Upland Erosion Estimates Based on Rainfall Depth

The probability density functions of rainfall duration and intensity are coupled with a physically-based dynamic formulation of rainfall-runoff-sediment transport for upland areas. When considering a single storm, rainfall depth alone is a poor predictor of soil losses because of the effect of rainfall intensity. On a long term basis, however, the total amount of rainfall can be used to predict total erosion losses. Annual erosion losses from 135 experimental plots under a variety of soil types, vegetation densities and conservation practices have been measured over a period of four years. This data set demonstrates that annual erosion losses can be predicted from annual rainfall depths.