Kinetic energy and rainfall intensity relationships: A review

Although it is widely recognized how the knowledge of the kinetic energy (KE) of precipitation plays a fundamental role in soil erosion studies, its direct evaluation is not widespread. As a matter of facts, direct measurements of the kinetic energy of precipitation require the use of sophisticated and expensive tools. Commonly, the following approach is used to deal with this issue, that is the indirect estimation of the kinetic energy from other most widespread measured hydrological variables (i.e rainfall intensity, I). Precipitation intensity measurements are widely available for many countries throughout world, on the other hand the challenge is therefore represented by establishing the best expression to relate the kinetic energy to the rainfall intensity. The aim of the study is to define among the KE-I expressions proposed in literature which best fits KE values calculated from potential erosive events collected by a disdrometer installed in Rome (Italy).