Estimating RUSLE’s rainfall factor in the part of Italy with a Mediterranean rainfall regime

• Main Author: N. Diodato
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2004-01-01
• Series: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
• Online Access: http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/8/103/2004/hess-8-103-2004.pdf

The computation of the erosion index (<i>EI</i>), which is basic to the determination of the rainfall-runoff erosivity factor <i>R</i> of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), is tedious and time-consuming and requires a continuous record of rainfall intensity. In this study, a power equation(r² &#61; 0.867) involving annual erosion index (<i>EI</i>_30-annual) in the Mediterranean part of Italy is obtained. Data from 12 raingauge stations are used to derive and then test a regional relationship for estimating the erosion index from only three rainfall parameters. Erosivity rainfall data derived from 5 additional stations are used for validation and critical examination. The empirical procedures give results which compare satisfactorily with relationships calibrated elsewhere.</p> <p style='line-height: 20px;'><b>Keywords: </b>erosion index, rainfall, erosivity, Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation