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Human-triggered magnification of erosion rates in European Alps since the Bronze Age

Author

Listed:
  • William Rapuc

    (Université Savoie Mont Blanc
    Durham University)

  • Charline Giguet-Covex

    (Université Savoie Mont Blanc)

  • Julien Bouchez

    (Institut de Physique Du Globe de Paris, CNRS)

  • Pierre Sabatier

    (Université Savoie Mont Blanc)

  • Jérôme Gaillardet

    (Institut de Physique Du Globe de Paris, CNRS
    Institut Universitaire de France)

  • Kévin Jacq

    (Université Savoie Mont Blanc)

  • Kim Genuite

    (Université de Bordeaux)

  • Jérôme Poulenard

    (Université Savoie Mont Blanc)

  • Erwan Messager

    (Université Savoie Mont Blanc)

  • Fabien Arnaud

    (Université Savoie Mont Blanc)

Abstract

A major feature of the Anthropocene is the drastic increase in global soil erosion. Soil erosion is threatening Earth habitability not only as soils are an essential component of the Earth system but also because societies depend on soils. However, proper quantification of the impact of human activities on erosion over thousands of years is still lacking. This is particularly crucial in mountainous areas, where the highest erosion rates are recorded. Here we use the Lake Bourget catchment, one of the largest in the European Alps, to estimate quantitatively the impact of human activities on erosion. Based on a multi-proxy, source-to-sink approach relying on isotopic geochemistry, we discriminate the effects of climate fluctuations from those of human activities on erosion over the last 10,000 years. We demonstrate that until 3800 years ago, climate is the only driver of erosion. From that time on, climate alone cannot explain the measured rates of erosion. Thanks to an unprecedented regional paleoenvironmental reconstruction, we highlight that the development of pastoralism at high altitudes from the Bronze Age onwards and the extension of agriculture starting in the Middle Ages were key factors in the drastic increase in erosion observed in the Alps.

Suggested Citation

  • William Rapuc & Charline Giguet-Covex & Julien Bouchez & Pierre Sabatier & Jérôme Gaillardet & Kévin Jacq & Kim Genuite & Jérôme Poulenard & Erwan Messager & Fabien Arnaud, 2024. "Human-triggered magnification of erosion rates in European Alps since the Bronze Age," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-45123-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45123-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Luca Montanarella, 2015. "Agricultural policy: Govern our soils," Nature, Nature, vol. 528(7580), pages 32-33, December.
    2. Michéle Koppes & Bernard Hallet & Eric Rignot & Jérémie Mouginot & Julia Smith Wellner & Katherine Boldt, 2015. "Observed latitudinal variations in erosion as a function of glacier dynamics," Nature, Nature, vol. 526(7571), pages 100-103, October.
    3. Charline Giguet-Covex & Johan Pansu & Fabien Arnaud & Pierre-Jérôme Rey & Christophe Griggo & Ludovic Gielly & Isabelle Domaizon & Eric Coissac & Fernand David & Philippe Choler & Jérôme Poulenard & P, 2014. "Long livestock farming history and human landscape shaping revealed by lake sediment DNA," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-7, May.
    4. David B. Kemp & Peter M. Sadler & Veerle Vanacker, 2020. "The human impact on North American erosion, sediment transfer, and storage in a geologic context," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Samuel Nussbaumer & Heinz Zumbühl, 2012. "The Little Ice Age history of the Glacier des Bossons (Mont Blanc massif, France): a new high-resolution glacier length curve based on historical documents," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 111(2), pages 301-334, March.
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