The combined global land and marine surface temperature record from 1856 to 2003. The year 2003 was the second warmest on record. Also 2004 was the fourth warmest year globally. From the Climatic Research Unit

Knowledge gained about present-day soil erosion, and erosion in the past, can of course be a great help in suggesting where and how future erosion is likely to be a problem. However, it is likely that there will be some important differences.

For example, future rates of water and wind erosion are likely to be affected both by climate change, as well as by land use change. Rates of water erosion, for example, are likely to respond to increases in rainfall in a non-linear manner, with disproportionately greater increases occuring in wet years. There are, though, still large large gaps in our knowledge.

For more information about future climate change and soil erosion:

• 'Conservation implications of climate change: soil erosion and runoff from cropland' (Report from Soil and Water Conservation Society)

• About soil erosion
  • What is soil erosion?
    • Processes of soil erosion
    • Erosion in the past
    • The extent of the problem
    • Erosion little and large
    • On-site effects
    • Off-site effects
    • What we still don't know
      • Soil erosion in the future
      • Erosion on other planets
  • Where does soil erosion occur?
  • Preventing soil erosion
  • More research needed?
• Links
• About this website