Soil Erosion Application of Physically Based Models

Accelerated degradation of soils and surface waters produce increasing problems in many parts of the world. Within this context, the book addresses the topic Application of Physically Based Soil Erosion Models in order to present some essential tools for

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Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH

Jiirgen Schmidt (Ed.)

Soil Erosion Application of Physically Based Models

With 119 Figures and 85 Tables

. Springer

Editor

Prof. Dr. !ilrgen Jürgen Schmidt TU Bergakademie Freiberg Gewasserschutz Fachgebiet Boden- und Gewässerschutz AgricolastraBe 22 Agricolastraße D-09599 Freiberg Germany

ISSN 1431-6250 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Soil erosion: application of physically based models I/ Jürgen Jiirgen Schmidt (ed.). p. cm. - (Environmental science) lncludes Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-3-642-08605-2 ISBN 978-3-662-04295-3 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-662-04295-3 1. Soil erosion erosion-Mathematical - Mathematical models. 1. Schmidt, Jürgen, Jiirgen, 1953- II. Environmental science (Berlin, Germany) S627.M36 S65 2000 631.4' 5' 015118--dc21

00-027989 CIP

This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer-Verlag. Violations are liable for prosecution under the German Copyright Law. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2000

Originally published by Springer- Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York in 2000. Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover 1st edition 2000 The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Cover Design: Struve & Partner, Heidelberg Dataconversion: Büro Biiro Stasch, Bayreuth SPIN: 10575560 - 32/3136/xz - 5 4 3 2 1 0 - Printed on acid-free paper

Preface

Soil erosion at the present extent is mainly a result of human activities and not a product of natural processes. Without human impact, the earth's soil surface would be almost completely covered by permanent vegetation with the exception of extreme climatic environments, such as deserts, polar or high mountainous areas. The main natural hazards which may cause erosion under natural conditions would be natural fires, storms, volcanic eruptions, or meteorite impacts. Since such hazards would have only local and temporary effects on the vegetation cover, one can assume that - especially in the regions of temperate climate - the amount of soil loss as a result of natural processes would be negligible. The use of soils by man - in particular for agriculture - constrains to remove the natural vegetation cover and to replace it by crops. Thus, the protection of the soils from the direct impact of wind and water is, at least, temporarily suspended. Accelerated erosion caused by water and wind is the inevitable