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Soil Erosion: Application of Physically Based Models
Geoderma 103 Ž2001. 351–357 www.elsevier.comrlocatergeoderma
Book reviews Soil Erosion: Application of Physically Based Models J. Schmidt Ž Ed.., Springer Verlag, Berlin, 2000. Hardbound, 318 pp., Price US$109. ISBN 3-540-66764-4
Accelerated soil erosion, increased rate of erosion due to anthropogenic perturbations of the soil–vegetation–climate equilibrium, has influenced the quality of soil and landscape since the dawn of settled agriculture. The global rate of anthropogenic erosion, estimated at 27 billion tons of sediments transported to the oceans every year, is three times the natural rate. Severe erosion adversely affects the quality of soil, water and air. The short-term on-site effects on soil are reduced quantity and quality of the biomass, andror high input required to produce the same yield ŽLal, 1998. . The long-term off-site impact on biomass productivity may be positive as is evidenced by the formation of alluvial soils that led to the development of AhydricB civilizations in the valleys of the Nile, Indus, Yangtze, Tigris, Euphrates and other rivers Ž Hillel, 1994. . Two important off-site impacts of accelerated erosion are those on quality of water and air. Adverse impacts on water quality are due to the non-point source pollution related to transport of dissolved and suspended loads, and those on air quality are due to emission of particulate matter and of trace gases from soilrsediments into the atmosphere. Erosion-induced emission of trace gases Že.g., CO 2 , CH 4 , N2 O, NO x . is an important factor leading to enrichment of their atmospheric concentration and acceleration of the greenhouse effect Ž Lal, 1995.. Therefore, predicting the magnitude and severity of erosion impacts on biomass productivity and environment quality is important at local, national, regional and global scales. This book describes recent advances in predictive models with regard to rates of runoff and erosion, and on-site and off-site impacts of erosion on productivity and environment quality. The 14-chapter book is sub-divided into three parts. Part I, comprising nine chapters, deals with the description and practical application of models. Chapter 1 addresses an important topic of the influence of global greenhouse gas emissions on future rates of soil erosion, with a specific case study from Brazil. The study shows that future erosion rates may increase in the state of Mato Grosso due to the acceleration of the greenhouse effect. There is a strong link between the AlocalB and AglobalB processes because environmental problems are highly inter-connected. Chapter 2 deals with application of the Limburg Soil Erosion Model ŽLISEM. to investigate flood prevention and soil conservation 0016-7061r01r$ - see front matter q 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
352
Book reÕiews
scenarios in South-Limburg, The Netherlands. This powerful model simulates hydrological and soil erosion processes during a single rainfall event on a catchment scale, predicts the effects of land use change, and explores soil conservation scenarios. Chapter 3 deals with the application of AAgricultural Non-Point Source Pollution ModelB ŽAGNPS. to assess runoff volume, sediment and nutrient yield in medium- to large-sized watersheds in Germany. The modified AGNPS, in combination with GIS, is a useful predictive tool for decision support systems. Chapter 4 describes the use of physically based models to predict surface runoff and soil erosion under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions of Oued Mina, Algeria. The model uses only few physically based parameters that can be assessed by remote sensing techniques. Chapter 5 deals with assessment of the impact of lakeshore zone on erosional sediment input using the EROSION-2D model. Specific application of the model is demonstrated for Lake Belau, near Kiel, Germany. With specific reference to the input of phosphorus into a lake, the proposed model is easy, rapid, and can be used for single rainfall events. Chapter 6 describes the use of EROSION-3D to model the sediment and heavy metal yields of drinking water reservoirs in the Osterzgebirge region of Saxony, Germany. This event-based model simulates: Ž i. detachment, Žii. transport, and Žiii. deposition using the momentum flux approach. Chapter 7 describes a multi-scale approach to predicting soil erosion on cropland using empirical and physically based soil erosion models in a GIS. Erosion processes can be predictedrassessed at nanoscale Ža few square meters., microscale Ž individual slope, field, or low-order catchment area. , mesoscale Žlandscape unit. and macroscale Žlarge regions. . This chapter deals with scaling issues, and explains the process of AdownscalingB to identify erosion prone areas. The theme of Chapter 8 is the description of SMODERP-A Simulation Model of Overland Flow and Erosion Processes, with a case study from Prague. The input data required include design rainstorm, morphological and soil characteristics, and land use information. Chapter 9 deals with modelling overland flow and soil erosion for a military training area in southern Germany. This chapter describes several existing models Ž e.g., RUSLErMUSLE, EPIC, AGNPS, CREAMS, GLEMAS, ANSWERS, EROSION-2D and EROSION-3D, KINEROS, OPUS, SPUR, WEPP, EUROSEM. , assesses their applicability under specific conditions, and demonstrates application of EROSION-3D to a sub-catchment. This chapter concludes that the EROSION-3D model is an easy-to-use tool for erosion prediction and scenario simulation. Part II, comprising three chapters, deals with validation of physically based soil erosion models. Chapter 10 describes a process-based evaluation of EUROSEM, and compares predictions of runoff and erosion with observed data for a large runoff plot in southern Arizona. There was a large discrepancy between the observed and predicted values. Chapter 11 is concerned with predictive accuracy of WEPP, EUROSEM and EROSION-2D at the plot scale. The results show that all models under-predict the runoff volume, which leads to discrep-
Book reÕiews
353
ancy in predicted and measured values of soil erosion. Chapter 12 simulates hydrological and erosion processes using the PEPP-HILLFLOW Ž Process Oriented Erosion Prediction Program. model. The model simulates all hydrological processes including interception, evapotranspiration, soil-moisture movement, surface runoff, sub-surface storm flow, and infiltration in micro- and macropores. Part III, comprising two chapters, deals with current developments of recent modelling approaches. Chapter 13 describes recent model developments with regard to Adynamics and scale in simulating erosion by waterB, with particular reference to KINEROS2 with application ranging from plot to catchment scale. Chapter 14 describes recent developments in modelling surface runoff with specific consideration of the effects of microtopography or the processes on a small scale. It concludes that small-scale models should be seen as a tool for understanding processes in details. This book describes recent advances in process-based soil erosion models. Description and application of seven specific models include those of WEPP ŽChapter 1., LISEM ŽChapter 2. , AGNPS Ž Chapter 3. , PEPP-HILLFLOW ŽChapters 4 and 12., EROSION-2Dr3D Ž Chapters 6, 7, 9, 11 and 12., SMODERP ŽChapter 8., EUROSEMrKINEROS ŽChapters 10, 11 and 13.. The authors have objectively presented the pros and cons of different models, and described their potentials and limitations with regards to predicting soil erosion, runoff and nutrient loading in natural waters. Although modelling is a useful tool, it is also important to realize that models are a representation and useful for prediction but are not to be confused as reflection of reality. All models are simplified mathematical descriptions of the complex processes. Therefore, validation and calibration of models is extremely important. The book is a useful addition to the literature on soil erosion prediction, and explains the advances made since the first mathematical approach to describe soil erosion by water, the USLE, was derived Ž Wischmeier and Smith, 1965. . This book is recommended for researchers, academicians, and erosion managers and is of professional interest to researchers and teachers in soil physics, agricultural engineering, agronomy, climatology, civil engineering, hydrology, geology, sedimentology, and other disciplines interested in soil erosion and its control.
References Hillel, D., 1994. Rivers of Eden. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. Lal, R., 1995. Global soil erosion by water and carbon dynamics. In: Lal, R., Kimble, J., Levine, E., Stewart, B.A. ŽEds.., Soils and Global Change. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 131–142. Lal, R., 1998. Soil erosion impact on agronomic productivity and environment quality. CRC Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 17, 319–464.
354
Book reÕiews
Wischmeier, W.H., Smith, D.D., 1965. Predicting rainfall-erosion losses from cropland east of the Rocky Mountains. USDA Agric. Handbook, vol. 282, Washington, DC.
R. Lal ) School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State UniÕersity, 208 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA E-mail address: [email protected] )
Tel.: q1-614-292-9069; fax: q1-614-292-7432.
PII: S 0 0 1 6 - 7 0 6 1 Ž 0 1 . 0 0 0 4 9 - 0
Upscaling and downscaling methods for environmental research Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol. 88, M.F.P. Bierkens, P.A. Finke, and P. de Willigen, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2000, Hardcover, ISBN 0-7923-6339-6; US$88, 190 pp.q CD-ROM
A central problem in the modelling of ecosystem form and function is the determination of the range of spatial and temporal scales over which important ecosystem phenomena appear. Phenomena whose behavior, as described by some parametric quantitative model, transcend a broad range of scales are deemed Ascale-invariantB, whereas those whose behavior requires a description invoking intrinsic spatial or temporal parameters are said to be Ascale-dependentB. These fundamental notions obtain irrespective of whether the model approach is deterministic or stochastic, and they are essential to the application of predictive models in the domain of environmental policy or regulation. The book by Bierkens, Finke, and de Willigen addresses methodological problems associated with this kind of application in the context of what they term a Adecision support system,B an interactive algorithm, conveniently accessed in an accompanying CD-ROM, which identifies scaling issues in a user-provided research plan, then prescribes methods for addressing them in reference to the contents of the book. In short, this book is designed to serve as a generic user’s manual for predictive environmental modelling in support of decision-making. After a brief introduction in which all matters related to the AphilosophicalB aspects of modelling Ži.e., whether modelling is deterministic or stochastic, mechanistic or empirical, etc.. are declaimed, the book engages scaling issues in two long and rather different chapters. The first poses the question of how to proceed when decision-making impacts larger spatial scales than the available
Book reviews Soil Erosion: Application of Physically Based Models J. Schmidt Ž Ed.., Springer Verlag, Berlin, 2000. Hardbound, 318 pp., Price US$109. ISBN 3-540-66764-4
Accelerated soil erosion, increased rate of erosion due to anthropogenic perturbations of the soil–vegetation–climate equilibrium, has influenced the quality of soil and landscape since the dawn of settled agriculture. The global rate of anthropogenic erosion, estimated at 27 billion tons of sediments transported to the oceans every year, is three times the natural rate. Severe erosion adversely affects the quality of soil, water and air. The short-term on-site effects on soil are reduced quantity and quality of the biomass, andror high input required to produce the same yield ŽLal, 1998. . The long-term off-site impact on biomass productivity may be positive as is evidenced by the formation of alluvial soils that led to the development of AhydricB civilizations in the valleys of the Nile, Indus, Yangtze, Tigris, Euphrates and other rivers Ž Hillel, 1994. . Two important off-site impacts of accelerated erosion are those on quality of water and air. Adverse impacts on water quality are due to the non-point source pollution related to transport of dissolved and suspended loads, and those on air quality are due to emission of particulate matter and of trace gases from soilrsediments into the atmosphere. Erosion-induced emission of trace gases Že.g., CO 2 , CH 4 , N2 O, NO x . is an important factor leading to enrichment of their atmospheric concentration and acceleration of the greenhouse effect Ž Lal, 1995.. Therefore, predicting the magnitude and severity of erosion impacts on biomass productivity and environment quality is important at local, national, regional and global scales. This book describes recent advances in predictive models with regard to rates of runoff and erosion, and on-site and off-site impacts of erosion on productivity and environment quality. The 14-chapter book is sub-divided into three parts. Part I, comprising nine chapters, deals with the description and practical application of models. Chapter 1 addresses an important topic of the influence of global greenhouse gas emissions on future rates of soil erosion, with a specific case study from Brazil. The study shows that future erosion rates may increase in the state of Mato Grosso due to the acceleration of the greenhouse effect. There is a strong link between the AlocalB and AglobalB processes because environmental problems are highly inter-connected. Chapter 2 deals with application of the Limburg Soil Erosion Model ŽLISEM. to investigate flood prevention and soil conservation 0016-7061r01r$ - see front matter q 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
352
Book reÕiews
scenarios in South-Limburg, The Netherlands. This powerful model simulates hydrological and soil erosion processes during a single rainfall event on a catchment scale, predicts the effects of land use change, and explores soil conservation scenarios. Chapter 3 deals with the application of AAgricultural Non-Point Source Pollution ModelB ŽAGNPS. to assess runoff volume, sediment and nutrient yield in medium- to large-sized watersheds in Germany. The modified AGNPS, in combination with GIS, is a useful predictive tool for decision support systems. Chapter 4 describes the use of physically based models to predict surface runoff and soil erosion under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions of Oued Mina, Algeria. The model uses only few physically based parameters that can be assessed by remote sensing techniques. Chapter 5 deals with assessment of the impact of lakeshore zone on erosional sediment input using the EROSION-2D model. Specific application of the model is demonstrated for Lake Belau, near Kiel, Germany. With specific reference to the input of phosphorus into a lake, the proposed model is easy, rapid, and can be used for single rainfall events. Chapter 6 describes the use of EROSION-3D to model the sediment and heavy metal yields of drinking water reservoirs in the Osterzgebirge region of Saxony, Germany. This event-based model simulates: Ž i. detachment, Žii. transport, and Žiii. deposition using the momentum flux approach. Chapter 7 describes a multi-scale approach to predicting soil erosion on cropland using empirical and physically based soil erosion models in a GIS. Erosion processes can be predictedrassessed at nanoscale Ža few square meters., microscale Ž individual slope, field, or low-order catchment area. , mesoscale Žlandscape unit. and macroscale Žlarge regions. . This chapter deals with scaling issues, and explains the process of AdownscalingB to identify erosion prone areas. The theme of Chapter 8 is the description of SMODERP-A Simulation Model of Overland Flow and Erosion Processes, with a case study from Prague. The input data required include design rainstorm, morphological and soil characteristics, and land use information. Chapter 9 deals with modelling overland flow and soil erosion for a military training area in southern Germany. This chapter describes several existing models Ž e.g., RUSLErMUSLE, EPIC, AGNPS, CREAMS, GLEMAS, ANSWERS, EROSION-2D and EROSION-3D, KINEROS, OPUS, SPUR, WEPP, EUROSEM. , assesses their applicability under specific conditions, and demonstrates application of EROSION-3D to a sub-catchment. This chapter concludes that the EROSION-3D model is an easy-to-use tool for erosion prediction and scenario simulation. Part II, comprising three chapters, deals with validation of physically based soil erosion models. Chapter 10 describes a process-based evaluation of EUROSEM, and compares predictions of runoff and erosion with observed data for a large runoff plot in southern Arizona. There was a large discrepancy between the observed and predicted values. Chapter 11 is concerned with predictive accuracy of WEPP, EUROSEM and EROSION-2D at the plot scale. The results show that all models under-predict the runoff volume, which leads to discrep-
Book reÕiews
353
ancy in predicted and measured values of soil erosion. Chapter 12 simulates hydrological and erosion processes using the PEPP-HILLFLOW Ž Process Oriented Erosion Prediction Program. model. The model simulates all hydrological processes including interception, evapotranspiration, soil-moisture movement, surface runoff, sub-surface storm flow, and infiltration in micro- and macropores. Part III, comprising two chapters, deals with current developments of recent modelling approaches. Chapter 13 describes recent model developments with regard to Adynamics and scale in simulating erosion by waterB, with particular reference to KINEROS2 with application ranging from plot to catchment scale. Chapter 14 describes recent developments in modelling surface runoff with specific consideration of the effects of microtopography or the processes on a small scale. It concludes that small-scale models should be seen as a tool for understanding processes in details. This book describes recent advances in process-based soil erosion models. Description and application of seven specific models include those of WEPP ŽChapter 1., LISEM ŽChapter 2. , AGNPS Ž Chapter 3. , PEPP-HILLFLOW ŽChapters 4 and 12., EROSION-2Dr3D Ž Chapters 6, 7, 9, 11 and 12., SMODERP ŽChapter 8., EUROSEMrKINEROS ŽChapters 10, 11 and 13.. The authors have objectively presented the pros and cons of different models, and described their potentials and limitations with regards to predicting soil erosion, runoff and nutrient loading in natural waters. Although modelling is a useful tool, it is also important to realize that models are a representation and useful for prediction but are not to be confused as reflection of reality. All models are simplified mathematical descriptions of the complex processes. Therefore, validation and calibration of models is extremely important. The book is a useful addition to the literature on soil erosion prediction, and explains the advances made since the first mathematical approach to describe soil erosion by water, the USLE, was derived Ž Wischmeier and Smith, 1965. . This book is recommended for researchers, academicians, and erosion managers and is of professional interest to researchers and teachers in soil physics, agricultural engineering, agronomy, climatology, civil engineering, hydrology, geology, sedimentology, and other disciplines interested in soil erosion and its control.
References Hillel, D., 1994. Rivers of Eden. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. Lal, R., 1995. Global soil erosion by water and carbon dynamics. In: Lal, R., Kimble, J., Levine, E., Stewart, B.A. ŽEds.., Soils and Global Change. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 131–142. Lal, R., 1998. Soil erosion impact on agronomic productivity and environment quality. CRC Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 17, 319–464.
354
Book reÕiews
Wischmeier, W.H., Smith, D.D., 1965. Predicting rainfall-erosion losses from cropland east of the Rocky Mountains. USDA Agric. Handbook, vol. 282, Washington, DC.
R. Lal ) School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State UniÕersity, 208 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA E-mail address: [email protected] )
Tel.: q1-614-292-9069; fax: q1-614-292-7432.
PII: S 0 0 1 6 - 7 0 6 1 Ž 0 1 . 0 0 0 4 9 - 0
Upscaling and downscaling methods for environmental research Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol. 88, M.F.P. Bierkens, P.A. Finke, and P. de Willigen, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 2000, Hardcover, ISBN 0-7923-6339-6; US$88, 190 pp.q CD-ROM
A central problem in the modelling of ecosystem form and function is the determination of the range of spatial and temporal scales over which important ecosystem phenomena appear. Phenomena whose behavior, as described by some parametric quantitative model, transcend a broad range of scales are deemed Ascale-invariantB, whereas those whose behavior requires a description invoking intrinsic spatial or temporal parameters are said to be Ascale-dependentB. These fundamental notions obtain irrespective of whether the model approach is deterministic or stochastic, and they are essential to the application of predictive models in the domain of environmental policy or regulation. The book by Bierkens, Finke, and de Willigen addresses methodological problems associated with this kind of application in the context of what they term a Adecision support system,B an interactive algorithm, conveniently accessed in an accompanying CD-ROM, which identifies scaling issues in a user-provided research plan, then prescribes methods for addressing them in reference to the contents of the book. In short, this book is designed to serve as a generic user’s manual for predictive environmental modelling in support of decision-making. After a brief introduction in which all matters related to the AphilosophicalB aspects of modelling Ži.e., whether modelling is deterministic or stochastic, mechanistic or empirical, etc.. are declaimed, the book engages scaling issues in two long and rather different chapters. The first poses the question of how to proceed when decision-making impacts larger spatial scales than the available