Monitoring gully erosion in the European Union: A novel approach based on the Land Use/Cover Area frame survey (LUCAS)

The European Commission's Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection (COM(2012)46) identified soil erosion as an important threat to Union's (EU) resources. Gully is but hitherto poorly understood component of this threat. Here we present the results unprecedented attempt monitor occurrence gully across EU and UK. We integrate a module into 2018 LUCAS Topsoil Survey, which was conducted health status support actions prevent degradation. discuss explore opportunities further improve method. Survey consisted sampling (0–20 cm depth) observations in ca. 10% (n = 24,759) 238,077 Land Use/Cover Area frame (LUCAS) in-field survey sites. channels were detected 1% (211 sites) visited Commission (false positives, 2.5%) omission errors negatives, 5.6%) found be low at level that could not compromise representativeness survey. Overall, findings indicate tested monitoring system effective detecting incidence erosion. morphogenesis mapped gullies suggests approach tool map permanent gullies, whereas it appears less detect short-lived forms like ephemeral gullies. Spatial patterns emerging from field provide new insights on typical formation sites This can help design targeted research activities. An extension all 2022 would significantly enhance our understanding geographical distribution processes EU. Repeated every three years, surveys contribute assess state over time. It will also enable eventually predicting dynamics Data collected part publicly available Erosion visual assessment (GE-LUCAS v1.0) inventory.