Temporal sensitivity analysis of erosivity estimations in a high rainfall tropical island environment

dc.contributor.authorNel, Werner
dc.contributor.authorAnderson, Ryan Leigh
dc.contributor.authorSumner, P.D. (Paul)
dc.contributor.authorBoojhawon, Ravindra
dc.contributor.authorRughooputh, Soonil D.D.V.
dc.contributor.authorDunputh, Balraj H.J.
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-27T09:56:51Z
dc.date.issued2013-12
dc.description.abstractThe Erosivity Index (EI) and the Modified Fournier Index (MFI) are two commonly used methods in calculating the R factor of the universal soil loss equation/ revised universal soil loss equation formula. Using Mauritius as a case study, the value of high-resolution data versus long-term totals in erosivity calculations is investigated. A limited number of four Mauritius Meteorological Services stations located on the west coast and the Central Plateau provided the study with detailed rainfall data for 6 years at 6-min intervals. Rainfall erosivity for erosive events was calculated using different set interval data. In this study, within the EI, the use of 6-min rainfall intervals during erosive rainfall gave estimates of around 10% more erosivity than the 30-min time intervals and 33% more rainfall erosivity than the 60-min rainfall measurements. When the MFI was used to determine erosivity through annual and monthly rainfall totals, substantially higher erosivity than the EI method was calculated in both regions. This stems from the large amount of non-erosive rainfall that is generated on Mauritius. Even when the MFI was used to calculate erosivity through monthly and annual rainfall totals derived purely from erosive rainfall, erosivity calculations were not comparable to those from high-resolution data within the EI. We suggest that for the computation of erosivity, rainfall data with the highest possible resolution should be utilised if available and that the application of annual and monthly rainfall totals to assess absolute soil erosion risk within a high rainfall tropical environment must be used with caution.en_US
dc.description.librarianhb2014en_US
dc.description.urihttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1468-0459en_US
dc.identifier.citationNel, W, Anderson, RL, Sumner, PD, Boojhawon, R, Rughooputh, SDDV & Dunputh, BHJ 2013, 'Temporal sensitivity analysis of erosivity estimations in a high rainfall tropical island environment', Geografiska Annaler : Series A, Physical Geography, vol. 95, no. 4, pp. 337-343.en_US
dc.identifier.issn0435-3676 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1468-0459 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1111/geoa.12017
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/37176
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherWiley-Blackwellen_US
dc.rights© 2013 Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography. Wiley-Blackwell. The definite version is available at : http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1468-0459en_US
dc.subjectMauritiusen_US
dc.subjectRainfall erosivityen_US
dc.subjectModified fournier indexen_US
dc.subjectRUSLEen_US
dc.titleTemporal sensitivity analysis of erosivity estimations in a high rainfall tropical island environmenten_US
dc.typePreprint Articleen_US

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