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Role of climatic and anthropogenic factors accelerating soil erosion and fluvial activity.

Leszek Starkel

Department of Geomorphology and Hydrology, Institute of Geography, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-018 Kraków, ul. św. Jana 22, e-mail: starkel@zg.pan.krakow.pl

 Abstract.

The comparison of climatically controlled phases of  higher  rainfall and flood frequency with the anthropogenic phases of effective soil erosion documents various overlappings and  superpositions. The wetter phase with high frequency of extreme events leads to the transformation of relief, well expressed in the ecotonal zones and in the high mountains. Increased human activity is controlling an accelerated soil erosion overbank deposition and tendency to breading. The most distinct changes, leading to the passing of thresholds and transformation of slopes and valley floors are connected with the coincidence of wetter climate and high anthropogenic pressure. Those  phases were recognized  in Central Europe during the middle Neolithic period, the early phase of the Roman period, the 10th – 11th century and the Little Ice Age.