Predicting land at risk from wind erosion using an index-based framework under a climate change scenario in Durango, Mexico

Authors: Galloza, Magda; LOPEZ-SANTOS, AMANDO - Non ARS Employee; MARTINEZ-SANTIAGO, SANTOS - Non ARS Employee

Submitted to: Environmental Earth Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/18/2017
Publication Date: 2/2/2018
Citation: Galloza, M.S., Lopez-Santos, A., Martinez-Santiago, S. 2018. Predicting land at risk from wind erosion using an index-based framework under a climate change scenario in Durango, Mexico . Environmental Earth Sciences. 33(3):222-224. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170517000801.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170517000801

Interpretive Summary: Global rates of wind erosion have been impacted mainly by the contribution of anthropogenic dust sources. 90% of Mexican territory is currently experiencing land deterioration mainly due to anthropogenic land use changes (e.g. intensification of agricultural practices and deforestation), and still expecting further deterioration. Efforts have been directed toward the impact of land use changes on wind erosion in dryland ecosystems, however there is still high uncertainty on the nature of wind erosion sources. We address this challenge by developing and evaluating a method for completing spatial assessments of vulnerable zones currently experiencing accelerated soil erosion and to predict those areas where soil erosion is likely to occur in the near future. We evaluate spatiotemporal patterns and variability in soil erosion and aridity, as well as the identification of key characteristics driving soil degradation over a study area in the Comarca Lagunera, Durango, Mexico. Our results demonstrate that the suggested methodology can be effectively used to spatially delineate potential locations susceptible to soil degradation, not only in the present time but also to predict those locations in the near future. This provides the opportunity of spatially define areas of interest based on specific relationships between edaphological properties and its vulnerability to climate variability. This method provides valuable information to assess critical locations that requires an alternative for mitigating the negative effect of accelerated soil degradation and thereby improving environmental sustainability in drylands.

Technical Abstract: Land degradation takes place primarily in drylands which make up for almost 50% of the cultivated lands, globally. 90% of Mexican territory is currently experiencing land deterioration mainly due to anthropogenic land use changes, and still expecting further deterioration. While efforts have been directed toward the impact of land use changes on wind erosion in dryland ecosystems, there is still high uncertainty on the nature of wind erosion sources. We address this challenge by developing and evaluating a method for completing spatial assessments of vulnerable zones currently experiencing accelerated soil erosion and to predict those areas where soil erosion is likely to occur in the near future. This approach is tested over a study area in the Comarca Lagunera, Durango, Mexico. We evaluate spatiotemporal patterns and variability in soil erosion and aridity, as well as the identification of key characteristics driving soil degradation in the area. Our results demonstrate that the suggested methodology can be effectively used to spatially delineate potential locations susceptible to soil degradation (e.g. Moderate Risk Zones and/or High Risk Zones), not only in the present time but also to predict those locations in the near future. This provides the opportunity of spatially define areas of interest based on specific relationships between edaphological properties and its vulnerability to climate variability. This type of approach could be valuable to identify critical locations that should be treated as a priority for monitoring and managing accelerated soil degradation.