Abstract
Erosion with the subsequent loss of soil and soil fertility is one of the urgent environmental problems worldwide. On grassland slopes from the montane to the alpine elevation zones of the European Alps, shallow erosion is a widespread and regionally increasing phenomenon. This group of mechanical denudation processes includes shallow landslides and nival abrasion (i.e., by snow gliding and avalanches), which are displacing patches of vegetation, soil and unconsolidated material. The resulting bare ground areas as well as the dislocated material are susceptible to further transport by water, snow, or wind. Our review summarizes the current knowledge on the main geomorphological processes for Alpine grassland erosion, namely shallow landslides and abrasion by snow movements as well as combinations of both processes. We shortly discuss the basic and variable controlling factors and further present a comprehensive approach for identifying and classifying shallow erosion phenomena and processes. In this context, the possibilities, limitations, and challenges for identification, classification and analysis of these processes by remote sensing are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the article focuses particularly on the role of snow-related processes, the relationship of erosion and vegetation, and the re-stabilization of affected areas by plants. Finally, we outline the discussion on the impact of land-use and climate change on these shallow erosion processes and identify the main research gaps that should be bridged in order to both better understand and deal with these erosion types on Alpine slopes.
Highlights
Erosion with the subsequent loss of soil and soil fertility is one of the urgent environmental problems throughout the world (e.g., Borrelli et al, 2017)
Shallow erosion phenomena on grassland slopes in the montane to alpine elevation zones within the European Alps and other mountainous regions represent a couple of different mechanical denudation processes (Fig. 1)
While overland flow tends to produce either narrow, linearly shaped eroded areas or act rather diffusely (Konz et al, 2012), this review focuses on a process group that typically results in spatially more constrained, compact forms, which are contrasting the undisturbed grassland in their surroundings
Summary
Erosion with the subsequent loss of soil and soil fertility is one of the urgent environmental problems throughout the world (e.g., Borrelli et al, 2017). Shallow erosion phenomena on grassland slopes in the montane to alpine elevation zones within the European Alps and other mountainous regions represent a couple of different mechanical denudation processes (Fig. 1). Some of these shallow erosion processes seem to be increasing. Even though their dynamics usually do not pose a direct threat in the sense of natural hazards, considerable amounts of soil loss can be part of it, impairing agricultural land use, landscape aesthetics and other ecosystem services (Adhikari and Hartemink, 2016). Of research makes it appropriate to provide an updated overview, as the review by Wiegand and Geitner (2010) is only available in German and the compilation by Meusburger and Alewell (2014) is mainly focused on case studies on soil erosion in the Western Alps between 2006 and 2013. The present compilation is supplemented by our own experiences and findings gained in several case studies in the Eastern Alps with different climatic and geological settings over the last 10 years
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