Preliminary Results of a Europe-wide Survey on Soil ... · Organic Carbon 1996 vs. 2006 Soil Survey Change in Organic Carbon in Organic and Mineral Layer Organic Layers Mineral Layers

Soil, Climate Change and Biodiversity – Where do we stand? Brussels, 23-24. September, 2010 1

R. HiedererEuropean Commission Joint Research Centre

Institute for Environment and SustainabilityTP261, I – 21027 Ispra (VA)

e-mail: [email protected]

Preliminary Results of a Europe-wide Survey on

Soil Organic Carbon Levels

Brussels, 23. September, 2010 2

Context

Climate Change

London

Oslo

Helsinki

Paris

Madrid

Rome

Warsaw

Present position Position corresponding to mean annual temperature for scenario period

End-of Century Temperature Equivalent

Based on data provided by the Danish Climate Centre, Danish Meteorological Institute according to the IPCC A2 scenario.

Geographic position of Europe, indicating major cities, at the end of the 21st century.

Based on the changes in mean annual temperature of the period 2071-2100 as compared to the period 1960-1990.

Geographic position of Europe, indicating major cities, at the end of the 21st century.

Based on the changes in mean annual temperature of the period 2071-2100 as compared to the period 1960-1990.

Temperature Effect


0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000Temperature Range (AAAT deg. C)

Managed Grassland Semi-natural Culti vated Average Model

TEMPERATURE CORRECTION FOR OCCoefficient for temperature variation

(by land cover, aggregation over 250 deg. C intervals)

Temperature Function for SOC Content

Context

Temperature Effect on Soil Organic Carbon Assumption

Within belts of uniform moisture conditions and comparable vegetation, the average total organic matter in soils increases by 2 to 3 times for each 10°C fall in mean temperature.

Within belts of uniform moisture conditions and comparable vegetation, the average total organic matter in soils increases by 2 to 3 times for each 10°C fall in mean temperature.


BioSoil Demonstration Project

Project AimsProvide harmonized soil and biodiversity data and contribute to research and forest related policies.

Biosoil/Soil Survey

Evaluation of Consistency of Biosoil data• Spatial variability at country level.• Temporal variability to previous survey.• Influence of laboratory methods on observed values.

Evaluation of Consistency of Biosoil data• Spatial variability at country level.• Temporal variability to previous survey.• Influence of laboratory methods on observed values.

Forest Focus (Regulation (EC) No. 2152/2003)


Soil Surveys linked to BioSoil

Background

Historic and Current Soil Surveys

Systematic Monitoring

Intensive Monitoring

Measured Profiles

Council Regulation (EEC) No 3528/86

Forest Focus Level 1

Forest Focus Level 2

SPADE/M

Regulation (EC) No. 2152/2003

BioSoil Level 1

BioSoil Level 2

Reference Laboratory

Reference LaboratoryFIMCI

SGDBE

FSCC

Soil Layer, Level 1Soil Layer, Level 2Soil ProfileFI

MC

I: Fo

rest

Inte

nsiv

e M

onito

ring

Coo

rdin

atin

g In

stitu

teFS

CC

: Fo

rest

Soi

l Coo

rdin

atin

g C

entre

ICP

For

ests

: In

tern

atio

nal C

oope

rativ

e P

rogr

amm

e on

Ass

essm

ent a

nd M

onito

ring

of A

ir P

ollu

tion

Effe

cts

on F

ores

tsS

GD

BE

: S

oil G

eogr

aphi

c D

atab

ase

of E

uras

iaS

PA

DE

/M:

Soi

l Pro

file

Ana

lytic

al D

atab

ase

/ Mea

sure

d P

rofil

es


ComplianceCompliance

ConformityConformity

UniformityUniformityA

utomation decreasesC

ompl

exity

incr

ease

s

• Verification of Formal AspectsErrors lead to data being rejected, need to be resubmitted.

• Evaluation of Data ValueErrors lead to data being re-assessed by NFC.

• Analysis of Data ComparabilityWarnings on systematic differences lead to message to NFC.

Data Validation Procedure

Quality Assurance


BioSoil Survey Participants

Scope of BioSoil

Soil Sampling

No. of countries: 22No. of NFCs: 31No. of Plots: 4,034

with reference 4,026 Plots within NFC area:

no buffer area 3,544buffer of 3km 3,551

No. of countries: 22No. of NFCs: 31No. of Plots: 4,034

with reference 4,026 Plots within NFC area:

no buffer area 3,544buffer of 3km 3,551

BioSoil Participating NFCs

Soil Level 1Soil Level 2Soil Level 1&2Biodiversity

Survey Data


Plot Positioning

• Nominal arrangement in 16 x 16 km grid on forest land.

• Use of ICP Forests Level 1 plots.

• Nominal arrangement in 16 x 16 km grid on forest land.

• Use of ICP Forests Level 1 plots.

Distribution of Level 1 Survey PlotsPlotLocation

BioSoil/Soil Level 1 Sample Plots


Soil Sampling

Sampling Methods

Two methods applied:a) pedological horizonsb) fixed depth

Two methods applied:a) pedological horizonsb) fixed depth

Mineral (cm)0 – 55 – 10

10 – 2020 – 4040 - 80

Organic

Litter

Image from E. Micheli in: Jones, A., V. Stolbovoy, C.Tarnocai, G. Broll, O. Spaargaren and L. Montanarella (2010) Soil Atlas of the Northern Circumpolar Region. Publication Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 144 pp.

Level 1 Plots with Only Organic or Mineral Layers

only organic layersonly mineral layers

Plot Data


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Freq

uenc

y (%

)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60Organic Carbon Content (%)

M05 M51 M12 M24 M48

Organic Carbon Content in Soil StratumFrequency Distribution

Distribution of Organic Carbon Content in Soil Stratum

Variability of OC decreases with depthVariability of OC decreases with depth

BioSoil/Soil


Organic Carbon Content in Soil StratumLevel 1 Plot Data

BioSoil/Soil

Distribution follows European map of topsoil organic carbon content.

Areas with peat show plots high OC content.

Distribution follows European map of topsoil organic carbon content.

Areas with peat show plots high OC content.

Organic Carbon Content in Soil Layer on Level 1 Plots

OC (g kg )-1

<4040 - 8080 - 120

120 - 160160 - 200

>200


1996 ICP Forests Survey

Survey Years of 1996 Soil DataTemporal Range

Database contains surveys performed over 13 years.

In some countries surveys were carried out over several years.

Database contains surveys performed over 13 years.

In some countries surveys were carried out over several years.

Soil Survey Year on ICP Forests Level 1 Plots

Year19851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998


Geographic Positioning

1996 vs. 2006 Soil SurveyGeographic Co-location

Identification of previous plot by geographic position is not apparent:

• new plots installed;• coordinates of existing

plots modified;• systematic shift

introduced.

Identification of previous plot by geographic position is not apparent:

• new plots installed;• coordinates of existing

plots modified;• systematic shift

introduced.Distance of BioSoil Plot to ICP Forests Plot

Distance (km)

<44 - 88 - 12

12 - 1616 - 20

>20


Significant Difference

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Freq

uenc

y (%

)

< -100-80

-60-40

-200

2040

6080

100>100

Organic Carbon Content (g / kg)

1996 - 2006 Layers Plot

2006 Soil Survey vs. Central LaboratoryDifference in Organic Carbon Content

Organic Layers (g kg-1) Mineral Layers (g kg-1)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Freq

uenc

y (%

)

< -15-12.5 -10 -7.5 -5 -2.5 0 2.5 5 7.5 10 12.5 15 >15Organic Carbon Content (g / kg)

1996 - 2006 M05 M51

M12 M24 M24

Mean: -0.07 g kg-1

Conf. Int. (95%) : "1.71 g kg-1

Mean: -0.07 g kg-1

Conf. Int. (95%) : "1.71 g kg-1Mean: -0.17 g kg-1

Conf. Int. (95%): "6.05 g kg-1

Mean: -0.17 g kg-1

Conf. Int. (95%): "6.05 g kg-1


Organic Carbon

1996 vs. 2006 Soil SurveyChange in Organic Carbon in Organic and Mineral Layer

Organic Layers Mineral Layers

SOC ( )g kg-1 SOC ( )g kg-1

< -100-100 to -50

-50 to 00 to 50

50 to 100>100

< -20-20 to -10-10 to 0

0 to 1010 to 20

>20


Demonstration Project Findings

Detection of Change in SOC after 10 years (1996 – 2006)

1 Olsen, C. (2009) Soil Inventories for Carbon Assessment. NRCS GHGIS workshop – Sandia Labs. May 21, 20092 Bellamy, P.H., P.J. Loveland, R.I. Bradley, R.M. Lark and J.D. Kirk (2005) Carbon losses form all soils across England and Wales. Nature, Vol. 437/8. Sept. 2008. pp 245-248.

Results

Significant difference from Central Lab. "0.61 / 0.17 % for SOC content.Significant change in SOC was detected for organic & mineral layers.Attributing change to a specific condition is not evident.

Significant difference from Central Lab. "0.61 / 0.17 % for SOC content.Significant change in SOC was detected for organic & mineral layers.Attributing change to a specific condition is not evident.

Methodology & AnalysisCommon Survey Manual compiled (with ICP Forests).Revisit same plots and allow identification of plots.Data QA essential.

Common Survey Manual compiled (with ICP Forests).Revisit same plots and allow identification of plots.Data QA essential.

• Instrument variations: < 0.1%1. • Laboratory measurement error: < 1-2%1. • Average annual rate of change in SOC content (0-15 cm): -0.5%2.

Documents

Preliminary Results of a Europe-wide Survey on Soil ... · Organic Carbon 1996 vs. 2006 Soil Survey Change in Organic Carbon in Organic and Mineral Layer Organic Layers Mineral Layers