[ Log In | Register]
! Skip Navigation Links
Skip Navigation Links
Image of Journal of Applied Nonlinear Dynamics
ISSN:2325-6192 (print)
ISSN:2325-6206 (online)
Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management
António Mendes Lopes (editor), Jiazhong Zhang(editor)
António Mendes Lopes (editor)

University of Porto, Portugal

Email: aml@fe.up.pt

Jiazhong Zhang (editor)

School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710049, China

Fax: +86 29 82668723 Email: jzzhang@mail.xjtu.edu.cn

Some Metrological Limitations to Rain Impact Computation in Storm Erosivity as Defined in the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, Version 2 (RUSLE2)

Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management 4(1) (2016) 37--44 | DOI:10.5890/JEAM.2016.03.004

Marco Casazza

Department of Science and Technology, University ‘Parthenope’ of Naples, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143, Naples, Italy.

Download Full Text PDF

 

Abstract

The theoretical and the instrumental metrological basis for computation of rainfall impact in storm erosivity as defined in the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, version 2 (RUSLE2) are considered. The present determination of rainfall erosivity is based on two factors: E, representing the rainfall kinetic energy, and I30, the maximum 30-minutes intensity for a given precipitation event. The present short review evidences some of the existing metrological limitations: (1) the non separation between the impact of falling rain and shallow flow of water; (2) the use of a non-universal semiempirical approach, (3) the absence of a clear model with respect to rain flow, runoff and soil wetting; (4) the use of a hybrid measure unit; (5) the intrinsic limitation of measuring technologies. The improvement of the existing parameter calculation techniques or a transition from a prevailing semi-empirical to a mainly physical-based approach would be desirable, even if this transformation shouldn’t affect the usability of the developed tools for practitioners.

References

  1. [1]  American Society of Agronomy (2008), Glossary of Soil Science Terms 2008, American Society of Agronomy - Spi edition: Madison, USA.
  2. [2]  Azevedo Coutinho, M., and Pereira Tomás, P. (1995), Characterization of raindrop size distributions at the Vale Formoso Experimental Erosion Center, CATENA 25(1-4): 187-197.
  3. [3]  Bagarello, V., Ferro V. and Giordano, G. (2010), Testing alternative erosivity indices to predict event soil loss from bare plots in Southern Italy, Hydrological Processes 24: 789-797.
  4. [4]  Blanchard, D.C. (1953), Raindrop size-distribution in Hawaiian rains, Journal of Meteorology 10(6): 457-473.
  5. [5]  Brandt, C.J. (1990), Simulation of the size distribution and erosivity of raindrops and throughfall drops, Earth Surface Processes & Landforms 15(8): 687-698.
  6. [6]  Brown, L.C. and Foster, G.R. (1987), Storm erosivity using idealized intensity distributions, Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 30(2): 379-386.
  7. [7]  Burt, S. (2012), The weather observer's handbook, Cambridge University Press: New York, NY, USA.
  8. [8]  Caracciolo, C., Prodi, F. and Uijlenhoet, R. (2006), Comparison between Pludix and impact/optical disdrometers during rainfall measurement campaigns, Atmospheric Research 82: 137-163.
  9. [9]  Caracciolo, C., Porcù F. and Prodi, F. (2008), Precipitation classification at mid-latitudes in terms of drop size distribution parameters, Advances in Geosciences 16: 11-17.
  10. [10]  Casazza, M., Prodi, F., Torricella, F., Caracciolo, C., Santi, E. and Piano, A. (2008), Contemporary ground-based and satellite precipitating system characterization for desertification studies in Southern Italy, Annales Geophysicae 26: 1851-1864.
  11. [11]  Casazza, M. (2010), Possibility of a better definition and measurement of storm erosivity. In: Holzmann, H., Godina, R., Müller, G.(Eds.). 13th Biennial Conference ERB 2010: Hydrological responses of small basins to a changing environment. Seggau (Austria), 5th - 8th September 2010.
  12. [12]  Chebbi, A., Bargaoui, Z.K. and da Conceição Cunha, M. (2011), Optimal extension of rain gauge monitoring network for rainfall intensity and erosivity index interpolation, Journal of Hydrologic Engineering 16(8): 665-676.
  13. [13]  Dabney, S.M., Yoder, D.C., Vieira, D.A.N. and Bingner, R.L. (2011), Enhancing RUSLE to include runoff-driven phenomena, Hydrological Processes 25: 1373-1390.
  14. [14]  Fiener, P. and Auerswald, K. (2009), Spatial variability of rainfall on a sub-kilometre scale, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 34: 848-859.
  15. [15]  Fornis, R.L., Vermeulen, H.R. and Nieuwenhuis, J.D. (2005), Kinetic energy-rainfall intensity relationship for Central Cebu, Philippines for soil erosion studies, Journal of Hydrology 300(1-4): 20-32.
  16. [16]  Ekern, P.G. (1954), Rainfall intensity as a measure of storm erosivity, Soil Science Society of America Journal 18(2): 212-216.
  17. [17]  Foster, G., Yoder, D.C., Weesies, G.A., McCool, D.K., McGregor, K.C. and Bingner, R.L. (2003), User's Guide Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation Version 2 RUSLE2, USDA - Agricultural Research Service: Washington D.C.
  18. [18]  Hoffmann, T., Schlummer, M., Notebaert, B., Verstraeten, G. and Korup, O. (2013), Carbon burial in soil sediments from Holocene agricultural erosion, Central Europe, Global Biogeochemical Cycles 27: 1-8.
  19. [19]  Hudson, N. (1993), Field Measurement of Soil Erosion and Runoff, Issue 68, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. pp. 121-126.
  20. [20]  Jayawardena, A.W. and Rezaur, R.B. (2000), Drop size distribution and kinetic energy load of rainstorms in Hong Kong, Hydrological Processes 14(6): 1069-1082.
  21. [21]  Jetten, V., Govers, G. and Hessel, R. (2003), Erosion models: quality of spatial predictions, Hydrological Processes 17: 887-900.
  22. [22]  Karami, A., Homaee, M., Neyshabouri, M.R., Afzalinia, S. and Basirat, S. (2012), Large scale evaluation of single storm and short/long term erosivity index models, Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry 36: 207-216.
  23. [23]  Kinnell, P.I.A. (1981), Rainfall intensity-kinetic energy relationships for soil loss prediction, Soil Science Society of America Journal 45(1): 153-155.
  24. [24]  Kinnell, P.I.A. (2000), The effects of slope length on sediment concentration associated with side-slope erosion, Soil Science Society of America Journal 64: 1004-1008.
  25. [25]  Kirby, MJ. (2010), Distance, time and scale in soil erosion processes, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 35: 1621-1623.
  26. [26]  Lal, R. (2001), Soil degradation by erosion, Land Degradation & Development 12: 519-539.
  27. [27]  Lal, R. (2003), Soil erosion and the global carbon budget, Environment International 29: 437-450.
  28. [28]  Lanza, L.G., Vuerich, E. and Gnecco, I. (2010), Analysis of highly accurate rain intensity measurements from a field test site, Advances in Geosciences 25: 37-44.
  29. [29]  Lee, J.S. and Won, J.Y. (2013), Analysis of the characteristic of monthly rainfall erosivity in Korea with derivation of rainfall energy equation, Journal of Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation 13(3): 177-184.
  30. [30]  Lim, Y.S., Kim, J.W., Kim, J.K. and Park, B.I. (2012), Evaluation of kinetic energy of raindrops at Daejeon city using laseroptical disdrometer, Journal of the Korean Geomorphological Association 19(2): 133-143.
  31. [31]  McIsaac, G.F. (1990), Apparent geographic and atmospheric influences on raindrop sizes and rainfall kinetic energy, Journal of Soil &Water Conservation 45(6): 663-666.
  32. [32]  Onaga, K., Shirai, K. and Yoshinaga, A. (1988), Rainfall erosion and how to control its effects on farmland in Okinawa. In: S. Rimwanich (Ed.), Land Conservation for Future Generation, Department of Land Development: Bangkok, Thailand.
  33. [33]  Prodi, F., Caracciolo, C., D'Adderio, L.P., Gnuffi, M. and Lanzinger, E. (2011), Comparative investigation of Pludix disdrometer capability as Present Weather Sensor (PWS) during the Wasserkuppe campaign, Atmospheric Research 99: 162-173.
  34. [34]  Renard, K.G., Foster, G.R., Weesies, G.A., McCool, D.K. and Yoder, D.C (1997), Predicting Soil Erosion by Water: A Guide to Conservation Planning with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook No. 703, 404 pp.
  35. [35]  Rosewell, C.J. (1986), Rainfall kinetic energy in eastern Australia, Journal of Climate & Applied Meteorology 25(11): 1695-1701.
  36. [36]  Rossi, L., Pace G., Natali, S., Mantovani, S., Folegani, M., Casazza, M. and Caracciolo, C. (2006), Tecnologie innovative per l'analisi di variabili climatiche, ENEA - Catalogo Edizioni: Roma, Italy. pp. 180.
  37. [37]  Sempere-Torres, D., Salles, C., Creutin, J.D. and Delrieu, G. (1992), Quantification of soil detachment by raindrop impact: performance of classical formulae of kinetic energy in Mediterranean storms. Erosion and sediment transport monitoring programs in river basin, IASH Publications 210: 115-124.
  38. [38]  Shainberg, I., Mamedov, A.I. and Levy, G.J. (2003), Role of wetting rate and rain energy in seal formation and erosion, Soil Science 168(1): 54-62.
  39. [39]  Smith, J.A. and de Veaux, R.D. (1992), The temporal and spatial variability of rainfall power, Environmetrics 3(1): 29-53.
  40. [40]  Steiner, M. and Smith, J.A. (2000), Reflectivity, rain rate, and kinetic energy flux relationships based on raindrop spectra, Journal of Applied Meteorology 39(11): 1923-1940.
  41. [41]  Tokay, A., Bashor, P.G. and Wolff, K.R. (2005), Error characteristics of rainfall measurements by collocated Joss-Waldvogel disdrometers, Journal of atmospheric and oceanic technology 22: 513-527.
  42. [42]  Uijlenhoet, R. and Stricker, J.N.M. (1999), A consistent rainfall parameterization based on the exponential raindrop size distribution, Journal of Hydrology 218(3-4): 101-127.
  43. [43]  Usón, A. and Ramos, M.C. (2001), An improved rainfall erosivity index obtained from experimental interrill soil losses in soils with a Mediterranean climate, CATENA 43(4): 293-305.
  44. [44]  Van Oost, K., Quine, T.A., Govers, G., De Gryze, S., Six, J., Harden, J.W., Ritchie, J.C., McCarty, W., Heckrath, G., Kosmas, C., Giraldez, J.V., Marques da Silva, J.R. and Merck, R. (2007), The impact of agricultural soil erosion on the global carbon cycle, Science 318: 626-629.
  45. [45]  Vrieling, A., Sterk G. and de Jong, S.M. (2010), Satellite-based estimation of rainfall erosivity for Africa, Journal of Hydrology 395: 235-241.
  46. [46]  Wischmeier, W.H. and Smith, D.D. (1958), Rainfall energy and its relationship to soil loss, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union 39(2): 285-291.
  47. [47]  Wischmeier, W.H. and Smith, D.D. (1960), A universal soil-loss equation to guide conservation farm planning, Transactions of the 7th International Congress on Soil Science, 418-425.
  48. [48]  Wischmeier, W.H. and Smith, D.D. (1978), Predicting Rainfall Erosion Losses: A Guide to Conservation Planning. Agriculture Handbook No. 537. USDA/Science and Education Administration, US. Govt. Printing Office: Washington, DC. 58pp.
  49. [49]  World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (2010), WMO guide to meteorological instruments and methods of observation (Seventh Edition, 2008), Part I - Measurement of meteorological variables: Chapter 6, Measurement of precipitation. Available online.
  50. [50]  Zanchi, C. and Torri, D. (1980), Evaluation of rainfall energy in central Italy. In: de Boodt, M. and Gabriels, D. (Eds.), Assessment of Erosion. Wiley: Toronto, Canada. pp. 133-142.
  51. [51]  Zhao, X. and Sun, B. (2016), The influence of Chinese environmental regulation on corporation innovation and competitiveness, Journal of Cleaner Production 112: 1528-1536.

Copyright © 2011-2024 L & H Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved. Wildcard SSL Certificates