Synopsis top ↑
The sixteen papers which comprise this volume have been arranged
according to the emphasis given to measurement, theory, or
application. Six papers present results from ongoing research in
Spain. The first three from Catalonia refer to work in forested
ecosystems where high amounts of winter precipitation make seasonal
contrasts relatively high. The paper by Avila & Roda deals with
chemical denudation, in the same area that SALA has measured
mechanical erosion. Sevink considers how processes in these areas are
influenced by organic soil horizons. The next four papers by Brown,
Burt, Rogner and Mietton present the results of measurements from
studies in respectively England, California, Israel and Burkina
Faso. Brown demonstrates how studies of magnetic susceptibility can
increase our insight into processes in Mediterranean environments;
Rogner describes measurements of Cavernous weathering in the Negev;
Burt draws attention to the seasonality of nitrate leaching in the
relatively less seasonal environment of southwest England; and Mietton
addresses the technical problems of measuring temperature in the hot
dry environment of Burkina Faso. The last two papers, dealing mainly
with method both by La Roca & Calvo Cases, describe measurements from
marls in Valencia. The role of extreme events in this region in
influencing process and morphological development is one of the points
stressed. In two papers Poesen & Torri describe how cup size
influences splash transport and detachment. This is followed by I
Meson & Verstraten who consider how rill initiation is related to
physico-chemically controlled soil properties that influence the
dynamic response of material to wetting.
Three of the final four papers concerned with application deal with
soil erosion based on different approaches. Lewis, working in Rwanda
using simple measurements and the USLE, looks mainly at the effect of
groundcover on soil loss; Zanchi in Central Italy uses the USLE with
plot measurements of soil loss to draw attention to the importance of
seasonal variations in soil erodibility. Plot measurements also form
the basis of the paper by Goczan & Kertesz who present the result of
measurements from Hungary. Finally Lavee shows how geomorphic
principles can be applied to locate sites for toxic waste disposal.
Two papers presented during the symposium are not included because of
space but will be published elsewhere. These are by Haigh on the
Environmental correlates of landslide frequency along new highways in
the Central Himalaya and by Gerits on the implications of chemical
thresholds and physical-chemical processes for modelling erosion in
Spain.