An averaging procedure for applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to disturbed mountain watersheds

Disturbed lands in mountain watersheds may be a significant source of sediment. A systematic rating of their potential for erosion would be useful in soil conservation planning. RUSLE is a successful erosion-prediction technique, well tested on gentle slopes of agricultural lands. In view of its suc...

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Authors: Gonzalez Bonorino, Gustavo; Osterkamp, W. R.; Colombo, F.
Format: Article
Status:Published version
Publication date:2002
Country:Argentina
Institution:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repository:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/131458
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/131458
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:FOREST FIRE
EROSION
RUSLE
SOIL
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
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author Gonzalez Bonorino, Gustavo
author2 Osterkamp, W. R.
Colombo, F.
author2_role author
author
author_browse Colombo, F.
Gonzalez Bonorino, Gustavo
Osterkamp, W. R.
author_facet Gonzalez Bonorino, Gustavo
Osterkamp, W. R.
Colombo, F.
author_role author
collection CONICET Digital (CONICET)
description Disturbed lands in mountain watersheds may be a significant source of sediment. A systematic rating of their potential for erosion would be useful in soil conservation planning. RUSLE is a successful erosion-prediction technique, well tested on gentle slopes of agricultural lands. In view of its success, attempts have been made to apply RUSLE to areas of complex topography by substituting upstream contributing area for the linear-flow model embodied in the RUSLE L-factor. This substitution leads, however, to uncertain results. The L-factor represents, for a particular topographic profile, the length of overland flow from its inception to the point where it reaches a channel or a break in slope that causes deposition. Many separate profiles would sample the population of overland-flow lengths in a watershed. R.E. Horton's drainage density (D) offers a simple alternative to measuring numerous profiles. Because 1I(2*D) is a measure of average overland-flow length, it can be used to calculate the L-factor. The other RUSLE factors must be computed on an area-average basis. This procedure is applied to a forested watershed disturbed by wildfire, and the result is favorably compared to the value obtained from applying the traditional procedure
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
format article
id AR_cd6e6ec0b996216f0975a2a445b4a913
identifier_str_mv Gonzalez Bonorino, Gustavo; Osterkamp, W. R.; Colombo, F.; An averaging procedure for applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to disturbed mountain watersheds; Asociación Geológica de España; Geogaceta; 33; 12-2002; 43-46
0213-683X
CONICET Digital
CONICET
institution Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
language eng
network_acronym_str AR
network_name_str Argentina
oai_identifier_str oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/131458
publishDate 2002
publishDateSort 2002
publisher Asociación Geológica de España
publisherStr Asociación Geológica de España
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling An averaging procedure for applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to disturbed mountain watersheds Un procedimiento para aplicar la Ecuación Universal de Pérdida de Suelo Revisada (RUSLE) a cuencas hídricas de montaña Gonzalez Bonorino, Gustavo Osterkamp, W. R. Colombo, F. FOREST FIRE EROSION RUSLE SOIL https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5 https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1 Disturbed lands in mountain watersheds may be a significant source of sediment. A systematic rating of their potential for erosion would be useful in soil conservation planning. RUSLE is a successful erosion-prediction technique, well tested on gentle slopes of agricultural lands. In view of its success, attempts have been made to apply RUSLE to areas of complex topography by substituting upstream contributing area for the linear-flow model embodied in the RUSLE L-factor. This substitution leads, however, to uncertain results. The L-factor represents, for a particular topographic profile, the length of overland flow from its inception to the point where it reaches a channel or a break in slope that causes deposition. Many separate profiles would sample the population of overland-flow lengths in a watershed. R.E. Horton's drainage density (D) offers a simple alternative to measuring numerous profiles. Because 1I(2*D) is a measure of average overland-flow length, it can be used to calculate the L-factor. The other RUSLE factors must be computed on an area-average basis. This procedure is applied to a forested watershed disturbed by wildfire, and the result is favorably compared to the value obtained from applying the traditional procedure Los suelos disturbados situados en cuencas hídricas de montaña constituyen normalmente una importante fuente de detrito. Una evaluación sistemática del potencial de erosión en esas cuencas sería útil para una gestión adecuada del suelo. La Ecuación Universal de Pérdida de Suelo Revisada (RUSLE) corresponde a una técnica muy empleada para predecir la erosión, que ha sido exhaustivamente puesta a prueba en pendientes suaves de tierras agrícolas. En vista de su éxito, se han hecho intentos para aplicar la RUSLE en áreas de topografía compleja mediante la substitución del modelo de escorrentía lineal, propio del factor L en RUSLE, por otro basado en el área de contribución aguas arriba. Esta substitución conduce, sin embargo, a resultados inciertos. El factor L representa, para un perfil topográfico en particular, la longitud de la escorrentía superficial desde el punto de inicio hasta donde alcanza un canal o un quiebre de pendiente que condiciona una sedimentación. Muchos perfiles separados darían una muestra de la población de longitudes de escorrentía superficial en una cuenca hídrica. La densidad de drenaje (D) de R.E. Horton ofrece una alternativa sencilla a medir numerosos perfiles. Dado que H(2*D) es una medida de la longitud media de la escorrentía superficial, puede ser empleada para calcular el factor L. Los demás factores en la RUSLE deben ser calculados según un promedio ponderado por área. Este procedimiento es aplicado a una cuenca perturbada por un incendio forestal, y el resultado se compara favorablemente con el valor obtenido mediante la aplicación del procedimiento tradicional Fil: Gonzalez Bonorino, Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto Geonorte; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta; Argentina Fil: Osterkamp, W. R.. United States Geological Survey; Estados Unidos Fil: Colombo, F.. Universidad de Barcelona; España Asociación Geológica de España http://hdl.handle.net/11336/131458 Gonzalez Bonorino, Gustavo; Osterkamp, W. R.; Colombo, F.; An averaging procedure for applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to disturbed mountain watersheds; Asociación Geológica de España; Geogaceta; 33; 12-2002; 43-46 0213-683X CONICET Digital CONICET
spellingShingle An averaging procedure for applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to disturbed mountain watersheds
Gonzalez Bonorino, Gustavo
FOREST FIRE
EROSION
RUSLE
SOIL
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
status_str publishedVersion
title An averaging procedure for applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to disturbed mountain watersheds
title_full An averaging procedure for applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to disturbed mountain watersheds
title_fullStr An averaging procedure for applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to disturbed mountain watersheds
title_full_unstemmed An averaging procedure for applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to disturbed mountain watersheds
title_short An averaging procedure for applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to disturbed mountain watersheds
title_sort An averaging procedure for applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to disturbed mountain watersheds
topic FOREST FIRE
EROSION
RUSLE
SOIL
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
topic_facet FOREST FIRE
EROSION
RUSLE
SOIL
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/131458

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