François Wiaux

• Doctor of Engineering
• Founder at Graines d'Avenir

In this study we aim to elucidate the role of physical conditions and gas transfer mechanism along soil profiles in the decomposition and storage of soil organic carbon (OC) in subsoil layers. We use a qualitative approach showing the temporal evolution and the vertical profile description of CO2 fluxes and abiotic variables. We assessed soil CO2 f...

Both modelling and experimental approaches have been applied to assess C exchange fluxes at large spatial scales. Yet, these approaches are subjected to substantial limitations and uncertainties. Here, we aim to highlight two key mechanisms able to improve the estimation of the hillslope aggregated CO2 fluxes: (i) the persistence of soil organic ca...

Carbon exchange associated with accelerated erosion following land cover change is an important component of the global C cycle. In current assessments, however, this component is not accounted for. Here, we integrate the effects of accelerated C erosion across point, hillslope, and catchment scale for the 780-km(2) Dijle River catchment over the p...

A new near-field ground-penetrating antenna model was applied for characterization of soil moisture in an agricultural transect in central Belgium. The measurement system consists of a vector network analyzer connected with a horn antenna and a differential GPS mounted on a motorcycle for quick data acquisition. Numerical experiments show that near...

A crucial issue in soil C dynamics modelling is to develop models suitable for regional scale, but based on local and short-time scale observations. Recent research has illustrated the strong linkage between SOC dynamics and landscape processes. There is increasing evidence that lateral fluxes of SOC, sediment and water will further enhance the var...

Carbon emissions as a result of anthropogenic land use have drastically altered the global C cycle. Analyses reported that land use change has released 156 Pg C from vegetation and soils to the atmosphere in the period 1850-2000, equivalent to c. 50% of fossil fuel emissions. More recently, longer-term analysis of human-induced land cover change ha...

Current pesticide registration practices in Europe aim, amongst others, to limit pesticide leaching risks to groundwater and hence to reduce the contamination pressure on groundwater bodies (COM372final, 2006). Pesticide leaching risk can be assessed by means of PEC (Predicted Environmental Concentration) models. Yet, local and regional scale PEC m...