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Prediction of Runoff and Erosion from Natural Rainfall Using a Rainfall Simulator
Author(s) -
Young R. A.,
Burwell R. E.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1972.03615995003600050037x
Subject(s) - surface runoff , storm , erosion , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , soil loss , natural (archaeology) , runoff model , soil science , meteorology , geology , geotechnical engineering , geography , geomorphology , ecology , paleontology , biology
Field rainfall simulators have been used extensively for runoff and erosion studies. To more accurately interpret and apply the results of studies using simulated rainfall, it is necessary to know the relative effects of natural vs. simulated rainfall. A comparison was made of the soil and water losses from three natural storms and three simulated storms on cultivated fallow plots under similar rainfall and soil conditions. A rainulator was used to apply the simulated storms. Soil losses from the three simulated storms averaged 77% of those from the natural rainstorms. This compares closely, considering that the average EI value for the simulated storms was 78% of that for natural rainstorms. The runoff from the simulated storms compared quite closely to runoff from the natural storms. The study showed that, in general, the rainulator can be used to simulate rainfall for runoff and erosion research with confidence that the results will reflect the runoff and soil loss that would occur under similar conditions of natural rainfall.