Catastrophic soil erosion in Iceland : Impact of long-term climate change, compounded natural disturbances and human driven land-use changes

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
Catastrophic soil erosion of the heathland ecosystem of Haukadalsheiði, south Iceland over the 17, 19 and 20th centuries was spatially reconstructed in a chronological order using information on the average progress of eroding fronts, anecdotal and historical evidence along with tephrochronological information. Human driven land-use changes played a role in the heathland degradation : free-range grazing by livestock decreased resistance of vegetation to soil erosion. The catastrophic soil erosion was triggered by a massive sand encroachment (1660 AD) from 3 outwash sand-plains along the glacial River Far. The sand drift was sustained by dry northern glacial (katabatic) winds that drove the soil erosion. Frequent volcanic tephra fallouts and glacial river floods maintained soil erosion.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2012, vol. 98, p. 41-54, nombre de pages : 14, Références bibliographiques : 1 p.

Date :
2012

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena