Estimated soil erosion by water - area affected by severe erosion rate (source: JRC)

The indicator assesses the soil loss by water erosion processes (rain splash, sheetwash and rills) and gives an indication of the area affected by a certain rate of soil erosion (severe soil loss, E > 10 tonnes/hectare/year). This area is expressed in km2 and as a percentage of all potentially erosive-prone land in the country. Generally, artificial, sandy, rocky and icy surfaces as well as wetlands and water bodies are not included in the area on which the indicator is based. Where there is no area of land that is considered to be subject to soil erosion by water of more than 10 tonnes per hectare, a country will have a zero value. Soil erosion may still be occurring in areas of those countries, but at a rate of less than 10 tonnes per hectare. Data on soil erosion are published under agreement with data provider -<a href=https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en> Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC – Ispra)</a>. These data represent the soil erosion rates by water estimated on the basis of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) empirical computer model.