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G2 model for erosion

G2 model is a new generic model for erosion, resulted from the cooperation of JRC/IES/Land Management & Natural Hazards Unit/SOIL Action and the Lab of Forest Management and Remote Sensing of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in the framework of geoland2 project.

G2 estimates soil loss (in t/ha) from sheet and interril erosion caused by splash and runoff, on a month-step basis and on a landscape scale. G2 employs harmonized standard input data from European and global databases, such as the European Soil Database (ESDB), the Topsoil Organic Carbon (TOC), BioPar products of geoland2, the SPOT imagery, and the ASTER DEM datasets. This makes it appropriate for implementation throughout Europe on a 1:500,000 cartographic scale (MMU=10 ha).

G2 is a dynamic model, as it takes account of contemporary changes of rainfall erosivity and vegetation retention. Based on the empirical USLE-family models, it needs calibration for rainstorm erosivity, while vegetation retention is based on biophysical parameters derived with remote sensing (BioPar products).

G2 is a feasible, easy to run, data-driven model. At the same time, it is realistic, as it has been showed by preliminary validation with experimental erosion and sediment measurements in the cross-border river basin of Strymonas/Struma in Greece and Bulgaria


G2-regional

G2 model has been applied in the cross-border basin of Strymonas river (14,500 km2), located in South East Europe (Greece / Bulgaria). Model parameters were calibrated with measured data and the results were verified with erosion and sedimentation figures from previous research. The study confirmed that monthly erosion mapping would identify the critical months and would allow erosion figures to be linked to specific land uses. The results also showed that the model could become the basis for a functional pan-European service for soil erosion monitoring on a regional scale.

Download the Data
The data of Strymonas application are provided in raster format (ASCII grid and TIFF), in the ETRS89 LAEA Coordinate System; temporal coverage: 2003-2006. To get access to the data, please compile the online form; instructions will then follow how to download the data .

More Information - Links
A complete description of G2 model and the application in Strymonas river basin are described in detail in the paper:
Panagos, P., Karydas, C.G.., Gitas, I.Z., Montanarella, L. Monthly soil erosion monitoring based on remotely sensed biophysical parameters: a case study in Strymonas river basin towards a functional pan-European service. International Journal of Digital Earth (2011), Article in Press, DOI: 10.1080/17538947.2011.587897.
Download the article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17538947.2011.587897

Download a presentation of G2 Model.

Seasonal maps

Figure 1. Seasonal Erosion Maps for Strymonas - Struma catchment, Greece


G2-local

A local-scale version of G2 model is under construction by the developers. G2-local will be appropriate for detailed mapping of hot spots (MMU=0.5 ha) allocated earlier on a regional scale. Based on the findings of the regional monitoring, the end users would be able to determine critical months and land uses for which they would require fine-scale mapping.

In this context, monthly erosion maps of April, June and September 2009 of a 151-km area within Strymonas river basin (Alistrati, Greece) were produced. The study followed G2 methodology with input data from local databases where appropriate; but again BioPar (fine resolution), SPOT imagery, and ASTER DEM were included.

Get the fine-scale erosion maps in JPEG Format (High Resolution 600dpi, Size 14MB) or PNG Format (High Resolution 600dpi, Size 7MB)

The GIS data will be available soon.



Strymon Soil Erosion April 2009

Figure 2. Erosion Map (April 2009) of Alistrati, Strymonas - Struma catchment, Greece


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© European Communities, 1995-
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European Commission - Joint Research Centre
Institute for Environment and Sustainability
Contacts:
Marc Van Liedekerke(tel. +39-0332-785179)
Panos Panagos (tel. +39-0332-785574)