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Pan-European Soil Erosion Risk Assessment - PESERA
The Pan-European Soil Erosion Risk Assessment - PESERA - uses
a process-based and spatially distributed model to quantify soil
erosion by water and assess its risk across Europe. The conceptual
basis of the PESERA model can also be extended to include estimates
of tillage and wind erosion. The model is intended as a regional
diagnostic tool, replacing comparable existing methods, such as
the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), which are less suitable
for European conditions and lack compatibility with higher resolution
models.
The model results have been validated at catchment level and compared
with results of applying other erosion risk assessment methods across
Europe at country and pan-European scale. However, further development
of the model and a substantial amount of calibration and validation
work are essential if PESERA is to become operational.
Preliminary results suggest that, although the model can be applied
at regional, national and European levels, low resolution and poor
quality input data cause errors and uncertainties. However quantification
of the erosion problem enables evaluation of the possible effects
of future changes in climate and land use, through scenario analysis
and impact assessment taking into account cost-effectiveness, technical
feasibility, social acceptability and possibilities for implementation.
Soil erosion indicators developed from a physically based model
will not only provide information on the state of soil erosion at
any given time, but also assist in understanding the links between
different factors causing erosion. Another advantage for policy-making
is that scenario analysis for different land use and climate changes
is possible using PESERA. This will enable the impacts of agricultural
policy, and land use and climate changes to be assessed and monitored
across Europe.
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