Implications of climate change on wind erosion of agricultural lands in the Columbia Plateau

Authors: Sharratt, Brenton; Tatarko, John; ABATZOGLOU, JOHN - University Of Idaho; Fox, Jr, Fred; Huggins, David

Submitted to: Weather and Climate Extremes
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/5/2015
Publication Date: 6/22/2015
Publication URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212094715300025
Citation: Sharratt, B.S., Tatarko, J., Abatzoglou, J., Fox, F.A., Huggins, D.R. 2015. Implications of climate change on wind erosion of agricultural lands in the Columbia Plateau. Weather and Climate Extremes. 10:10-16.

Interpretive Summary: More extreme variations in temperature and precipitation under a changing climate may affect the erodibility of soils in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. No studies have examined the impact of climate change on soil wind erosion in the western United States. Based on current and future crop yield and climate at three locations in the Pacific Northwest, soil loss by wind erosion will likely decrease by 25 to 84% by the mid-21st century. The reduction in soil loss results from higher crop yield and lower wind speeds projected by the mid-21st century. Although projections look favorable for reducing wind erosion under a changing climate, farmers and land managers must be vigilant in managing their lands for conserving the soil resource.

Technical Abstract: Climate change may impact soil health and productivity as a result of accelerated or decelerated rates of erosion. Previous studies suggest a greater risk of wind erosion on arid and semi-arid lands due to loss of biomass under a future warmer climate. There have been no studies conducted to assess the impact of climate change on wind erosion in the Columbia Plateau of the Pacific Northwest United States where wind erosion of agricultural lands can cause exceedance of national air quality standards. The Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS) was used to assess wind erosion and PM10 (particulate matter =10 µm in aerodynamic diameter) emissions under a future climate projected by downscaling 18 Global Climate Models (GCM) for a conservative emissions pathway. Wind erosion simulations were conducted at Lacrosse and Lind, WA and Moro, OR on a winter wheat – summer fallow (WW-SF) rotation and at Lind on an additional winter wheat – camelina – summer fallow (WW-Cam-SF) rotation. Each rotation was subject to conservation or conventional tillage practices for a baseline climate (1970-1999) and mid-21st century climate (2035-2064). Climate projections generally resulted in significant increases in temperature and nominal increases in precipitation throughout the Columbia Plateau by the mid-21st century. Soil and PM10 losses were 25 to 84% lower under a mid-21st century climate, due in part to greater biomass production associated with CO2 fertilization and warmer temperatures. The reduction in soil and PM10 loss is projected to be more apparent for conservation tillage practices in the future. Soil and PM10 losses were greater from a WW-Cam-SF rotation than WW-SF rotation when conservation tillage practices were employed during the fallow phase of the rotations. Despite accounting for differences in the length of each rotation, annual soil and PM10 losses remained higher for the WW-Cam-SF rotation than the WW-SF rotation. Soil and PM10 losses were more variable across years during 1970-1999 than 2035-2064; however, small and inconsistent differences in the coefficient of variation in soil loss between 1970-1999 and 2035-2064 suggest similarity in climate extremes which govern wind erosion.