Quantifying soil erosion by water in the UK: a review of monitoring and modelling approaches

The role of erosion by water in the UK is considered. A summary of available data describing water erosion is presented providing insights into rates of erosion from the hillslope scale to the large catchment scale. Evidence suggests that soil erosion rates in excess of acceptable thresholds occur on a wide range of soils and under a wide range of land uses throughout the country. Given the recent shift towards erosion modelling and away from erosion monitoring, discussion of the quality of existing available observed data in the context of model evaluation is made. Much quality data exist in the UK to describe erosion by water, but it is argued here that few datasets provide the necessary detail with which to evaluate model performance accurately, especially when the description of the spatial heterogeneity of soil loss is a goal. Furthermore, the paradox between data collection ( to improve models) and erosion modelling ( to replace data collection) is highlighted as an issue that must be addressed within the discipline if full use of datasets and improvement of models is to be made.