change adaptation.

How to cite: Poblador, S., Escarmena, L., Bautista-Medina, B., Grundeus, A., Martinez-Amigo, V., Anaya, I., Ninot, J. M., Pérez-Haase, A., and Sabater, F.: Carbon Under Threat: Insights from Grazing Exclusion and Climate Impacts in Pyrenean high mountain peatlands, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13008, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13008, 2025.

Drained peatlands are a strong source of greenhouse gas emissions. Peatland rewetting projects that aim to return sites to their near-natural state may collide with the need for land use in an agricultural or alternative way. The installation of ground-mounted photovoltaic systems might be an economically attractive use option for rewetted peatlands, beside the utilisation with paludiculture - i.e. agriculture and forestry on wet peatlands. In the project Moor-PV we investigate the impact of photovoltaic systems (solar panels) in rewetted peatlands on biodiversity, peat conservation as well as the water and climate balances. For the latter we measure fluxes of the three most important greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) under and outside the rows of bifacial solar panels to estimate annual balances at two different solar parks east and west of a railway line. Once preliminary gas flux data are analyzed, the impact of solar panels on the microclimate and their shading effect as a driver for potentially altered vegetation growth will be investigated. Our results will help to foster our understanding of the greenhouse gas exchange in this specific environment and to inform solar park operators and farmers about climate friendly use options on rewetted peatlands. 

How to cite: Gutekunst, C., Hohlbein, M., Martens, H. R., Pump, C., and Jurasinski, G.: Effect of solar panels on greenhouse gas emissions in a rewetted peatland, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13231, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13231, 2025.

The primary objectives of peatland restoration are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintain water quality. However, the effects of human activities, such as drainage and rewetting, on pore water quality remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we synthesized pore water quality data from 197 northern peatlands, encompassing natural, drained, and rewetted systems. Our analysis revealed that drainage significantly increases the concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ammonium, and phosphate in pore water compared to natural peatlands. While rewetting reduced these concentrations, they remained elevated relative to natural systems. Notably, pore water concentrations in rewetted peatlands were closely linked to water table levels, with peak concentrations observed under inundated conditions, particularly in fen peatlands. Over an approximately 30-year observation period, no consistent temporal trends in pore water quality following rewetting were identified. These findings highlight the complexity of pore water quality responses to rewetting and the importance of long-term monitoring for optimizing peatland restoration practices.

How to cite: Liu, H., Zak, D., Petersen, R. J., Rezanezhad, F., Fenner, N., and Lennartz, B.: Pore Water Quality in Northern Peatlands: Impacts of Drainage and Rewetting, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13237, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13237, 2025.

The loss of carbon from peatlands occurs through gaseous emissions and a substantial fraction from aquatic fluxes, specifically dissolved organic carbon (DOC), during mineralisation and degradation processes. Our study hypothesises that DOC production is dependent on pore size, with higher concentrations occurring in finer pores. To investigate this, pore water was extracted at specific pressure heads (-60 and -600 hPa), representing macro- and mid-size pore domains, from degraded peat samples. Soil organic matter content was measured at 34 wt% in the topsoil and 57 wt% in the subsoil. Notably, the more degraded topsoil exhibited significantly higher average DOC concentrations than the subsoil, with levels 1.5 times greater at -60 hPa and 2.4 times higher at -600 hPa. These trends indicate that degraded peat soils are prone to release greater amounts of DOC. Additionally, DOC concentrations in topsoil samples were consistently higher at -600 hPa compared to -60 hPa.
The negative correlation between soil organic matter (SOM) and DOC at -600 hPa (r = - 0.53; p < 0.0001) aligns with degradation-driven reductions in SOM and porosity. Degraded topsoil exhibited high DOC variability for SOM < 40 wt%, stabilising below 50 mg/L for SOM ≥ 40 wt%. Through a graphical illustration, we infer that the elevated DOC export is likely due to the higher surface-to-volume ratio observed in mid-sized pores (-60 to -600 hPa), further enhanced by the dual-porosity structure of the degraded topsoil. This structural variation contributes to differences in carbon turnover rates. Additionally, microbial communities and their abundance differ across pore size classes, causing pore size-dependent reactions that influence DOC export.

How to cite: Cambinda, R., Lennartz, B., Liu, H., and Rezanezhad, F.: Impact of Pore-Size-Class on Carbon Turnover in Peat Soils, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13474, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13474, 2025.

Human industry has contaminated peatlands through the atmospheric deposition of pollutants released by industrial processes over many centuries. Relative to other ecosystems, peatlands sequester a far greater proportion of toxic metals than their areal extent. This is especially true in industry-impacted landscapes, where toxic metals in surficial peat can be elevated well above natural concentrations. Despite peatlands acting as contaminant sinks that can maintain their carbon storage functionality under low metal concentrations, high rates of metal pollution can lead to the degradation of peatland processes that sustain carbon sequestration. For example, the loss of keystone peatland species, such as Sphagnum mosses, limits peat accumulation and long-term carbon accumulation. Therefore, in these degraded peatlands, peat forming processes are often suppressed even decades after the source of contamination has reduced or ceased.

Once degraded, peatlands become susceptible to additional disturbances such as fire or erosion, which can release their toxic legacy into the environment and drinking water. Predicted future warmer and drier conditions are expected to increase wildfire prevalence on the landscape and may be further compounded by land use change.  The release of previously sequestered metals arguably represents one of the largest contemporary global environmental disasters and greatest future global environmental challenge.

In this paper, we present an in-depth review of existing literature on ombrotrophic peatland metal contamination from a range of disciplines. After a detailed search and screening process, data were extracted from 97 studies. 500 individual points covering 26 countries were extracted from these studies, which were published between 1973 to 2022. For each study, the depth at which maximum heavy metal concentration (C_max) occurred was recorded, along with surface concentration and concentration at depth. Using Kernel Density Estimates, the distribution of C_max was typically within the top 0.2m of the peat surface across all studies, though with variation in the mean depth profiles between different metals. For example, C_max for Cd and Zn typically peaked at 0.1m below the surface with few studies showing C_max below 0.2m. As, Cu and Pb also had mean C_max values <0.2m depth but showed a tail of C_max values extending to at least 0.5m depth.

The review provides much needed understanding of the spatial extent of peatland contamination as an essential first step in tackling contaminant release from peatland fires. By quantifying the extent of heavy metals at depth in the peat profile, this work can link with peat fire modellers, ecohydrologists and climate scientists to better predict the impact of severe fires under future climate and land use change.

How to cite: Shuttleworth, E., Johnston, A., Clay, G., Mair, T., Waddington, M., McCarter, C., Basiliko, N., Gunn, J., Beckett, P., Byrne, K., Swindles, G., and Fewster, R.: Understanding the potential for disturbance-induced contaminant release from degraded peatlands: a global review of heavy metals in peatlands, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13582, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13582, 2025.

Most peatlands and other carbon-rich soils in Germany are drained and responsible for 7% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Peatlands used for agriculture account for 43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per year, or 80% of these emissions. Rewetting such areas would be an effective strategy to reduce their GHG emissions. This does not mean that productive land use has to be abandoned, as plants grown on rewetted peatlands can be used for many purposes, e.g. as horticultural substrates, building materials and bioplastics. However, the implementation of so-called paludiculture is still limited to small-scale projects as it poses many challenges for farmers, including complex authorisation procedures, high installation and maintenance costs, limited management expertise and the lack of established value chains for the biomass produced.

To support the transition to paludiculture, the German government is funding ten large-scale, long-term projects across different peatland regions of the country. The shared goal of these projects is to implement on a practical scale all steps from the planning of rewetting to the establishment and management of paludiculture up to the processing and marketing of the products. The projects include scientific monitoring to assess the impact of paludiculture on GHG emissions, nutrient fluxes, biodiversity and other ecological parameters as well as on economic and socio-economic conditions. In order to obtain nationwide representative results, the studies accompanying the projects need to be carried out using comparable methods and the data must be analysed comprehensively. Therefore, these projects work together in a networked called “PaludiNetz”, established and coordinated by the project “PaludiZentrale”. A key element of the PaludiNetz are the thematic working groups which consist of members that are responsible for the respective topics in their projects. In the working groups methods are tested and defined, results discussed and syntheses planned and carried out. Here, we will present the project’s approach and describe the cooperation within the PaludiNetz and with other paludiculture initiatives.

How to cite: Minke, M., Tiemeyer, B., and Tanneberger, F.: PaludiZentrale - Coordination and networking of large projects to jointly answer key questions to paludiculture and develop recommendations for action, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13716, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13716, 2025.

The cultivation of Sphagnum mosses is being developed both as a commercial product and for the restoration of peatlands, for example, in peat extraction areas that have been removed from production. Understanding the factors influencing the growth of Sphagnum mosses, and especially those that promote it, plays a key role in intensive farming. It is also crucial that grown mosses are healthy and robust when transferred to sowing areas.

We planted Sphagnum papillosum capitula in small plastic mugs on top of peat collected from old peat extraction area. On top of the peat, we spread willow and birch biochar. Straw was spread on top of the mosses to even out the moisture conditions. The irrigation water came through holes in the bottom of the mugs and there were three different types of water: from a raised bog, spring and a mixture of these. The mugs were in a growth chamber under standard conditions for three months. Subsequently, the mosses were imaged using Pulse-Amplitude-Modulation (PAM) to detect photosynthetic activity. For mosses, length, number of capitulum and fresh and dry weight were measured separately from capitula and stems. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of different biochars and irrigation water on the growth of S. papillosum.

The best growth results were achieved in mugs with added willow biochar (232 ± 30.1 g m ^-2). The growth of mosses was almost half that of mugs without added char (126 ± 27.9 g m ^-2). Birch biochar also promoted moss growth in length, weight and number of capitula. Different irrigation waters did not have a statistically significant effect on moss growth (paired t-test, t = -0.400, p = 0.697, df = 11). The PAM measurement results were interpreted using "healthy" pixels identified in the image. When comparing the number of pixels, willow char, birch char and control treatments differed significantly, and the control mugs had lower photosynthesis activity.

The experiment gave promising results on the development of Sphagnum farming and possible guidelines for what can be studied next in field experiments.

How to cite: Laatikainen, A., Lehikoinen, H., and Tahvanainen, T.: The effect of biochar in the growth of Sphagnum papillosum, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15022, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15022, 2025.

Under the umbrella of international and European Union climate policies and agreements aimed at achieving climate neutrality and thus reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from drained organic soils (including the Paris agreement, the European Green Deal and the Nature Restoration Law), it is urgently necessary to estimate GHG fluxes from former peat extraction fields to provide measurement-based recommendations for further management of these areas. In addition, there is lack of quantitative estimates of contribution of peatland plant cultivation, including berries, to total GHG emissions and climate change mitigation. Here, we compared carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes from nutrient-poor organic soils (Histosols) in former peat extraction fields currently used for cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) plantations, active peat extraction fields and pristine raised bogs. GHG flux measurements were conducted over two years using a manual chamber technique at 16 study sites (at least three sites of each land-use type) across 11 different raised bogs in the hemiboreal vegetation region of Europe (in Latvia). Across the studied land-use types, mean annual net CO₂ fluxes, calculated as the difference between the annual soil heterotrophic respiration and the annual C input into soil with plant litter, ranged from near zero (-0.07 ± 0.68 t CO₂-C ha^-1 y^-1) in the pristine raised bogs to 1.56 ± 0.19 t CO₂-C ha^-1 y^-1 in active peat extraction fields. Furthermore, net CO₂ fluxes had the largest contribution to total GHG emissions in both active peat extraction fields and berry plantations. The lowest annual CH₄ fluxes were observed in cranberry plantations (6.65 ± 1.77 kg CH₄-C ha^-1 yr^-1), while the highest were in pristine raised bogs (128.0 ± 27.5 kg CH₄-C ha^-1 yr^-1), where CH₄ fluxes accounted for the largest share of total GHG emissions. Annual N₂O fluxes did not exceed 0.65 ± 0.33 kg N₂O-N ha^-1 yr^-1 (in highbush blueberry plantations) and made a relatively low contribution to total GHG emissions compared to net CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes. Across the studied land-use types, the highest total GHG fluxes (the sum of annual net CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O fluxes considering global warming potential values for a 100-year time horizon) were observed in active peat extraction fields (6.23 t CO₂ eq. ha^-1 yr^-1), while the lowest were in cranberry plantations (1.50 t CO₂ eq. ha^-1 yr^-1).

Acknowledgments: The research was conducted within the scope of the European Commission LIFE Climate Action Programme Project “Peatland restoration for greenhouse gas emission reduction and carbon sequestration in the Baltic Sea region” (LIFE21 - CCM - LV - LIFE PeatCarbon, Project number: 101074396).

How to cite: Bārdule, A., Meļņiks, R. N., Zvaigzne, Z. A., Purviņa, D., Skranda, I., Prysiazhniuk, O., Maliarenko, O., and Lazdiņš, A.: Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide fluxes from former peat extraction fields currently used for cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) plantations, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15398, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15398, 2025.

Peat and other organic soils store large amounts of soil organic matter, which is highly vulnerable to drainage. Thus, drained organic soils contribute around 7% to the total German greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and around 44% to the emissions from agriculture and agriculturally used soils, despite covering less than 7% of agricultural area in Germany. With approx. 90% of the total emissions, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the most important GHG with regards to drained organic soils. To evaluate possible GHG mitigation measures such as classical re-wetting, paludiculture or adjusted water management compared to the still widespread status quo of drainage-based peatland agriculture, an improved data set on GHG emissions, in particular CO₂, and their drivers is needed. Furthermore, spatial data and upscaling methods need to be improved.

To meet these needs, a long-term monitoring programme for organic soils is currently (2020-2025) being set up for open land at the Thünen Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture. A consistent long-term monitoring of soil surface motions, representatively covering a broad range of organic soil and land use types is combined with the repeated measurement of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks to assess CO₂ emissions using standardized and peat-specific methods. Land use types comprise grassland, arable land, paludiculture as well as unutilized re-wetted, degraded and semi-natural peatlands. At each of the envisaged approx. 130 monitoring sites important parameters such as groundwater table, vegetation and soil properties are monitored. Together with the updated map of organic soils and a revised machine learning model for water levels, all collected data form the basis for improving regionalisation approaches for drivers – particularly water levels and SOC stocks – and CO₂ emissions from organic soils in Germany. Here, we will present the current status of site establishment with a focus on exemplary sites with water management.

How to cite: Tiemeyer, B. and the MoMoK-Team: Establishment of a German peatland monitoring programme for climate protection - Open land (MoMoK), EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15973, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15973, 2025.

The ITMS (Integriertes Treibhausgas-Monitoring System) Sources and Sinks module of the long-term project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research develops modeling techniques to simulate greenhouse gas fluxes with high spatial and temporal resolution for Germany. The integration of existing experimental data from national and Bavarian projects with new measurements from natural, drained and rewetted peat soils in the MODELPEAT project enables the modification and improvement of the process-based model LandscapeDNDC to allow also the simulation of peatland GHG exchange. At the same time, empirical modeling approaches are optimized for detailed peatland GHG characterization. Comparative analyses of both approaches will highlight their respective strengths, weaknesses and uncertainties and will help to find the optimal strategy for GHG exchange modeling at regional and national scales. This work is crucial for the identification of emission hotspots and the development of effective mitigation strategies. The poster will provide an overview of the project and preliminary modeling results for several peatland sites in Bavaria, where detailed experimental observations spanning decades are available. It will facilitate an evaluation of the model´s performance in representing undisturbed, drained, and restored peatlands. These estimates will be compared with regional estimates derived using statistical approaches.

How to cite: Braumann, F., Blagodatskiy, S., Klatt, J., Friedrich, S., Scheer, C., Kiese, R., and Drösler, M.: Modeling of greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands in Germany: merging empirical and process-based model approaches, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-16249, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-16249, 2025.

Peatlands host the largest store of terrestrial carbon on Earth and it is widely accepted that reversal of their widespread degradation is required to meet emissions targets. Thus, significant action is underway globally to encourage their rewetting and restoration. However, restoration success can be complicated by geological factors in the local environment. Peatlands in regions with iron sulphide-rich rocks and sediments experience drastic drops in pH following drainage and release high concentrations of iron and toxic metals. Accumulation of iron and sulphur in the peat during this time will fundamentally alter biogeochemical cycling, yet we have little understanding of the extent to which these effects can be reversed following the raising of water tables. Furthermore, the long-term impacts on resident microbial communities responsible for dictating the nature and scale of green-house gas emissions from such sites is unknown.

We have compared two neighbouring fens in southern England underlain by glauconite- and pyrite-rich sandstone which are within the same hydrological regime but have experienced differing degrees of historical drainage and degradation. Both fens were designated for conservation and rewetted in the 1970s. Porewater nutrient and greenhouse gas profiles, peat geochemistry, mineralogy and microbial community analyses collectively suggest lasting differences in redox state and element cycling between the two areas. Wolferton Fen, which experienced less historical land disturbance, had returned to a near-natural state in 2022. However, Dersingham Fen, which was historically deeply drained and experienced significant peat loss, had a low pH, thick crusts of iron (oxyhydr)oxides remaining on the surface, and very high porewater iron and sulphate concentrations. High abundances of these alternative terminal electron acceptors inhibit methanogens in Dersingham Fen, which continues to be a source of CO₂ despite anoxia.

These results suggest that iron and sulphur-rich peatlands can tolerate some degree of degradation, but extensive drainage and peat loss will likely lead to permanent contamination which remains following rewetting. However, there may be a lot to gain from restoration of such sites as rewetting can protect remaining peat and reduce CO₂ emissions whilst methane production would remain low.

How to cite: Bryce, C., Eberle, A., Ring-Hrubesh, F., Biswakarma, J., Dehaen, E., Pancost, R., and Gallego-Sala, A.: Long-term biogeochemical consequences of rewetting iron and sulphur-rich peatlands, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-16729, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-16729, 2025.

Understanding the carbon (C) balance of forestry-drained peatlands is crucial for addressing climate change. Natural peatlands are significant C sinks; however, soil carbon is released back into the atmosphere after the drainage of these ecosystems. Existing studies often face spatial and temporal variability, as many studies have focused on specific management practices, localized conditions, or short time frames. This narrow scope hinders the generalization of findings across diverse regions and peatland ecosystems. 

This study examines the C balance of hemiboreal drained peatland forests by analyzing C pools and fluxes across various ecosystem components, including soil, vegetation, litter and leaching. Four sites in Estonia were selected, representing two distinct forest types: a drained bog forest (DBF), dominated by Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), and three transitional fen forest (DTFF) sites, dominated by downy birch (Betula pubescens), Norway spruce (Picea abies), and Scots pine (Pinus Sylvestris), respectively.

The field measurements were conducted over two years (July 2022 to June 2024). Soil heterotrophic respiration (Rhet) during the vegetation period was measured biweekly in trenched plots using an opaque dynamic chamber connected to a portable CO₂ gas analyzer EGM-5. Gas samples of non-vegetation period Rhet and year-round soil methane (CH₄) were collected biweekly using manual static chambers and analyzed with gas chromatography. Soil physical and environmental were continuously measured and recorded at 30-minute intervals using CR1000 data loggers. Soil chemistry was evaluated once during the study period. The leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was estimated using plate lysimeters installed in the soil at a depth of 40 cm in all the studied stands. Furthermore, above- and belowground biomass and annual production were estimated through field-based measurements and empirical modelling approaches to calculate each site’s C balance.

Preliminary results indicate that Rhet was, on average, significantly higher in DTFF sites than in DBF sites, with levels approximately twice as high and reaching their highest emissions in spruce- and birch-dominated stands. The soil of the DBF site was a net CH₄ source, while the DTFF sites were net CH₄ sinks. Rhet and CH₄ fluxes were primarily influenced by water table depth and soil temperature, with the highest fluxes observed during the peak of snow-free seasons. Carbon accumulation in aboveground vegetation (trees and understory) and inputs through litter were highest in spruce- and pine-dominated DTFF sites and lowest in the DBF site. Carbon losses as DOC in water were highest in DTFF-spruce and DBF sites. Belowground biomass contributed to ecosystem productivity through C inputs from root exudates and production.

In this study, annual net ecosystem production (NEP) and soil carbon balance were estimated using the biometric method. Further investigations of soil C fluxes and their relationships with soil and environmental parameters will be investigated to identify variability across different ecosystem pools and determine the overall C sink or source strength of hemiboreal drained peatland forests.

How to cite: Kamil-Sardar, M., Ranniku, R., Truupõld, J., Ostonen, I., Rohula-Okunev, G., Uri, V., Aun, K., Mander, Ü., and Soosaar, K.: Carbon Balance in Drained Hemiboreal Peatland Forests , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-17220, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-17220, 2025.

Raised bogs in Northern Germany face severe threats from drainage and land use, with more than half having been converted to grasslands and contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Restoring these ecosystems is crucial for achieving climate goals, such as those set by the Paris Agreement. While bog restoration following peat extraction is well-studied, efforts to restore nutrient-enriched agricultural areas into low-maintenance, self-regulating bog ecosystems are still in their infancy.

As a first step in raised bog restoration projects, topsoil is removed to prepare water-retaining polders. Due to previous agricultural use that did not involve peat extraction, substantial layers of weakly decomposed peat often remain intact. Their water-holding capacity can effectively buffer water table fluctuations, favoring peat moss (Sphagnum) establishment after rewetting. Meanwhile, nutrient legacies from agricultural use and competition from grassland and herb species may prevent the rapid re-establishment of peat mosses.

We found that when restoration areas are located near peat moss refugia, rapid and spontaneous colonization of polders with Sphagna can occur within two years of restoration, while other polders remain free of Sphagnum. This variability presents both opportunities, such as allowing rapid natural and low-effort restoration, and challenges, particularly in planning additional restoration measures (e.g. active introduction of bog species) to account for less favorable initial conditions within a site. In the OptiMuM project, we aim to understand these initial conditions better and focus on developing the best approaches for restoring raised bog habitats on former drained bog grasslands. We investigated the site-specific biotic and abiotic factors that influence spontaneous Sphagnum propagation in former grasslands and aim to identify optimal conditions for moss establishment. Additionally, we examine the emerging composition of Sphagna, their ecological value for raised-bog restoration, and the long-term benefits of these emerging ecosystems.

How to cite: Kunle, M., Wieseler, K., Huth, V., Beckert, M., Jurasinski, G., Günther, A., and Jansen, F.: Harnessing spontaneous colonization processes for raised-bog restoration: Case studies from the OptiMuM project, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-17851, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-17851, 2025.

In the UK, ~420,000 hectares of agricultural land is situated upon lowland peat, representing around 2.5 % of the total agricultural land area. These sites disproportionately contribute towards greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for ~3% of the UK’s annual reported CO₂-equivalent emissions. These emissions, in addition to rapid soil erosion in some lowland peatlands, highlight the need to implement sustainable land management practices that promote soil stability, enhance carbon retention, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions whilst supporting agricultural productivity in agriculturally managed lowland peatland. Few studies have explored the trade-offs between the environmental benefits of sustainable land practices and their potential effects upon farm businesses, and few studies have explored how such practices influence the biogeochemical processes driving greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient cycling, and soil carbon stability in these systems. To address these uncertainties, we are conducting a field-scale study at a farm in Tarleton, UK, formed of two adjacent fields: one managed under a ‘business-as-usual’ regime and the other undergoing rewetting. Here, we present an overview of our study and some preliminary results. Within each field, we will test the viability of various commercially available soil amendments within experimental plots. Over two growing seasons, we will monitor greenhouse gas fluxes (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O), soil and pore-water biogeochemistry and crop yields across the treatment plots. This will allow us to compare the environmental and economic outcomes of each treatment and to identify the biogeochemical processes underlying any observed changes. Our findings will inform UK land-use policy, offering evidence-based recommendations for reducing emissions from agricultural lowland peat whilst upholding soil integrity and food security. Our findings will also enhance our understanding of how different management changes affect biogeochemical processes within peatland soils. This study forms part of the Lowland Peat 3 Project, which will assess the environmental, economic, and social trade-offs of agricultural practices on lowland peatlands across the UK.

How to cite: Andrews, L., Nolan, M., Morrison, R., Bell, C., Evans, C., Monsen-Elvik, E., Riutta, T., and Evers, S.: Balancing Emissions, Productivity and Soil Health: Rewetting and Soil Amendments in a Cultivated Lowland Peatland in NW England, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18256, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18256, 2025.

Up to 40% of U.K. grown vegetables are produced on lowland peat. This land use type is the highest emitter of carbon per unit area in the U.K., with drained agriculture on peatlands representing 3% of reported national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This land use type impacts many other ecosystems service including the loss of topsoil and compaction, increased flood risk and biodiversity. However, total agricultural production from lowland peat equates to £1.23 billion in U.K. revenue providing income to farmers and jobs in the local area. Paludiculture and wetter farming are increasingly being considered as more sustainable alternatives to conventional farming to enable the continued productive use of peatlands whilst mitigating the impacts of peatland cultivation. Whilst there are several trials considering various paludiculture crops, there is a gap in the research which focuses on food crops in the U.K. We present the preliminary findings of a three-year wetter farming experiment focused on food crops in which carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) emissions were measured from three agricultural lowland peat bog (ALPB) sites in the Northwest of England. The wetter farming experimental site in Greater Manchester was rewetted in March 2022. Celery (2022, 2023 and 2024) and lettuce (2024) crops were grown at a higher water table with annual averages of between 30.5 cm and 38.8 cm below the soil surface. The other two sites represented business as usual (BaU) drainage agriculture on ALPB with annual average water table depths between 69.1 cm and 96.2 cm below the soil surface. Both BaU sites are situated in Lancashire; one is a vegetable farm at which celery (2022, 2023 and 2024) and lettuce (2024) crops were monitored, the other farm is cereal farm where wheat fields were monitored (2022 and 2023). CO₂ and CH₄ emissions factors for the cultivation of these crops at various water table depths will be presented. In addition, we will discuss the impacts of specific farming activities (ploughing/cultivation, planting, fertilizer application and harvest) on CO₂ and CH₄ emission at all three sites. These emissions will be linked to both soil chemistry and physical attributes.

How to cite: Nolan, M., Longden, M., Hoskins, R., Andrews, L., Adams, A., Checkland, S., and Evers, S.: Food on Peat: The impact of wetter farming practices on greenhouse gas emissions from food crops on agricultural lowland peat bogs in the Northwest of England., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18465, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18465, 2025.

Peatlands are the largest terrestrial carbon stores on earth and play a significant role in the global carbon cycle. They become major sources of carbon when drained and degraded through unsustainable management like peat extraction, drainage, and conversion to agriculture and forestry. Restoration through rewetting—such as ditch blocking and bund construction—has been identified as one of the most efficient methods to accelerate biodiversity recovery while lowering carbon emissions and increasing carbon uptake. Since 2021, restoration efforts constructing contoured peat embankments (bunds) have been underway at a raised bog previously drained for horticulture extraction in Ireland. We investigated the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and methane (CH₄) emissions using an Eddy Covariance (EC) system to assess the impacts of restoration on carbon dynamics, with results over a four-year period  indicating the site is still emitting carbon after restoration efforts. However, the restored bog comprises a mosaic of land cover types including bare and vegetated peat, open water and bunds and the spatial variation in soil respiration (Rs) across the site remained unknown. To address this, a chamber-based spatial Rs measurement campaign was carried out over a 10-month period. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) surveys were also carried out to quantify land cover at the site. Initial findings revealed that the mean CO₂ efflux from bare peat and bund were 33.45 ± 2.73 (±SEM), and 60.43 ± 5.61 µmol CO₂ m² h⁻¹, respectively, 1-2 years post-restoration work. The study investigated the relationship of Rs with the explanatory factors such as soil temperature (Ts), soil moisture (Ms), and water-table height (Wt). The correlation analysis showed that in the bund areas, Ts exhibited a positive moderate influence on the Rs, while Wt significantly influence Rs in the bare peat areas. This chamber measurements approach spatially will help us to gain the deeper understanding of carbon dynamics in the restored peatland. It will allow us to capture the variations in carbon flux across the site’s various microtopographic features, which provide valuable insights for refining peatland restoration strategies and design methods to mitigate climate change mitigation effectively.

How to cite: Naughton, O., Shamsuzzaman, M., Regan, S., O'Connor, M., Casey, I., and McCarthy, U.: Understanding Carbon Emissions in a Drained Peatland Undergoing Restoration: Insights from Chamber-Based Measurements, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18864, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18864, 2025.

Microbial communities play a critical role in peatland ecosystems, and in determining whether they act as net sinks or sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. Furthermore, microbial community composition responds to changes in water table and physicochemical conditions, which are also determinants of GHG emissions from peatlands. Land management practices can significantly impact the water table and soil physicochemical conditions, influencing soil microbial community composition and activity, and site specific GHG emissions. Our study aimed to elucidate the role of paludiculture (peat conserving land use) intensity and nitrogen concentration on microbial community composition and function, and in turn, the potential role of changing microbial communities on seasonal GHG emission dynamics. We investigated GHG emissions, as well as a range of site physicochemical parameters, from 14 different EU fen peatlands, located in Germany (6), Netherlands (4) and Poland (4), on a monthly basis over the course of two years. Additionally, seasonal peat samples over two depths (living surface or 0cm, and at ~ 15cm depth below surface) were analysed for microbial community composition and function. Sample sites were separated into two different categories: Typha sp. dominated sites (7 sites, assumed to be highly nitrogen contaminated) and Carex sp. dominated (7 sites, assumed to be moderately Nitrogen contaminated) sites, with each further separated into three different paludiculture intensities: Wet wilderness (6 sites), Low intensity Paludiculture (6 sites) and High intensity paludiculture (2 sites). Initial results suggest a close relationship between microbial community composition and the sample country, as well as hydrological and nutrient status of the site, with a potentially significant relationship between microbial community composition, their main functions, and specific GHG emissions. The findings of our study would help to better understand how different paludiculture practices may impact microbial communities and influence GHG emissions from differently managed paludiculture sites.

How to cite: Boodoo, K., Emsens, W.-J., Verbruggen, E., and Glatzel, S.: The influence of paludiculture intensity on peat microbial community composition and resulting greenhouse gas emissions from fen peatlands , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18895, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18895, 2025.

How to cite: Ring-Hrubesh, F., Eberle, A., Gallego-Sala, A., Welch, B., Pancost, R., Griffiths, R., and Bryce, C.: Legacy of peatland erosion continues to shape microbial communities during recovery. , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18923, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18923, 2025.

Setting realistic targets for peatland restoration in specific areas, requires understanding of the key processes and functional relations in that specific type of peatland. Proper understanding of key processes and feed-back mechanisms, the landscape ecological setting and the limits to ecosystem restoration due to degradation, former and current land use and climate change are crucial in the process of drafting effective restoration strategies for peatlands.
For several examples of European fens and bogs, in a different state of degradation, we present landscape ecological analyses of the system, using geological and hydrological information, peat stratigraphy and former use of the peatland, as well as the actual conditions of the soil and peat layer, vegetation, microbiota and (in)vertebrate fauna. In this framework, we show how GHG exchange and recovery of the vegetation and biodiversity, including key species, is determined by key processes and conditions on different spatial and temporal scales. From this perspective, opportunities and requirements are considered for buffer zones between nature reserves and agricultural or urban environments, as well as the perspectives that paludiculture offers for recovery on a landscape scale. Given the acquired understanding of the actual and potential situation of the different peatland ecosystems, specific restoration goals are set and restoration strategies are developed accordingly.

How to cite: van Duinen, G.-J., Versluijs, R., van Staveren, D., Robroek, B., and Fritz, C.: Setting and reaching restoration targets for GHG exchange, ecosystem services and biodiversity of peatlands require a landscape ecological approach, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-19601, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-19601, 2025.

The majority of NW European peatlands are degraded due to management associated with conventional livestock farming (i.e. increased drainage, high nutrient inputs and frequent mowing). This leads to increased CO₂ emissions, eutrophication, land subsidence, and biodiversity loss. Creating regenerative ditch borders along the drainage ditches that surround agricultural fields could locally ameliorate some of these negative effects. We investigated the impacts of implementing regenerative ditch borders on carabid beetle and plant diversity, soil characteristics, litter decomposition (Tea Bag Index (TBI) and leaf and root litter bags), and CO₂ emissions in a Dutch fen agroecosystem throughout one year. On average we found lower numbers of carabid beetles in regenerative ditch borders, but a higher presence of specialist species. Species diversity remained unaffected by ditch border type. Plant diversity was higher in regenerative ditch borders. We also measured a clear shift in the dominant plant species between ditch border types, shifting from Lolium perenne in conventional borders to Phragmites australis in regenerative borders. Regenerative ditch borders were associated with higher values of soil moisture, soil organic matter content and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and lower bulk density and soil compaction in comparison to conventional borders. The decomposition rate of standardized litter (TBI) was unaffected by ditch border type, but local leaf litter collected from regenerative borders (P. australis leaves) decomposed 75% slower than leaf litter from conventional borders (L. perenne leaves). Thus, litter decomposition between ditch border management types was driven by lower litter quality of aboveground litter produced at regenerative borders, and not by changes in soil characteristics (e.g. higher moisture levels). Nevertheless, projections from a locally-calibrated soil respiration model estimates that soil moisture effects significantly reduced CO₂ emissions from regenerative borders compared to conventionally managed sites. Changes in vegetation composition and microenvironmental conditions resulting from regenerative management can therefore be expected to increase carbon storage and reduced peat respiration rates in ditch borders. This study highlights the importance of combining vegetation shifts with emission mitigation measures from peat agroecosystems and identifies possible trade-offs between biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.

How to cite: Bethe, S., Berg, M., Hefting, M., and Weedon, J.: Biodiversity, decomposition, and CO2 emissions effects after the implementation of regenerative ditch borders in a Dutch peat agroecosystem, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-19664, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-19664, 2025.

Industrial contamination has profoundly impacted peatland ecosystems, degrading their biodiversity and essential functions such as carbon sequestration. The Sudbury region in Ontario, Canada is one of the world's largest metal mining centres and historically the largest global point source of sulfur and metal pollution and serves as a critical case study for understanding and addressing these impacts. Peatlands closest to pollution sources have suffered extensive degradation, with keystone vegetation, including Sphagnum mosses, locally extinct and peat layers showing significant carbon losses. Developing innovative restoration techniques is crucial before undertaking regional-scale restoration of metal-impacted peatlands, ensuring chemical stressors are overcome effectively while minimizing sequestered metal release. In collaboration with regional stakeholders and academic institutions, our interdisciplinary team is pioneering innovative restoration techniques to reinstate peatland functionality in this toxic metal and metalloid-polluted landscape. Building on established practices, such as the moss-layer transfer technique, our modified approaches incorporate surface tilling, mulching, fertilization, and the reintroduction of donor peatland material. These interventions aim to overcome chemical stressors like persistent high concentrations of water-extractable metals (e.g., copper and nickel), which inhibit Sphagnum recovery. A restoration field trial began in fall 2023 with surface mulching, and in spring 2024 we applied restoration treatments of mulch, fertilizer, and planting. Here, we present results from the first growing season for peat chemistry, hydrology, greenhouse gas fluxes, and vegetation.

How to cite: Goud, E., McCarter, C., Whittington, P., Basiliko, N., Beckett, P., Pendea, F., and Gunn, J.: Restoring metal contaminated peatlands in Sudbury, Ontario, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20039, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20039, 2025.

This study evaluates the impact of different forest management practices on soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes in the Ränskälänkorpi boreal drained forested peatland, in Southern Finland. The study site is part of the HoliSoils project (Holistic management practices, modelling, and monitoring for European forest soils; https://holisoils.eu/). The study is designed for a comparative analysis of non-harvested control, traditional clear-cut harvesting, and harvesting by continuous cover forestry (57% of basal area removed), carried out in spring 2021. The aim is to quantify mean differences in soil CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O emissions and improve the annual budget estimates.

Measurements of soil CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O fluxes, soil temperature, moisture, water table depth, and air temperature were conducted post-harvest every two weeks during the growing season (May to November). Soil chemistry, understory vegetation, and microbial populations were also surveyed and evaluated for relations to observed spatial patterns of the GHG fluxes. Machine learning and Bayesian data assimilation techniques were employed (i) to identify relationships between GHG fluxes and environmental variables, and (ii) to model spatio-temporal dynamics.

Clear-cutting (CUT) resulted in an immediate and sustained rise in the water table, with mean levels significantly higher than the control (CTR) and selection harvesting (COV) sites. In all CUT, COV, and CTR sites differences in mean values of soil CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O fluxes were significant.

Our findings underscore the significance of spatio-temporal variability in GHG fluxes across different management practices, highlight the management role in variation of dynamic environmental controls on CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O fluxes, and reduce the knowledge gap on the effects of harvesting methods on GHG fluxes in boreal drained forested peatlands.

How to cite: Tupek, B., Lehtonen, A., Anttila, J., Li, Q., Martinez Garcia, E., Martinovic, T., Baldrian, P., and Mäkipää, R.: Effects of alternative harvesting managements on spatio-temporal variability of soil CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes in boreal drained forested peatland, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20075, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20075, 2025.

Measurable restoration targets, and indicators of success for restoration are critically required for restoration programmes to successfully measure and appraisal of interventions. 

Traditionally this has been done by a combination of hydrology monitoring, vegetation surveys and GHG emissions monitoring. These methods can be both costly in terms of time and money and are not always included as part of traditional UK-based conservation and restoration funding criteria written by the funding providers, such as landfill tax and government funding.

They also require trained practitioners or partnership working (e.g. with academia or specialist consultancies) to do effectively, especially at the scale needed to meet the target of 282 thousand Ha of peat being actively under restoration by 2050, as set by the British government as part of the Peat Action Plan (PAP) in 2021. 

One of the major challenges of assessing restoration efficacy is the lengthy period needed to reach any restoration targets and the therefore associated long-term monitoring needed to measure this. The processes at work can take decades to reach completion, resulting in costly and far-sighted monitoring programmes.  

This research aims to develop a tracer for peatland status based on elucidating the extent to which old C stored within degraded and rehabilitated peatland sites is being emitted. It will do this by delineating the relationships between the age of respired soil carbon (C) being lost from peatlands and current, historical, and restorative land management of sites. 

This research applied highly novel application of ¹⁴CO₂ and dissolved ¹⁴CO₂ (D¹⁴CO₂) Carbon dating of the soil and fluvial emissions across the time chrono-sequence of a lowland-raised bog restoration programme and combine with data on CO₂ soil emissions (NER) and primary productivity data (GPP) to aid in the characterisation of emissions for each site. This approach aims to provide an insight into the stability of the peat horizon, the role of modern and older carbon mobility plays across restoration strategies and the estimated depth at which emissions originate. Emissions were captured using molecular sieves connected from closed chambers, with flux passively sampled over a 1-month period. This was combined with fluvial D¹⁴CO₂ samplers deployed in parallel in adjacent ditches to compare the difference in ages between soil respiration and fluvial emissions.

 This simple tracer could revolutionise peatland conservation science through providing an accessible, quantitative approach to assessing the extent to which C lost is either dominated by modern C gained from recent plant grown or C respiration of older, deeper organic matter stores (representing a net loss of stored C to the atmosphere). As reinstatement of stable, long-term C storage is one of the key aims of conservation bodies, government, and landowners, assessing this directly would seem an obvious and important measure especially with funding shortfalls identified leading to a more blended funding approach to peatland restoration. 

How to cite: Longden, M., Nolan, M., Garnett, M., Page, S., and Evers, S.: 14C dating of peat surface - emitted dissolved fluvial CO2 carbon to support management and decision-making for UK Lowland peatlands, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20993, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20993, 2025.

Volcanism plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability of Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems through soil rejuvenation. When tephra is incorporated into the soil system, the secondary minerals and micronutrients generated by weathering positively affect soil structure and fertility. Northeast China is home to a vast expanse of highly fertile Mollisols, with numerous volcanoes scattered throughout the region. However, it remains unclear whether volcanic activity and the associated denudation of volcanic materials contribute to the parent material source for Mollisols and thereby alter their physical and chemical properties. This study used mineralogical and geochemical methods to confirm, for the first time, the contribution of tephra to Mollisols and evaluate the effect of tephra addition on soil properties. The TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA) identified the presence of volcanic glass, characterized by angular and vesicular shapes, in typical profiles of the northern Songnen Plain. The elemental composition of volcanic glass indicates that it originated from the nearby Wudalianchi and Keluo Volcanic Cluster. The mercury (Hg) content, phosphorus (P) retention, and Al_o+1/2Fe_o jointly indicate that the northern and eastern parts of the study area have been significantly affected by tephra materials, whereas the central and southern areas remain largely unaffected. Tephra proxies are significantly correlated with soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and cation exchange capacity (CEC), indicating the substantial effect of tephra input on key soil properties. 

How to cite: Shi, Y., Qiu, Z., Long, H., Sauer, D., Yang, F., and Zhang, G.: Identification of tephra and its pedological significance in Mollisols of Northeast China, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1729, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1729, 2025.

Ochric soils are characterized by thin, light-colored surface horizons with low organic matter and nutrient content, commonly found in arid and semi-arid regions. These soils exhibit limited water and nutrient retention and are prone to erosion, making them challenging for agricultural use without significant management. However, their clear stratification and minimal organic interference make ochric soils a valuable subject for studying soil processes and their development.

Magnetic susceptibility is an efficient, non-destructive tool that complements traditional soil analysis methods, enhancing our understanding of the processes shaping soil stratification and development, reflecting the concentration and type of magnetic minerals, such as magnetite or hematite. It serves as a reliable proxy for studying soil genesis, mineral composition, and pedogenic processes.

The vertical distribution of magnetic susceptibility in soil profiles provides valuable insights into processes like mineral weathering, sediment deposition, and soil horizon development. It also helps detect environmental changes, such as shifts in vegetation or climate, and anthropogenic impacts, including land use changes or pollution.

This study focuses on measuring magnetic susceptibility in ochric soil profiles to assess its variability at different depths. The findings contribute to advancing soil classification methodologies and improving environmental monitoring and land management.

How to cite: Fabijańczyk, P. and Zawadzki, J.: Assessing ochric soil profiles using magnetic susceptibility measurements, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2726, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2726, 2025.

Soil magnetometry, encompassing measurement techniques based on the magnetic properties of soils, particularly magnetic susceptibility, represents a rapidly evolving field within pedological research. These measurements, performed on the soil surface and within vertical soil profiles, provide valuable supplementary information to traditional geochemical and geophysical analyses. Soil magnetometry is a practical, cost-effective approach for investigating soil properties. While numerous studies have examined the shape of magnetic susceptibility profiles, significantly less attention has been given to analyzing the spatial correlation of this parameter within vertical soil profiles.

A key tool for spatial correlation analysis is the semivariance function, which can provide deeper insights into the vertical variability of magnetic susceptibility in soil profiles. Parameters derived from the semivariance function along with additional correlation measures might enhance our understanding of soil variability and its structure. However, their systematic application in soil classification remains underexplored.

This study aims to fill this gap by systematically analyzing spatial correlation measures and their parameters in magnetic susceptibility profiles for selected soil types in Northern Poland. Particular emphasis is placed on assessing the utility of these measures in soil classification.

How to cite: Zawadzki, J. and Fabijańczyk, P.: Exploring Spatial Correlation of Magnetic Susceptibility in Vertical Soil Profiles of Northern Poland, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2771, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2771, 2025.

Black soils play a vital role in the global carbon cycle due to their high carbon stocks derived from their formation under specific environmental conditions. Black paleosols in landscapes, where under the present climate other soils dominate, provide valuable information about former environments and pedogenesis.

Here, we investigated black layers preserved in the floodplain of the Aue Creek, a tributary of the Leine River in Southern Lower Saxony, Central Germany. Its catchment is mainly made up of Triassic sandstone, and Triassic and Jurassic limestone, covered by Pleistocene periglacial slope deposits and loess, in which typically Luvisols have developed. In parts of the catchment, Luvic Phaeozems on the slopes testify former climatic conditions suitable for Phaeozem formation, which then shifted to conditions suitable for Luvisol formation. We took nine drill cores from the floodplain, in which black layers occurred, and analyzed them for pedomorphological features, radiocarbon ages of bulk soil organic matter (SOM), carbonate contents, dithionite-extractable Al, Fe, Mn, and Si, grain size distribution, total elemental and mineralogical composition. The majority of the calibrated radiocarbon ages of the bulk SOM of the black horizons fell into the Atlantic period (8545-5661 cal BP), while a few ages fell into the Subboreal-Subatlantic transitional (4519-3725 cal BP) and Subatlantic period, coinciding with the Iron Age (2314-2175 cal BP). These ages exceeded those of the underlying layers, which mostly dated to around 1600-1900 cal BP. One possible explanation for this phenomenon could be the hardwater effect which should, however also have affected the overlying and underlying layers. Another explanation is that the formation of the black horizons originally took place on the adjacent slopes, where it started already during the early Holocene. This hypothesis is supported by the relict Luvic Phaeozems that occur in the catchment. Thereby, the radiocarbon ages of the black material reflect the formation time of the biomass that was subsequently turned into SOM in a dynamic equilibrium of SOM accumulation and decomposition. The later a black soil was eroded, the later this dynamic SOM equilibrium stopped. On its way towards the floodplain, the eroded black soil material was most likely halted for some time as a colluvial deposit on the foot slopes. Only around 1600-1900 cal BP, when human influence led to enhanced erosion, some of the black sediments were remobilized, transported to the floodplain and redeposited there. Such cascade-wise erosion-deposition process may explain, how black material characterized by older SOM may have got embedded in between considerably younger sediments.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the formation of such black layers embedded in alluvial sediments, which have been reported from various regions of Germany, we recommend that future studies also include novel proxies such as vegetation biomarkers, in order to get a clearer picture of the vegetation, under which the black soils developed and test the above hypothesis.

How to cite: Siddig, M., Assida, O., Schwindt, D., Birk, J., and Sauer, D.: Black layers in the floodplain of the Aue catchment, Central Germany – paleosols or black sediments?, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15687, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15687, 2025.

Agricultural terraces are labor-intensive to build and maintain but often serve as key productive areas due to their potential for irrigation and enhanced soil depth in challenging terrains worldwide. However, their cultural and historical significance as records of past events is often overlooked, despite historical terraces being potential hotspots of soil memory because of intensive human-environment interactions.

The terraced landscape of Monti Lucretili in Central Italy was selected to apply the soil memory framework to agricultural terraces. This area has long been used for pastoral and agricultural practices and is likely culturally connected to the Medieval castle of Montefalco. A multi-scalar approach is being applied, from landscape to molecular level, through a set of high-resolution techniques. Six limestone-wall bench terrace soils were described in the field (WRB, 2022), with undisturbed blocks collected for soil micromorphology and bulk samples for phytoliths, geochemistry, lipids, and sedaDNA analyses. For dating the features, bulk sediment samples were collected and subjected to optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) profiling in the field using a portable luminescence reader, and subsequent OSL dating in the laboratory.

Preliminary results suggest that five of the studied terrace walls in Monti Lucretili were constructed near karstic dissolution holes where vertic and proto-vertic soil properties are buried by the wall stones and younger terrace sediments. In contrast, the closest terrace to the castle of Montefalco lacks buried clayey horizons, with the karstic hole filled with chert artifacts. This possibly indicates early land management strategies that eroded the paleo-Vertisol. The terrace soils often include gravels and rocks from both slope processes and artifacts (mainly cherts and bricks). Vitric properties are also present, along with poorly-weathered pyroxenes, indicating volcanic deposits stratigraphically correlated to the first stages of the terrace construction.

Furthermore, finer stratifications and bioturbation (with crumb structures) in the superficial horizons are identified, which might indicate the period of terrace abandonment. The OSL profiling in the field showed net signal intensities displaying similar trends for each terrace soil, with normal signal-depth progression. This indicates the gradual burying of the materials behind the terrace walls and might be related to minimum historical plowing. 

How to cite: Cerón González, A., Rossi, M., Egberts, E., Alonso Eguiluz, M., Farinetti, E., Vervust, S., Vandam, R., and Devos, Y.: Behind the stones - Soil memories of Medieval terraces in Monti Lucretili, Central Italy, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-18244, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-18244, 2025.

Parent material for soil formation (subsolum geological substrate, SSGS), represents an essential link between geology and soil science. This study evaluates the applicability of geological and SSGS maps for understanding soil formation processes in Austria. Geochemical characterization derived from traditional geological maps at scales 1:200.000 and 1:50000 are compared with a novel SSGS map based on a recent mapping campaign. The analysis focuses on the geochemical characteritics based on mineral components including carbonates, silicates and clay minerals, and its genesis and/ or deposition type, which have significant influence on pedogenesis.

The comparison reveals that geological maps often overlook surficial sedimentary deposits, such as quaternary loess deposits, which are crucial for understanding soil formation and plant growth. For example, surficial carbonate free rocks covered by carbonate substrates or vice versa result in entirely different soil characteristics, therefore soil development processes and related nutrient capacity. Furthermore, the geochemical evolution from geological bedrock to SSGS in areas of autochthonous weathering may reveal distinct shifts in mineral composition and geochemical properties, underscoring the transformative processes involved in soil genesis.

The study spans large parts of eastern Austria, including major tectonic units of the alpine region and its foreland basins, encompassing crystalline, sedimentary and Neogene rock formations.

These findings underscore the importance of SSGS maps for improving our understanding of soil formation, plant nutrient supply and ecosystem modeling.

How to cite: Brandstätter, J., Wagner, T., Vremec, M., Löberbauer, M., Klebinder, K., Keßler, D., Englisch, M., Wilhelmy, M., Szentivanyi, J., Gruber, J., and Winkler, G.: Comparison of geochemical characterization derived from geological versus subsolum geological substrate maps as basis for soil formation in Austria, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20174, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20174, 2025.

We investigate the characteristics of low-temperature yellow stimulated luminescence (YSL), to compare its utility for dating with infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) stimulated at 50 °C (IR₅₀), post-IR₅₀ yellow stimulated luminescence (pIR-YSL) and pIRIR₂₉₀. Altogether, eleven samples from a range of depositional environments and known ages were tested. Thermal stability, bleachability, dose recovery, fading tests and equivalent dose estimation were undertaken. The pIR-YSL signal is stable up to 150 °C but susceptible to thermal transfer at higher temperatures and both the pIR-YSL and YSL₅₀ signals bleach out at a rate and extent that is similar to the IR₅₀ signal. Dose recovery tests on four of the young intermediate samples illustrate that the pIR-YSL signal can be both recovered and fully reset. Fading tests show that all three signals suffer from significant fading and equivalent dose estimations of the saturated samples IR₅₀, IR-YSL and YSL₅₀ signals significantly underestimate relative to the pIRIR₂₉₀ signal. Elevated temperature signal combinations are additionally evaluated with the aim of further understanding the effect of elevated temperatures on the fading rate and ultimately the utility of YSL signals for dating.

How to cite: Buchanan, G., Preusser, F., Fitzsimmons, K., and Lauer, T.: Progress exploring the characteristics of yellow stimulated luminescence on potassium feldspar , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-646, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-646, 2025.

The sedimentary units overlying the so-called ‘Falaise de la Mine d'Or’ on the South-East coast of Brittany (France) have been studied for decades to reconstruct the evolution of fossil fluvial valleys in Brittany during the Pliocene and Quaternary (Guillocheau et al., 1998; Menier et al., 2006). However, published numerical ages are insufficient to provide a precise age of each of the units described, whose chronology relies on correlations with ESR dating of fluvial sediments from the interior of Central Brittany (Laurent et al., 1996). Thanks to the cron-BRET Project of the MSCA-Bienvenüe Bretagne Programme carried out by the Geo-Ocean Laboratory of the Université de Bretagne Sud in collaboration with the Cosmogenic Nuclide Laboratory of the University of Cologne (Germany), it has been possible to date the lower unit (U1), mainly composed of quartzite gravels and pebbles. In situ ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al concentrations produced within the quartz of these clasts become controlled by differential rates of decay when shielded from production at the surface (Dunai, 2010). The fact that the sediments are buried under a sedimentary shield of more than three metres, allows for the calculation of a burial age from the concentration of ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al by using the isochron method (Balco and Rovey, 2008; Granger et al., 2022). Preliminary results provide numerical data that place the formation of this unit 2.72 ± 0.19 million years ago, at the Plio-Quaternary boundary. Our study also includes the dating of the upper unit (U3) mainly composed of sand-sized materials (90-2000 µm), by analysis of the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signal of quartz (Murray et al., 2021) at the RenDaL Luminescence Laboratory (Géosciences- Univ. Rennes). The calculation of the palaeodose using Bayesian procedures (BayLum; Philippe et al., 2019) and of the natural dose rate from high-resolution gamma spectrometry (HRGs) measurements provides a burial age range between 263 and 408 ky. These data will be complemented by the dating of the materials composing unit U2 by analysing the infrared stimulated luminescence signal (IRSL) of potassium feldspar to extend the available dates and the knowledge of the landscape evolution of this coastal area linked to glacioeustatic oscillations and neotectonics during the Pleistocene.

How to cite: Arce Chamorro, C., Sautter, B., Guérin, G., Guillocheau, F., Binnie, S., Dunai, T., and Menier, D.: Optically Stimulated Luminescence and in situ 10Be / 26Al cosmogenic dating of the Upper and Lower Units from ‘La Falaise de la Mine d'Or’ at Pénestin (SW Brittany, France) within the cron-BRET Project., EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1384, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1384, 2025.

Lake sediments form a valuable and often continuous record for reconstructing past climate and the occurrence and impact of natural hazards. The interpretation of this record, however, relies heavily on a robust chronology formed by age-dating the sediments. For recent (i.e. Quaternary) lake sediments, radiocarbon dating of organic material is a fundamental dating technique. However, constructing a lake sediment chronology can be challenging, since the use of radiocarbon dating is dependent on many factors, including the type of material to be dated, depositional circumstances and possible contamination of ¹⁴C. Volcanogenic CO₂, for instance, is depleted in ¹⁴C. This implies that in regions with surface exhalations of volcanic CO₂ the concentration of ¹⁴C in the surrounding atmosphere is diluted. For this study, the effect of volcanogenic CO₂ gas emissions on the use of radiocarbon dating was investigated in the Laacher See volcanic crater in western Germany. This crater was formed after the eruption of the Laacher See Volcano around 13 ka BP. It contains multiple degassing vents emitting CO₂ of magmatic origin, in the form of underwater bubble seeps in the lake (“wet mofettes”) and onshore soil degassing (“dry mofettes”). Living plant material, i.e. leaves of Taraxacum genus plants, were sampled in several locations in the crater and dated to examine their range in radiocarbon ages and spatial variability. Additionally, a > 4 m long sediment core taken in the lake was sampled for organic material and bulk sediment to assess the offset of radiocarbon ages to their true or expected ages. Our results show that all dated samples exceed their true or expected ages, with the Taraxacum samples giving variable radiocarbon ages of up to 9000 a BP. Along a transect of sampled Taraxacum plants, the radiocarbon ages decrease with an increasing distance from the degassing vents along the lake shore. The radiocarbon ages of the sediment core samples show that organic material deposited in the lake is also affected by volcanogenic CO₂ emissions, with some radiocarbon ages exceeding the age of the Laacher See eruption that formed the crater, although no regular offset could be determined for these samples with regard to their depth in the core. Furthermore, the radiocarbon ages do not correspond to a ²¹⁰Pb/¹³⁷Cs age-depth model that was established for the top of the core. Radiocarbon dating is shown to not provide reliable results for establishing a chronology for the sedimentary infill of Laacher See. Further research is required to better understand the influence of volcanogenic CO₂ on organic material, such as effects of temporal and spatial variations in CO₂ flux. In the case of Laacher See, other age-dating techniques should be considered to establish an age-depth model with reliable, non-¹⁴C dependent ages.

How to cite: Claeys, L., Albers, S., Hajdas, I., and De Batist, M.: Volcanogenic CO2 emissions affect radiocarbon dating in a case study from the Laacher See crater lake, Germany, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-1725, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1725, 2025.