The assumptions of science: A reply to Mabit et al. (2013)

Abstract

Mabit et al. (2013) misrepresent Parsons and Foster (2011) as a review of the literature on the use of 137Cs for the study of soil erosion, whereas it was a review on the validity of the assumptions upon which the technique rests. Their paper presents no evidence that challenges our conclusion “that no current rates of soil erosion that are based upon the use of this technique are reliable”. We, therefore, stand by that statement and express our concern that major agencies involved with soil erosion might accept without question both the validity of the 137Cs method and the rates of soil erosion that have been published using it.