Effect of Climate Change on Soil Erosion in a Mountainous Mediterranean Catchment (Central Pindus, Greece)

Authors :: Stefanos Stefanidis
Dimitrios Stathis
Source :: Water, Volume 10, Issue 10, Water, Vol 10, Iss 10, p 1469 (2018)
Publication Year :: 2018
Publisher :: MDPI AG, 2018.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess soil erosion changes in the mountainous catchment of the Portaikos torrent (Central Greece) under climate change. To this end, precipitation and temperature data were derived from a high-resolution (25 &times 25 km) RegCM3 regional climate model for the baseline period 1974&ndash 2000 and future period 2074&ndash 2100. Additionally, three GIS layers were generated regarding land cover, geology, and slopes in the study area, whereas erosion state was recognized after field observations. Subsequently, the erosion potential model (EPM) was applied to quantify the effects of precipitation and temperature changes on soil erosion. The results showed a decrease (&minus 21.2%) in annual precipitation (mm) and increase (+3.6 &deg C) in mean annual temperature until the end of the 21st century, and the above changes are likely to lead to a small decrease (&minus 4.9%) in soil erosion potential.

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