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This article focuses on attempts by inhabitants of the island of Samothraki, in North-Eastern Greece, to make sense of rapid soil erosion and degradation. Through the use of ethnographic vignettes, collected during my first fieldwork on the island in August of 2022, and broader ethnographic material, I show the imbrication of landscape perception with questions of collective ethics as well as the specific forms of social uncertainty which emerge from soil instability. The article highlights specific and local discursive attempts to make sense of broader processes, including weather events, as prompts used by Samothracians to think about their ways of inhabiting their own island.

Studies focusing on the degradation of arable land are particularly numerous, given the scale of the threat posed to soil worldwide, particularly in the context of global climate change and socio-economic transformations. This fact has motivated the scientific community to visualize various research projects aimed at improving the application of empirical models to provide new answers to the problem of water erosion. The use of adjustment parameters was of crucial importance in adapting the model terms to local conditions in the study area. To develop a detailed understanding of the performance of empirical models in quantifying soil losses, a test was carried out on the scale of the Wadi Chaâf basin in the Assir region using two empirical models. The choice was made to adopt the Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE), because it uses peak flow as an input parameter. This is in recognition of the fact that the study area has all too often been subject to the concentration of run-off water due to steep slopes and the capricious rainfall. For its part, the EPM formula is applied owing to its formula design, which allows for the consideration of thermal contrasts linked to altitude and the different exposure of the slopes. The specific losses recorded ranged between 38 t ha-1 year-1 and 24 t ha-1 year-1 respectively for the MUSLE and EPM models, with some areas exceeding the tolerance threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil erosion is an important concern due to the steepness of the terrain and the significant elevation differential between the upstream and downstream regions of the basin. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was integrated with Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) in the current work establish the annual soil erosion map in the Bulango Ulu Reservoir basin. The RUSLE model incorporated soil erosion zonation features such as rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, topographic, vegetation cover, and conservation support practices. The results show that 0 and 110.31 t year−1 are the minimum and maximum soil erosion, with the average rate of soil erosion is 17.30 t year−1 in the present study area. Soil erosion risk regions were divided into five categories: very slight, slight, moderate, severe and extremely severe soil erosion areal extent and area percentages is 229.17 km2 (94.48%), 7.83 km2 (3.23%), 4.25 km2 (1.75%), 1.20 km2 (0.50%), and 0.12 km2 (0.05%), respectively. The Area Under Curve was indicated that RUSLE model had good performance (75.1%). This study demonstrates the utility of GIS and remote sensing for predicting soil erosion, allowing important information to be extracted for implementing soil conservation programs in the Bulango Ulu reservoir basin.

This study investigates the intricate relationship between hydrographic network organization, geological faults, and regional dynamics within the Kert basin in the Eastern Rif region. Through GIS hydrographic analysis, we analyze the impact of the hydrographic network on landscape morphology and hydrological dynamics, emphasizing implications for sustainable water resource management. Results reveal the presence of dendritic and parallel hydrographic networks influenced by geological faults, which guide water flow and shape drainage patterns. Seasonal variations in sediment load show significant transport in September and May, indicating increased torrentiality in upstream areas. Fault structures play a crucial role in landscape formation and water quality, with tectonic movements contributing to the development of reliefs and valleys. Understanding these interactions is vital for developing effective strategies for flood mitigation, ecosystem conservation, and sustainable water supply in the Kert basin and similar regions worldwide.

Soil erosion poses a significant environmental challenge in the Oued Beht watershed, Morocco, impacting local ecosystems and water quality. This study investigates the causes and effects of soil erosion in this region, utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) tools and field techniques to analyze land use changes, agricultural practices, soil properties, and precipitation patterns. The findings establish a clear link between soil degradation and declining water quality in nearby aquatic environments. Major contributors to soil erosion include intensive agriculture, climate change, deforestation, vegetation degradation, and steep terrain. To predict future erosion rates, models were used, emphasizing the need for proactive management strategies. To address these issues, the study suggests implementing sustainable agricultural practices and soil conservation measures like agroforestry, vegetative buffer strips, and slope management. These measures can effectively reduce soil erosion and its adverse effects on water quality. The study underscores the importance of integrated management approaches to preserve biodiversity and soil fertility in the region. The findings provide crucial information for policymakers to adopt sustainable land conservation and management policies, ensuring the protection of aquatic ecosystems and environmental sustainability in the Oued Beht watershed.

IN THE CURRENT STUDY, THE UNIVERSEL SOIL LOSS EQUATION (USLE) IS APPLIED TO MODELING THE SOIL WATER EROSION IN OUED CHERRAT WATERSHED LOCATED IN THE WEST OF MOROCCO. USLE MODEL TAKES IN CONSIDERATION THE MAIN FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE WATER EROSION : RAINFALL, TOPOGRAPHY, SOIL PROPERTIES, THE CONDITIONS OF CROP MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES. MANY DATA, FROM VARIOUS SOURCES WAS USED THROUGH THE SPATIAL TOOLS, GIS (GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS) AND REMOTE SENSING, TO ASSESS THE RISK OF WATER EROSION. THE RESULTS SHOW THAT 65.7% OF THE STUDY AREA HAS A VERY LOW RISK OF EROSION, 7.7% LOW RISK, 9.9% MEDIUM RISK, 5.4% HIGH RISK AND 11.3% A VERY HIGH RISK. THE SOIL LOSS VARY BETWEEN 0 AND 524.15 T/HA/YR. THE AVERAGE RATE OF EROSION FOR THE ENTIRE WATERSHED IS ESTIMATED TO 12.16 T/HA/YR. PRIORITY AREAS FOR EROSION MANAGEMENT REPRESENT 16.7%. GENERALLY CHARACTERIZED BY HIGH SLOPES, THEY ARE MAINLY LOCATED IN THE UPSTREAM OF THE WATERSHED AND ON THE BANKS OF OUED CHERRAT AND ITS STREAMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are about 270,000 gullies over 500 meters in length on the Loess Plateau, and the average soil water content in the gullies is nearly three times that of the slope surface of the Loess Plateau. In the crisscrossed gullies on the Loess Plateau, there are very rich reserve resources of cultivated land and potential for increasing grain production. How to manage channel ecologically and make full use of channel resources is a problem that needs to be paid attention to. This study puts forward five factors affecting gully governance, and pays more attention to the systematization, integrality and coordination of protection, governance and utilization, which can provide reference standards for more comprehensive and accurate implementation of gully governance and land construction projects, and provide technical support for promoting economic development, ecological environment improvement and new rural construction in western China and old revolutionary base areas. It is conducive to ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin.

Water erosion is an important agronomic, economic and environmental concern in the semi-arid Mediterranean environment. Characterization of the process and choice of a method for estimating it depends on available data and characteristics of the study area. This article aims at quantifying and spatializing water erosion using the Modified (MUSLE) and Revised (RUSLE) Universal Soil Loss Equation coupled with a Geographic Information System (GIS): MUSLE-SIG and RUSLE-SIG. Erosion was modeled in two watersheds located in central Tunisia, Fidh Ali and Fidh Ben Naceur. Field data from 1994 to 2000 were used to calibrate RUSLE-GIS and MUSLE-GIS. Results showed a faithful modeling of reality in terms of landscape degradation. Both models gave relatively similar results. While RUSLE-GIS, more recent, is widely used by researchers in Tunisia, the calibrated version of MUSLE-GIS also gave satisfaction in simulating water erosion. Consequently, both models could be used in Tunisia by development agencies aiming at reducing soil erosion, the choice of one or the other depending on the available data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Runoff in mountain areas is an increasingly worrying environmental problem. In the Nkam watershed where we observe a greater change in the landscape, it is at the origin of certain phenomena such as soil erosion, floods and mud flow. It increasingly reduces arable land, decreases the capacity of water reservoirs and weakens the income of the populations. Based on this observation, this article assesses the susceptibility of the soils in this basin to runoff. The evaluation method developed to carry out this investigation combines the Geographic Information System (GIS) with the Soil Conservation Services Curve Number (SCSCN) method, based on the physical characteristics, land use and hydrological conditions of the soils used. With these, the soil, slope and land use maps were produced and superposed to determine how sensitive the soils are to runoff. The results obtained indicate that 58% of the basin is made up of slopes> 15%, the soils are made up of easily weathered minerals and the rate of forest regression is - 2.79% per year between 1978 and 2019. The combination of these three factors indicates that soils in the study area have reached a worrying threshold of exposure to runoff (CN = 67). Reforestation and no-till cultivation techniques upstream of the basin would mitigate the runoff effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water erosion is the most common type of soil degradation in the Yéwa watershed and has been recognized as a major problem. The objective is to study the vulnerability of soils to erosion in the Yéwa watershed using the SIMWE model. Using a GIS, allowing to spatialize and cross a digital terrain model, a directional flow gradient, excess precipitation rate, the roughness coefficient, the runoff depth, the soil erodibility, the coefficient transport capacity and critical shear stress, this study made it possible to predict the sensitivity to water erosion. The prediction result shows that 55.23% (480.64 km2) of the watershed has a low to moderate sensitivity to erosion for 3.84% (33.45 km2) severe to very severe sensitivity. As for the deposit, 18.58% (161.71 km2) of the basin area reveals a low to moderate deposit for 3.90% (33.98 km2) of high to very high deposit with a positive balance of around 4120.44 t / ha / year. Lesser soil losses are associated with dense cover such as dense forests in the southern part of the basin and, conversely, higher values are associated with bare soil or degraded undercover. This study could constitute the starting point for the implementation of a coordinated management of erosion control actions and contribute to the understanding of current dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article aims to estimate a soil degradation costs with the level of the various production’s systems of the watershed of Oum Zessar (Gouvernorate of Medenine-Tunisia). For this fact, we proceeded to the valuation contingent method. This application is based on a specific investigation with the farmers of the zone. This method led to the economic valuation of soil resources losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence and development of erosion gully will increase the area of soil erosion and continuously erode the cultivated land. The treatment of erosion gully is swing in the black soil region of Northeast China. However, they are all directed at the typical black soil area, while the soil erosion caused by the erosion gully in the semi-arid area of Northeast is less concerned. The study uses a combination of RS and census data. Exploring the number of erosion gully and the status of development, The survey results show that :the number of erosion gully is large, and most of them are developmental erosion gully. If the governance measures are not taken in time, the erosion ditch may continue to develop.

Water erosion is a degradation form that results in the stripping of mineral and organic elements from the soil. Due to the impact of meteoric factors (rain, wind) this global phenomenon, soil erosion, affects the productivity of agricultural land. Water erosion is a global phenomenon that affects the productivity of agricultural land. The absence of a protective cover and intense precipitation made the Litani River Basin a vulnerable region to water erosion. Besides, the absence of climate data has brought about erosion hazard mapping using a qualitative method which combines factors such as tillage erosion, infiltration into the rocks, land tenure using GIS, and intensity of the precipitation. The results show that a high hazard extends over 39.3% of the study area. Field validation and reliability are estimated at 80% based on soil stripping, the size of landslides and the depth of the receding roots. The model used appears to be applicable to other similar regions in the Mediterranean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assessment of the impact of the anti-erosion complex on the productivity of cultivated crops has presented on the example of many years of experience in contour-ameliorative agriculture of the Kursk FARC located in the northern part of the Medvensky district of the Kursk region. Two subtypes of chernozem represent the soil of the experiment: typical and leached. As anti-erosion measures, narrow-row stock-regulating poplar forest belts, reinforced by a simple hydraulic structure (ditch and rampart along the lower edge), have designed and planted along the contour at a distance of 216 m. There are no anti-erosion measures in the control catchment. Analysis of long-term data showed a decrease in runoff and the absence of soil washout in the catchment area with a system of narrow-row forest belts 38 years after the experiment has laid in comparison with the control. For the control catchment, a maximum soil washing of 22 t/ha recorded which significantly exceeds the permissible standards of flush. A significant increase in crop productivity averaged 5.2 feed units. The profitability of growing crops in fields with forest belts exceeds the control by almost 50%. The anti-erosion complex performs the task of strengthening the soil-protective role of the farming system.

Transmission towers and substations are used in a variety of natural environments, coupled with the interference of the surrounding production and life, facing the test of soil corrosion. Based on the experimental data of 72 soil samples from five cities in Southern Hebei Province, the soil resistivity, soil pH value and soil moisture content were investigated, and the soil corrosion grade and soil corrosion grade distribution map were obtained. It provides a reference for the collection of soil corrosivity data in power transmission and transformation projects.

The high plains of Lebanon are subject to water erosion which tends to strip its soils and threaten its agricultural activities. The combined effect of anthropogenic actions (cultural management, deforestation, overgrazing) and natural factors (climatic aggressiveness, steep slopes, soil), weakens the soil and threatens agricultural parcels by depositing sediments. Mhaydssé is a village concerned by this problem and its representative of the natural and anthropogenic conditions of the Békaa’s southeast. The study uses GIS and the Universal Earth Loss Equation (USLE). To replace the intensity of precipitation, the aggressiveness index was calculated from the equation of Renard and Freimund. Five soil types were sampled, for which the soil granulometry was analyzed in five classes. The topography (slope), the vegetation cover and the anti-erosion practices are the other factors that have been quantified. Of the 1800 hectares of the study area, the average loss of land is 46 t / ha / year. This high value comes from a high spatial heterogeneity. The barren slopes are subject to rates above 300 t /ha /yr, while the bottom of the plain is practically untouched. Large spatial differences over small distances confirm the thoroughness of an accurate analysis of soil texture.

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Due to the few research studies about the effects of riparian vegetation and sedimentation of the river channel in micro watersheds’ degraded areas in semi-arid environment, the referring article aims : a) to quantify the sedimentation in the river channel in areas of degraded micro watersheds in the semiarid b ) quantify the erosion in degraded areas of micro watersheds . For analysis purposes, we chose the hydrological basin of the river Coreaú in Coreaú city (CE) in the Middle Sub-basin . The technical and operational methodology, routing proceeded to dynamic geomorphological procedural focused through a few steps to demonstrate and prove some hypotheses related to rainfall, the amount of rain runoff, sediment in different percentages of plant cover crops and their influence on the carriage’s evolution of sediments on the banks of the river channel.

The aim of this research was to assess changes in the physical and chemical properties of soil and the rate of erosion under traditional land use and during the natural vegetation succession following land abandonment, in a marginal area of Portugal. A chronosequence was used, which included soils cultivated with cereal crops (the traditional land use in the territory), the typical stages in vegetation succession following land abandonment (herbaceous, shrub and wood), and native forest (used as a reference ecosystem).The results indicated that the differences in both soil properties and soil erosion were related to land management and the different stages in plant succession, highlighting that continuous cropping is primarily responsible for depleting soil nutrients and intensifying the degradation processes.

Soil erosion is one of the most serious degradation problems in the world, so in Indonesia. The average level of global soil erosion ranges from 12-15 Ton/ha/yr, or it can be said that there is a surface soil loss of 0.90-0.95 mm of land. While the watershed in Indonesia is 458 in which 60 are critically heavy, 222 critical and 176 potentially critical. An action is needed to reduce erosion rates which is one of the causes of damage to the watershed. Soil erosion modeling is a method used in estimating the amount of soil erosion that occurs in an area. Various models of soil erosion are developed with the aim of producing precise erosion estimates. This study will discuss soil erosion modeling (definition, classification of models and proceed) and a review of erosion assessment models that are widely used in Indonesia (USLE, MUSLE, RUSLE, and SWAT). By knowing each erosion estimation model, hope can be able to choose the right model according to the study to be conducted.

This article considers past and future of land management in Ethiopia, focusing on the northern part of the country. How did soils and forests change over the last century? How do these changes affect the means of subsistence of the population? At the end of the 19th century, there were already gullies in northern Ethiopia, although these had been stabilized around 1935. In the 1960s a reactivation of gullies has occurred. Since about 2000, erosion rates decrease again, in conjunction with an increase in conservation activities and improved vegetation cover. As a result, the total production of cereals in Ethiopia is now higher than ever, and production per capita for 2005-2010 rose by 60% as compared to 1985-1990. Currently there is an increase of exportations of flowers and vegetables, as well as a strong increase in the export of the mild narcotic khat, which requires large amounts of water for growing. International land transactions, which stagnate well below the initial objectives, have not brought improvement to the livelihood of local populations.

EVOLUTION OF THE MONTADO LANDSCAPE IN THE INNER ALENTEJO DURING THE 20TH CENTURY. DYNAMICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES – This paper presents the general context within which the montado landscape changed in the inner Alentejo during the 20th century as well as some of the environmental consequences, such as soil degradation and modification of the local climate. In large areas nowadays abandoned, the landscape dynamics depends more on environmental limitations created by soil degradation that on purely socio-economical factors.

Worldwide, 70 % of coastal areas are undergoing shore line recession. Madagascar’s western coast is in sharp contrast, since accretion there is more pronounced than coastal recession process. One of the causes of coastal accretion is continental sediments, raising the problem of erosion on watersheds. Since the 1980’s, the Reef Complex of Toliara has been considered to be markedly degraded, due to the coral smothering of its structure by terrigenous materials originating from the Fiherenana river. In considering the problem of erosion process on the Fiherenana drainage basin, an approach based on computer modeling is proposed in this article, using the USLE model (Universal Soil Loss Equation), a model derived from the Universal Soil Loss Equation – USLE. This model is one of the most commonly applied for assessing sheet and rill erosion. USLE is widely used on various areas and at different scales. It takes into account four determining factors, such as soil erodibility, rainfall, slope length and steepness, land cover and conservation practice factor. This study is in line with the practice of Integrated Coastal Zone Management and aims at providing knowledge on erosion potential on the Fiherenana catchment, with a view to assessing its contribution to the dynamics of coastal sedimentation.

The present study focuses on soil surface erosion a nd applying the Universal Soil Loss Equation with GIS techniques of spatial analysis on an area of two river basins. The erosion and the processes associated with it are studied with the help of digital terrain data and the USLE and RUSLE models are successfully applied within the ar ea. Soil surface erosion occurs when detachable soils on sufficiently steep slopes are exposed to o verland flow and/or the impact of rainfall. The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) predicts th e long term average annual rate of erosion on a field slope based on rainfall pattern, soil type, topography, crop system and management practices but does not however predict th e soil loss resulting from gully erosion. Five major factors are used to calculate the soil l oss for a given site. Each factor is the numerical estimation of a specific condition that affects the severity of soil erosion at a particular location

[es] Aplicación del Cs-137 y de métodos de trampeo de suelo para estudiar procesos de ladera en el piedemonte de los Cárpatos. Se han delimitado las áreas afectadas por erosión y sedimentación en un perfil de ladera, representativo del piedemonte de los Cárpatos. Se han empleado dos métodos: Cesio-137 y trampas de sedimentos. Se ha demostrado que la erosión del suelo en laderas utilizadas para pastos es generalmente pequeña, apareciendo las degradaciones más intensas a media ladera. Cuando la ladera estaba cultivada, los procesos de erosión debían ser más intensos, como lo evidencia el alto contenido de Cs-137 en los depósitos de fondo de valle. El elevado contenido de Cs-137 en ecosistemas forestales se debe a la eficacia de los bosques para atrapar el Cs-137, más que a la sedimentación. [de] Anwendung der Cs-137 und der Fangmethode zur bestimmung der Hangvorgänge im Karpatenhügelland. Entlang eines Hangprofíls innerhalb des Karpatenhügellandes sind Stellen ermitteit worden an denen, entweder Erosion oder Deposition festgestellt wurden. Das wurde aufgrund zweier fvlethoden bestimmt: anhand des radioaktiven Cs-137 und der Menge des erodierten Materials in eigens für diesen Zweck hergestellten Auffangbehältern. Es wurde festgestellt, dass aufeinem ais Weide genutzten Han die Intensität der Erosion generellin selnem mittieren Teilam grössten ist Ais aber der untersuchte Weidehang ais Ackerland genutzt wurde, war die Intensität der Erosion und Abspülung annehmbar bedeutend grosser, worauf die beraächtiiche Menge des Cs-137 In den Ablagerungen des Talbodens zeugt Grosser Anteil des Cs-137 im Waldekosystem deutetaufeine erhebliche Aufnahmefähigkeitdes Waldes der radioaktiven Niederschlage. Dieser Anteil resultiert nicht aus der Akkumulation des erodierten Materials.

Copyright of Études Caribéennes is the property of Etudes Caribeennes and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Predicting specific erosion at the basin scale is essential in order to help prevent or forecast soil loss problems, water-quality degradation and the impairment of riparian ecosystems. In this study, models were defined to predict specific erosion of an ungauged basin according to hydromorphometric parameters, climatic parameters and vegetation cover, at the sites of dams and small dams in a highly eroded basin, the Algérois-Hodna-Soummam. The governing characteristics were carefully selected based on literature survey, examined and grouped into two zones by principal component analysis. Two methods were used: multiple regression and static neural networks. Very satisfactory results were obtained in testing the validity of the neural networks model by cross-validation—the model being composed of: average annual flow, drainage density, average slope of basin, and average annual rainfall in the input layer—with a determination coefficient of 0.81 and a mean square error of 0.19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the semi-arid Mediterranean climate of the Maghreb region, Algeria, the intensity and high variability of rainfall contribute to soil erosion that feeds the sediment load of the wadis, which, in turn, is a factor in the rapid silting-up of reservoirs. The temporal variability of solid and liquid flows, an important characteristic in Mediterranean regions, is the subject of this research, which focuses on the Wadi Bouhamdane in eastern Algeria. Since December 1987, the wadi flows—recorded by the gauging station (1105 km2) since September 1969—have been regulated by the Hammam Debagh Dam, located immediately upstream of the station (1070 km2). The study involved the treatment of a long time series of suspended sediment concentration and water flow data, together with daily water discharge data recorded at the dam site. A power function describing the relationship between the instantaneous suspended sediment loads and the instantaneous water flow was used to estimate daily suspended sediment discharge of two series (1969–1987 and 1995–2010), recorded, respectively, at the outlet of the basin (gauging station) and at the dam site. The results show a moderate mean annual specific suspended sediment flux (257 t km−2year−1), but high inter-annual variability characterizes the specific suspended sediment (TSS = 0.5 and 1396 t km−2year−1in 1996/97 and 2004/05, respectively), which increases significantly in the season of high streamflow. Thus, floods generate large quantities of sediment that represent a significant proportion of the annual total and monthly specific degradation throughout the basin. The comparative approach shows that the sediment flux estimated by concentration measurements at the wadi gauging station (0.22–0.29 hm3year−1) does not represent the entire volume of silting of the dam (0.98 hm3year−1on average), identified using bathymetry. This second method includes bedload and other inputs of sediment that are very difficult to measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) are implemented in order to map and assess water erosion using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) in the Wadi Mina watershed in Algeria. The study area is characterized by great irregularity in rainfall which is mainly generated during storm events. The region is also known for its steep slopes, marly lithology and very sparse vegetation cover, making it more exposed and vulnerable to erosion. The USLE model can be described as the combination of six factors that feature the specific characteristics of the watershed. Data from multi-temporal remote sensing analysis and GIS are used to individually assess and map each factor. Integration of thematic maps for the USLE factors in the GIS is used to identify the impact of each factor on soil loss, as well as to rank the relative importance of the erosion zones, and further to quantify soil loss in the investigated region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gully erosion management is a key element for soil preservation in Mediterranean environments. However, evaluation of gully erosion management measures is very infrequent. In this context, the aim of the present study is to propose and test such a method to determine the efficiency of erosion management measures in limiting gully length growth. The method is based on the interpretation of aerial photographs taken on different dates. It is implemented and tested on the Tunisian El Hnach catchment (3.7 km2), which has been subject to a variety of gully erosion management measures (tree planting, bench terraces, stone ridges and dry stone walls) applied around 1989. To enable comparison between treated and untreated areas, a correction of slope, lithology and climate effects is undertaken through a normalization procedure, considering untreated areas as reference areas. The monitoring of gully length evolution between 1952 and 2004 was used to evaluate gully growth rates, providing evidence of the great variability in efficiency of management practices in terms of slope and lithology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The displacement of surface material, caused by the spring collapse of rockwall icings that had formed on some rock faces during the winter, was quantified on three detrital talus slopes in Northern Gaspésie. The volumes of ice accumulated on the cliffs vary between 1000 and 4000 m3. One of the collapses triggered an avalanche of snow loaded with ice blocks. The avalanche reached a distance of more than 250 m from the rock face and the volume of the deposit, essentially ice (>80%) and snow, was estimated at 5000 m3. The debris displaced by the ice blocks at the surface of the talus was monitored using 297 passive integrated transponders (PIT tags) glued onto pebbles. Iron rods were inserted under the surface of the talus to measure erosion and accumulation on the talus surface. Mean displacements of 21 m were observed, and a maximum displacement of 232 m was measured at one of the sites. In general, erosion was observed over almost the entire length of the talus except at the base of the slopes where significant accumulations were recorded. The sediment displacement pattern concords with the ice block displacement mode on the slopes. Even if it was not possible to isolate the impact from all the active processes on the study slopes, it was evident that the collapse of the ice crusts is the dominant geomorphological process on the slopes studied. [Journal translation] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article discusses the criticism of the philosophers from the Age of Enlightenment's philosophy of progress expressed by conservationists. Defenders of nature have blamed science for the environment crisis, including the hole in the ozone layer, air pollution, or soil erosion. Scientists argue that science is not a threat to the planet, and that the opposition to progress is ridiculous.

In the Sancy Massif (French Central Massif), the tourism-related activities (hiking, skiing, biking, etc.) have become a threat to the morphological stability of the slopes. On the massif's ridges, the volcanic rocks (lava flows, pyroclastic deposits, etc.) and the soil (more or less evolved andosols) present a variable resistance to erosion. Tourists are attracted by the sites of geological, geomorphological, botanical or zoological interest. Thus, their intense presence on the hiking trails causes morphological changes and therefore the question of erosion-protection planning should be considered as a priority. On the most frequented trail segments, the managing bodies (Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne, Conseil Régional, Communauté des Communes) have begun rehabilitation work rather belatedly. New rehabilitation projects are being planned for the affected trails. A better taking into account of the erosion phenomena and a close collaboration of all the decision-makers in elaborating the managing plans should consider the whole trail network rehabilitation in the Sancy massif. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Societe et Environnement is the property of Les Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: This survey of the coastal dunes of northern France is based on stratigraphy, 14C dating, sedimentology and morphology applied for palaeoclimatic and palaeodynamic purpose. The dunes rest on a Flandrian prism sealed by Atlantic peats grown backward from a subboreal dune ridge. Two historical building phases are recorded: the late Roman dunes and the 13th century dunes. These events are separated by pedogenesis. Contribution of reworked fluvial sands also records the recent climatic degradation, with an increased storminess (Little Ice Age) associated with more efficient erosion (soil erosion and floods). The dunes of Picardy also record the Global Warming: their morphologies attest a shift from parabolic into longitudinal, by coupling storminess and sea-level rise. To cite this article: M. Meurisse et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]