Comparison of Annual Soil Loss using USLE and Hourly Soil Erosion Evaluation System

Abstract

Soil erosion and sediment has been known as one of pollutants causing water quality degradation in water bodies. With global warming issues worldwide, various soil erosion studies have been performed. Although on-site monitoring of sediment loss would be an ideal method to evaluate soil erosion condition, modeling approaches have been utilized to estimate soil erosion and to evaluate various best management practices on soil erosion reduction. Although the USLE has been used in soil erosion estimation for the last 40 years, the USLE model has limitations in estimating event-based soil erosion reflecting rainfall intensity and rainfall duration for long-term period. Thus, the calibrated model, capable of simulating soil erosion using hourly rainfall data, was utilized in this study to evaluate the effects of rainfall amount and rainfall intensity on soil erosion. It was found that USLE soil erosion value is 3.06 ton ha , 1.602 ton ha -1 yr -1 , respectively. Especially, soil erosion from single storm event for 2008-2010 would be responsible for 30% or more of annual soil loss. As shown in this study, hourly soil erosion estimation system would provide more detailed output from the study area. In addition, the effects of rainfall intensity on soil erosion could be evaluated with this system.

Rainfall Erosivity Factor of Korean Soils Estimated by Using USLE under Climate Change

“…(Lee, 2020). 기본적으로 USLE는 강우침식인 자 (R), 토양침식인자 (K), 경사인자 (LS), 작물관리인자 (C) 및 관리인자 (P)를 활용하여 연간 토양유실량을 산정하 며 (Prasannakumar et al, 2012;Park et al, 2019), 단일 강우 영향을 고려한 MUSLE (Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation), 인자 (factors) 보정을 통한 RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) 등 USLE에 기반을 둔 향상된 모델들을 활용하고 있다 (Wischmeier and Smith, 1978;Kum et al, 2011b;Djoukbala et al, 2019). 또한, 토양침식 예측 정확성을 확보하기 위해 WEPP (Water Erosion Prediction Project)와 EPM (Erosion Potential Method) 모형을 통한 토양유실 변화를 평가하는 연구도 진행된 바 있다 (Ahmadi et al, 2020;Guo et al, 2021).…”