Freeze-thaw cycles (FTC) influence soil erodibility (K-r) by altering soil properties. In seasonally frozen regions, the coupling mechanisms between FTC and water erosion obscure the roles of FTC in determining soil erosion resistance. This study combined FTC simulation with water erosion tests to investigate the erosion response mechanisms and key drivers for loess with varying textures. The FTC significantly changed the mechanical and physicochemical characteristics of five loess types (P < 0.05), especially reducing shear strength, cohesion, and internal friction angle, with sandy loam exhibiting more severe deterioration than silt loam. Physicochemical indices showed weaker sensitivity to FTC versus mechanical properties, with coefficients of variation below 5 %. Wuzhong sandy loess retained the highest K-r post-FTC, exceeding that of the others by 1.04 similar to 2.25 times, highlighting the dominant role of texture (21.37 % contribution). Under different initial soil moisture contents (SMC), K-r increased initially and then stabilized with successive FTC, with a threshold effect of FTC on K-r at approximately 10 FTC. Under FTC, the K-r variation rate showed a concave trend with SMC, turning point at 12 % SMC, indicating that SMC regulates freeze-thaw damage. Critical shear stress exhibited an inverse response to FTC compared to K-r, displaying lower sensitivity. The established K-r prediction model achieved high accuracy (R-2 = 0.87, NSE = 0.86), though further validation is required beyond the design conditions. Future research should integrate laboratory and field experiments to expand model applicability. This study lays a theoretical foundation for research on soil erosion dynamics in freeze-thaw-affected areas.

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the effects of root exudates on the aggregate stability and permeability of loess and to further reveal the mechanisms of vegetation in preventing and controlling soil erosion beyond mechanical effects.Materials and methodsWetting tests were conducted to investigate how loess aggregate stability varies with curing time and root exudate concentration; and infiltration tests were carried out to examine the influence of root exudates on the infiltration characteristics of loess with varying degrees of compaction.Results and discussionThe results showed that the stability of loess aggregates significantly increased due to the application of root exudates. Curing could enhance the stabilizing effects of root exudates on loess aggregates; however, there existed a critical curing duration. The application of root exudates reduced the stable infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity of loess. However, untreated specimens under lower degrees of compaction exhibited lower stable infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity due to local structural damage. The stable infiltration rate of both treated and untreated specimens decreased with curing time.ConclusionsThe effects of root exudates can be attributed to their ability to function as stabilizing agents and promote aggregation, due to their high adsorption capacities and negatively charged groups on their surfaces. On the other hand, the presence of root exudates can significantly enhance the soil microbial activity, the microorganisms and their hyphae further strengthen the soil structure, fill pores and increase the soil hydrophobicity, thereby improving the aggregate stability while reducing the soil permeability.

Wildfires are increasingly recognized as a critical driver of ecosystem degradation, with post-fire hydrological and soil impacts posing significant threats to biodiversity, water quality, and long-term land productivity. In fire-prone regions, understanding how varying fire intensities exacerbate runoff and erosion is essential for guiding post-fire recovery and sustainable land management. The loss of vegetation and changes in soil properties following fire events can significantly increase surface runoff and soil erosion. This study investigates the effects of varying fire intensities on runoff and sediment yield in the Kheyrud Educational Forest. Controlled burns were conducted at low, moderate, and high intensities, along with an unburned plot serving as the control. For each treatment, three replicate plots of 2 m2 were established. Runoff and sediments were measured over the course of 1 year under natural rainfall. In addition, key soil physical properties, including bulk density, penetration resistance, and particle size distribution (sand, silt, and clay fractions), were assessed to better understand the underlying mechanisms driving hydrological responses. The results revealed that bulk density and penetration resistance were lowest in the control and highest for the high-intensity fire treatment. A significant correlation was observed between bulk density, penetration resistance, and both runoff and sediment production. However, no significant correlation was found between runoff and soil texture (sand, silt, and clay content). Fire intensity had a pronounced effect on runoff and sediment, with the lowest levels recorded in the control and low-intensity fire treatment, and the highest in the high-intensity fire treatment. The total annual erosion rates were 0.88, 1.10, 1.57, and 2.24 tons/ha/year for the control, low-, moderate-, and high-intensity treatments, respectively. The study demonstrates that high-intensity fires induce substantial changes in soil structure and vegetation cover, exacerbating runoff and sediment loss. To mitigate post-fire soil degradation, proactive forest management strategies are essential. Preventive measures-such as reducing fuel loads (e.g., removing uprooted trees in beech stands), minimizing soil compaction and vegetation damage during logging operations, can help reduce the ecological impact of wildfires. These findings provide a scientific basis for adaptive management in fire-prone forests, addressing urgent needs to balance ecological resilience and human activities in wildfire-vulnerable landscapes.

Soil erosion is an important driver of land and ecological degradation, with hydraulic erosion in particular leading to widespread impacts and damage. As an important concept and indicator for characterizing the potential and pathways of sediment production and transportation within watersheds or on slopes, sediment connectivity has gained global attention and thus been analysed since its proposal in 2003. Sediment connectivity has become an effective metric for analysing the sources, processes, and potentials of soil erosion and sediment yield (SY) in watersheds, and it has been considered a popular research topic in the field of soil erosion over the past decade. Considering the lack of up-to-date systematic reviews of conceptual connotations, characterization indicators for sediment connectivity, and quantitative relationships between these indicators and erosion and SY, a bibliometric analysis of sediment connectivity was conducted via the CiteSpace tool, which is based on the Web of Science (WOS), Scopus (Elsevier) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. In this research, the current state, popular topics, and trends in relevant studies were identified, and the conceptual connotations, influencing factors, and indicator algorithms of sediment connectivity and their quantitative relationships with soil erosion and SY were summarized. Furthermore, the contents and directions to be strengthened and improved in the future were determined. The results indicated that over the past 21 years, sediment connectivity has been analysed in 123 countries or regions. Researches have focused primarily on related concepts, indicators, scales, and influencing factors. This concept has been widely applied in various practices such as soil and water resource regulation, land use optimization, and soil erosion control. In previous studies, several linear (SY = a center dot IC + b) and exponential (SY = a center dot eb center dot IC) increasing relationships between sediment connectivity indicators (such as the index of connectivity (IC)) and SY at the slope or watershed scale have been established, facilitating the development of research on prediction and attribution analysis for the identification of sediment sources and changes. There is a consensus on what sediment connectivity is to date, but a unified and complete system has not been yet formed for sediment connectivity and several of its derived concepts. The Index of Connectivity (IC), as the primary means for quantitatively characterizing the status and distribution of sediment connectivity, has led to the creation of more than 20 different algorithms, whereas the included parameters mainly reflect the internal factors influencing topography and land use/cover. The effects of climatic factors and human activities have not been fully considered in previous studies, which has led to relatively backwards researching on functional connectivity indicators. Hence, the classification systems and theoretical frameworks for a series of concepts must be further refined on the basis of sediment connectivity, such as the objective openness, scale dependence, comprehensive impact, and distribution heterogeneity. Moreover, the amount of research on the influences of external drivers and the coupled effects of different factors on indicators of sediment connectivity should be increased. Nevertheless, it is still necessary to explore certain aspects, such as the parameter combinations and normalization methods of the upslope and downslope components of the IC algorithm, and to continuously improve the explanation of the dynamic changes in sediment while considering both hydrological connections along flow paths and off-site impacts on underlying surface variations. Moreover, there is a need to increase the spatiotemporal scale of research on sediment connectivity, explore its feedback mechanisms and close quantitative relationships with soil erosion and SY, focus on the integrated application of different indicators (methods), and validate and results via multisource information to promote relevant applications. The obtained results provide valuable reference for the refinement of theories and methods for sediment connectivity and enhance its support of studies of soil erosion and SY in watersheds.

Soil erosion has both on-farm and off-farm effects. On-farm, reduced soil depth can decrease land productivity, while off-farm, sediment transfer can damage streams, lakes, and estuaries. Therefore, optimal soil erosion modeling is a crucial first step in soil erosion research. One of the most important aspects of this modeling is the accuracy and applicability of the soil erosion factors used. Various methods for calculating these factors are discussed in the literature, but no single method is universally accurate. After an extensive review of the literature, we propose using the existing revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) factors for global application. Additionally, we conducted a grassroots-level experiment to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. RUSLE is identified as the most suitable model for global-scale soil erosion modeling. We evaluated the potential impacts of climate and land use and land cover (LULC) by utilizing shared socio-economic pathways (SSPs) alongside projected LULC scenarios. A suitable general circulation model (GCM) was selected after comparing it with recorded data from a base period. This model was validated with experimental observations, confirming its effectiveness. This review article outlines the future direction of soil erosion modeling and provides recommendations.Graphical AbstractThe graphical abstract visually summarizes the comprehensive methodology and key findings associated with optimal soil erosion modeling and management. It highlights a structured approach, beginning with identifying optimal methods for assessing soil erosion factors: Rainfall and Runoff Erosivity (R), Soil Erodibility (K), Slope Length and Steepness (LS), Cover and Management (C), and Support Practice (P) integral components of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). It illustrates the detailed methodological framework, emphasizing selecting suitable climate models for projecting future R factors, combined with projected land use and land cover (LULC) scenarios derived from Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs). The scenarios shown range from lower emissions (SSP 126) to higher emissions (SSP 585), indicating progressive increases in future erosion risk. Moreover, it explicitly ties the research findings to policy recommendations, underscoring a holistic approach aligning soil conservation with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): specifically, Climate Action (SDG 13), Life on Land (SDG 15), and Zero Hunger (SDG 2). Suggested measures include integrating soil erosion control into broader policy frameworks, promoting sustainable land management practices such as agroforestry and contour plowing, and fostering policy integration and collaboration to enhance conservation effectiveness. Overall, the graphical abstract succinctly depicts how climate change, socio-economic dynamics, and LULC variations amplify future soil erosion risks, reinforcing the need for targeted, sustainable, and integrated soil conservation strategies globally.

Internal soil erosion in urban environments is a significant factor contributing to the chronic uneven settlement of subway stations. This paper investigates the seismic failure mechanisms of subway stations affected by prior soil internal erosion. Erosion is modeled via a practical approach based on the Cap plasticity model. A 2D finite element model of a two-layer, three-span subway station is developed to simulate its seismic response under various factors, including the seismic incidence angle, soil erosion, and earthquake motions. The vertical load transfer and damage assessment of the vertical elements are thoroughly analyzed across all the scenarios. The results show that after the adverse internal force redistribution caused by soil erosion in the corners of the underlying soil, the subway station experiences a progressive seismic failure process. As the seismic incidence angle increases, the deformation mode of the station shifts from a bilateral shear mode to a unilateral pushover mode, requiring more seismic energy for structural collapse.

Currently, there is a growing concern for human health with the rise of environmental pollution. Water contamination and health problems had been understood. Sanitation-related health issues have been overcome in the greater part of the world. Progressive industrialization has caused a number of new pollutants in water and in the atmosphere. It is a growing concern for the human health, especially upon the reproductive health. Current researchers provide a strong association between the rising concentrations of ambient pollutants and the adverse health impact. Furthermore, the pollutants have the adverse effects upon reproductive health as well. Major concern is for the health of a pregnant woman and her baby. Maternal-fetal inflammatory response due to the pollutants affects the pregnancy outcome adversely. Preterm labor, fetal growth restriction, intrauterine fetal death, and stillbirths have been observed. Varieties of pathological processes including inflammation, endocrine dysfunction, epigenetic changes, oxidative and nitrosative stress, and placental dysfunction have been explained as the biological plausibility. Prospective studies (systematic review and meta-analysis) have established that exposure to particulate matters (PM) and the nanoparticles (NP) leads to excessive oxidative changes to cause DNA mutations, lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. Progressive industrialization and emergence of heavy metals, micro- (MP) and nanoparticles (NP) in the atmosphere and in water are the cause for concern. However, most of the information is based on studies from industrialized countries. India needs its own country-based study to have the exact idea and to develop the mechanistic pathways for the control.

The damage caused by soil erosion to global ecosystems is undeniable. However, traditional research methods often do not consider the unique soil characteristics specific to China and rainfall intensity variability in different periods on vegetation, and relatively few research efforts have addressed the attribution analysis of soil erosion changes in tropical islands. Therefore, this study applied a modification of the Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE) to evaluate the monthly mean soil erosion modulus in Hainan Island over the past two decades, aiming to assess the potential soil erosion risk. The model demonstrated a relatively high R2, with validation results for the three basins yielding R2 values of 0.77, 0.64, and 0.78, respectively. The results indicated that the annual average soil erosion modulus was 92.76 thm-2year-1, and the monthly average soil erosion modulus was 7.73 thm-2month-1. The key months for soil erosion were May to October, which coincided with the rainy season, having an average erosion modulus of 8.11, 9.41, 14.49, 17.05, 18.33, and 15.36 thm-2month-1, respectively. September marked the most critical period for soil erosion. High-erosion-risk zones are predominantly distributed in the central and eastern sections of the study area, gradually extending into the southwest. The monthly average soil erosion modulus increased with rising elevation and slope. The monthly variation trend in rainfall erosivity factor had a greater impact on soil water erosion than vegetation cover and biological practice factor. The identification of dynamic factors is crucial in areas prone to soil erosion, as it provides a scientific underpinning for monitoring soil erosion and implementing comprehensive water erosion management in these regions.

Soil erosion poses a considerable threat to ecosystem services around the world. Among these, it is extremely problematic for archaeological sites, particularly in arable landscapes where accelerated soil degradation has been widely observed. Conversely, some archaeological deposits may obtain a certain level of protection when they are covered by eroded material, thereby lessening the impacts of phenomena such as plow damage or bioturbation. As a result, detailed knowledge of the extent of colluvial deposition is of great value to site management and the development of appropriate methodological strategies. This is particularly true of battlefield sites, where the integrity of artifacts in the topsoil is of great importance and conventional metal detection (with its shallow depth of exploration) is relied upon as the primary method of investigation. Using the Napoleonic battlefield of Waterloo in Belgium as a case study, this paper explores how different noninvasive datasets can be combined with ancillary data and a limited sampling scheme to map colluvial deposits in high resolution and at a large scale. Combining remote sensing, geophysical, and invasive sampling datasets that target related phenomena across spatial scales allows for overcoming some of their respective limitations and derives a better understanding of the extent of colluvial deposition.

In recent years, prominent spacefaring nations have redirected their attention towards the Moon as potential avenue for economic prospects and as a pivotal waypoint for extended space exploration endeavors. Nonetheless, a notable concern has emerged regarding the dispersion of lunar dust during lunar landings, a phenomenon that has been associated with documented instances of equipment damage during prior missions. To mitigate these challenges, leading research institutions are actively engaged in endeavors aimed at minimizing the adverse effects of dust dispersal during lunar and extraterrestrial landings. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of ongoing research and development endeavors focusing on the interaction dynamics between rocket plumes and lunar surfaces, along with the resultant dispersion of lunar dust triggered by rocket plume impingement. Additionally, it presents research efforts aimed at developing lunar dust mitigation technologies.