Average seasonal soil erosion and sediment deposition in the Aliakmon and Axios river catchments using the RUSLE model

Anthropogenic pressures in coastal areas are responsible for various problems that might cause degradation of their environmental status and limitations in the provision of their ecosystem services. In this framework, the assessment of soil erosion and sediment deposition is of major importance since they have significant environmental and economic impact. In this paper, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE model) was used to assess the average seasonal soil erosion and sediment deposition in the Aliakmon and Axios river catchments in Thermaikos Gulf, Northern Greece; areas of important environmental and economic value. The RUSLE is an empirical model which in combination with GIS and remote sensing is able to estimate soil erosion through the prediction of long-term seasonal soil loss and sediment deposition.