Estimate of Erosion and Sedimentation in Semi-arid Basin using Empirical Models of Erosion Potential within a Geographic Information System

Abstract

This research is aimed at predicting erosion and sedimentation in the Ghareh Aghach Basin in the central part of Iran using Erosion Potential Model (EPM) models incorporated into Geographic Information System (GIS) software. This basin has an area of about 8955 hectares. The region has a range of vegetation, geological, soil texture and land use types. The basin was subdivided into 5 sub-basins. Data required for this study were collected in part through published reports, whilst the remaining was derived by field surveys. Necessary maps in EPM models were prepared in Autocad-2006 medium and were transported to IILWIS, after some revision. After constructing topologies for all polygons, we entered weightings for all layers within the Arc-View software. Combinations of all layers were managed thereafter. Coefficient of each factor was determined, and erosion intensity coefficient (Z) was calculated. Four layers for EPM model were combined to develop the final layer of erosion and sedimentation. The results of the EPM model for homogenous and uniform sampling units showed that 0.19% (16.7 ha) of the total watershed area were classified as class I of erosion category with very low sedimentation and 15.1% (1352 ha) were classified as class II of erosion category with low sedimentation and 41.3% (3699 ha) were classified as class III of erosion category with medium sedimentation and 13.2% (1175 ha) were classified as class IV of erosion category with high sedimentation and finally 30.2% (2711 ha) were classified at class V of erosion category with very high sedimentation, respectively. The result of comparing erosion and sediment values using an EPM model with measured values showed that no significant difference was observed between the estimated and measured values (P , 0.05).

Calculation of Sediment Yield in the S2-1 Watershed of the Shirindareh River Basin, Iran

“…This study further confirmed the findings of Amiri (2010), Zia Abadi & Ahmadi, (2011), Yousefi et al (2014, Behzadfar et al (2014 and as well as Gholami et al (2016) in successful implementation of the Erosion Potential Method -EPM and/or IntERO model in Iran, what leads to the conclusion that the IntErO model may be a useful tool for researchers in calculation of runoff and sediment yield at the level of the river basins draining to the Caspian Sea.…”

“…In Iran, the IntERO have been successfully used previously in the Regions of Chamgardalan; Kasilian (Amiri, 2010;Zia Abadi & Ahmadi, 2011;Yousefi et al 2014) and some other sub-catchments of Shirindareh River basin (Behzadfar et al 2014 andBarovic et al 2015;Gholami et al 2016).…”

Soil Loss Estimation of S7-2 Catchment of the Shirindareh Watershed, Iran Using the River Basin Model

“…This study confirmed the findings of ; Behzadfar et al, 2015, Zia Abadi & Ahmadi (2011; as well as Amiri (2010) in possibility of implementing "Erosion Potential Method" and the "River Basin Model" for the other river basins of the Caspian Sea, when hydrological stations are missing, taking into consideration the fact that the erosion modelling is cheaper than constructing hydrological stations. The results shown that this model is a good tool for rapid assessment of erosion risk to support decision-making and policy development.…”

GIS Based Soil Erosion Estimation Using EPM Method, Garmiyan Area, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

“…[7,9], the four main factors in EPM model are erosion (Φ), land uses (Xa), rock and soil erosion sensitivity (Y) and the average slope (I), which are analyzed in watershed units. Bagherzadeh and Daneshvar [10] stated that in EPM model, erosion processes are the interaction of three naturally occurring factors controlling erosion development, which are geology, topography and climate, while land use is entirely man-dependent (anthropogenic).…”

“…Due to lack of field measurements, soil erosion and sediment yield in the studied area, it is required that the application of experimental model EPM in this study which applied in nearby area by many researchers [7][8][9]. The affective factors, in this model, include soil erosion, topography, lithology, soil type, land use-land cover and climate factors.…”