Landscape Erosion and Evolution Modeling

Landscapes are characterized by a wide variation, both spatially and temporally, of tolerance and response to natural processes and anthropogenic stress. These tolerances and responses can be analyzed through individual landscape parameters, such as soils, vegetation, and water, or holistically through ecosystem or watershed studies. However, such approaches are both time consuming and costly. Soil erosion and landscape evolution modelling provide a simulation environment in which both the short- and long-term consequences of land-use activities and alternative land use strategies can be compared and evaluated. Such models provide the foundation for the development of land management decision support systems. This volume is a state-of-the-art, interdisciplinary volume addressing the broad theme of soil erosion and landscape evolution modelling from different philosophical and technical approaches, ranging from those developed from considerations of first-principle soil/water physics and mechanics to those developed empirically according to sets of behavioural or empirical rules deriving from field observations and measurements. The validation and calibration of models through field studies is also included.