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Project properties |
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| Title | The impact of climate and land use change on land degradation in a semi-arid catchment |
| Group | Soil Physics and Land Management group |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 24-39 |
| Supervisor(s) | Jantiene Baartman |
| Examiner(s) | Coen Ritsema |
| Contact info | jantiene.baartman@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2021/05/25 |
| End date | |
| Description | Climate change is expected to have a negative impact on land degradation, mainly due to the projected increase in extreme precipitation. Land use change may amplify (e.g. due to agricultural intensification) or decrease (e.g. due to reforestation) the impact of climate change on land degradation. Because of this uncertainty, it is essential to consider land use change in climate change assessments, to assess the combined impact on land degradation.
Research Objective/Question This MSc thesis project aims to assess how land use change can be considered in climate change impact assessments in a semi-arid catchment in Southeast Spain, where climate change is expected to cause a significant increase in soil erosion and sediment yield. What is expected from the student (type of research) Through a literature review, the student will evaluate the techniques used to assess land use change in climate change impact assessments. This may include historical land use trend analysis, models (e.g. CLUE, Land Change Modeler) or other (statistical) techniques. The most promising technique will be selected, based on data and other requirements. The land use change technique will be applied in the study area, with the aim to obtain detailed land use maps under future climate conditions. The impact of climate and land use change on land degradation may be evaluated through the application of the SPHY model, a hydrological model coupled with a soil erosion and sediment transport module. The student will evaluate if land use change significantly decreases the impact on land degradation under climate change. |
| Used skills | |
| Requirements | Modelling experience (depends on the land use change technique that is going to be applied) |