Water erosion monitoring and experimentation for global change studies

Taking steps to preserve the quality and quantity of global soil resources should require no justification. Our future ability to feed ourselves and live in an unpolluted environment depends on our ability to reduce the rates at which our soils are currently eroding. The unprecedented environmental change at a global scale is making the task even more difficult. A number of hypotheses are generated by questions such as, How will soil erosion be affected if mean annual temperature increases? If mean annual rainfall or mean rainfall intensities increase? If there are changes in land use over the coming decade? Examples of these hypotheses are • An increase in mean annual temperature of x°C will lead to a decrease in mean vegetation cover and in organic matter content of top soils of y percent, which in turn will lead to an increase in the rates of water and wind erosion of z percent. • An increase in mean annual rainfall or mean rainfall intensity will cause rates of soil erosion by water on cultivated lands to increase by x percent. • If changing socioeconomic conditions or a temperature increase cause the abandonment of marginal cultivated lands, such as found …