Rainfall Intensity Regulating Surface Erosion and Its Contribution to Sediment Yield on the Hillslope Devastated by a Shallow Landslide

Abstract

To examine surface erosion and sediment export patterns on a hillslope, which was devastated by a shallow landslide and which was slowly revegetating by natural plant species, we surveyed variations in surface erosion depth on the upper-, middle-and lower-section of the hillslope, and subsequent sediment yield from the whole hillslope. The result showed that, with the passing of year, surface erosion on the devastated hillslope was regulated by higher rainfall intensity due to the supply-limitation of exportable sediment, and its variation range decreased. In addition, surface erosion on the upper-section with steep slope was regulated by higher rainfall intensity, which might result in raindrop erosion, compared to it on the lower-section with relatively gentle slope. Besides, the sediment yield from the devastated hillslope had nonlinear relationship with surface erosion depth on the hillslope because sediments on the hillslope are exported downwards while repeating their cycle of transport and redistribution. Our findings suggest the establishment of management strategy to prevent sediment-related disasters occurred during torrential rainfall events, which was based on the continuous field investigation on the hillslope devastated by landslides.