Modelling the impacts of climate and land use changes on soil water erosion: Model applications, limitations and future challenges

The world is experiencing serious soil losses. Soil erosion has become an important environmental problem in certain regions and is strongly affected by climate and land use changes. By selecting and reviewing 13 extensively used soil water erosion models (SWEMs) from the published literature, we summarize the current model-based knowledge on how climate factors (e.g., rainfall, freeze-thaw cycles, rainstorms, temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentrations) and land use change impact soil erosion worldwide. This study also provides a critical review of the application of these 13 SWEMs. By comparing model structures, features, prediction accuracies, and erosion processes, we recommend the most suitable SWEMs for different regions of the globe (Asia, Europe, Africa and the America) based on the evaluations of 13 SWEMs. Future soil erosion could be simulated using the RUSLE, LISEM, WEPP v2010.1, SWAT, EPIC, KINEROS and AGNPS models in Asia; the RUSLE, WEPP v2010.1, SWAT, EPIC, WATEM-SEDEM, MEFIDIS, AGNPS and AnnAGNPS models in Europe; the RUSLE, LISEM, SWAT, and AGNPS models in Africa; and the WEPP v2010.1, SWAT, EPIC, KINEROS, AGNPS and AnnAGNPS models in America. Finally, the limitations and challenges of the 13 SWEMs are highlighted.