Current and Future Trends of Rainfall Erosivity and Soil Erosion in Central Asia (SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science)

This book analyses climate change influences on rainfall erosivity and soil erosion across Central Asia, provides an overview (past and projections) on the Central Asian countries where projected changes in rainfall erosivity and erosivity density are the greatest, and discusses the potential impacts on the environment across the region. This analysis is accomplished primarily using the RUSLE model with past and future climate projections, spatiotemporal variations of rainfall erosivity and soil erosion based on WorldClim, and Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) climate models (for Central Asia and separately Kazakhstan). The relationship between precipitation characteristics and erosion has been well established, but spatial and temporal projections of future rainfall erosivity in a changing climate in Central Asia have not been published significantly. Therefore, assessing rainfall erosivity and its consequences can assist specialists andresearchers in achieving the best practices for soil conservation. The result of this type of research is all-encompassing, and may reflect normal variations in other parts of the world (for example, the arid and semi-arid regions) and is inherently limited to the Central Asian region. Preface Acknowledgements Content and Structure of the Book Contents About the Authors Abbreviations and Acronyms Chapter 1: Introduction and Background of Rainfall Erosivity Processes and Soil Erosion 1.1 Rainfall Erosivity Processes 1.2 Impacts of Climate Change on Rainfall Erosivity 1.3 Soil Erosion Processes and Models Chapter 2: Natural Conditions in Central Asia 2.1 Topography and Climatic Conditions in Central Asia 2.2 Description of Central Asian Soils Chapter 3: Data Sources and Methodology 3.1 Projected and Observed Rainfall Data 3.2 RUSLE Model and Its Factors 3.2.1 Rainfall–Runoff Erosivity (R) Factor 3.2.2 Soil Erodibility Factor (K) 3.2.3 Slope Length and Steepness (LS) Factor 3.2.4 Cover Management (C) Factor 3.2.5 Conservation Practice (P) Factor 3.3 Annual Erosivity Density Ratio 3.4 Trend Test 3.5 Model Evaluation Rainfall Erosivity Chapter 4: Projected Rainfall Erosivity and Soil Erosion in Central Asia 4.1 RUSLE Model Factors 4.2 Current Rate of Soil Erosion in Central Asia 4.3 Rainfall Erosivity Analysis Under Baseline and Projected Climate 4.4 Annual Erosivity Density 4.5 Projected Future Soil Erosion Potential in Central Asia 4.6 Rainfall Erosivity and Soil Erosion at the National Level Chapter 5: Spatiotemporal Variations and Projected Rainfall Erosivity and Erosivity Density in Kazakhstan 5.1 Physical–Geographical Characteristics of Kazakhstan 5.2 Annual Rainfall Erosivity Analysis and Trend 5.3 Projected Impacts of Climate Change on Rainfall Erosivity 5.4 Erosivity Density in Kazakhstan Chapter 6: Conclusions and Recommendations Appendix References Index