Sediment yield in mountain regions in the context of climate change: A systematic review

Climate change notably affects rainfall patterns, temperature regimes, vegetation dynamics, and soil stability, which in turn can directly or indirectly influence soil erosion and sediment yields. This systematic review aims to evaluate the current understanding and modeling practices regarding climate-induced sediment yield in mountain environments, which are highly sensitive to climate variations. Guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, 72 peer-reviewed studies, published between 2011 and 2024, were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. A multilevel database consisting of 12 sections and 56 subsections was developed to systematically extract relevant information from the studies considered. The review reveals a predominant use of conceptual (∼69%) and empirical models (∼25%), typically driven by coarse-resolution climate data. Most studies have been conducted at the catchment scale, with notable geographic bias toward Asia and Europe, and limited coverage in Oceania and South America. Stream sediment transport methods are the most common for estimating sediment yield, while sediment delivery ratios and rating curves are less frequently applied, limiting insight into sediment deposition and connectivity. Although many studies project increasing sediment yields under climate change (69.4%), others report decreasing or mixed trends, shaped by regional factors such as vegetation, land use, and conservation practices. The findings underscore the need for improved model validation (only ∼60% of studies reported any form of validation), greater geographic representation, and wider adoption of high-resolution, ensemble-based climate inputs. This review highlights that climate change acts both as a direct and indirect driver of sediment yield variability in mountain environments, and that addressing current modeling and data limitations is essential for producing reliable future projections that can inform sediment management and climate adaptation strategies.