Soil Erosion and Forestry Management After Wildfire in a Mediterranean Woodland, Mt. Carmel, Israel

1997 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 285 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Inbar ◽  
L Wittenberg ◽  
M Tamir
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
First Year ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Vegetation Development ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Forestry Management ◽  
Recreation Area ◽  
Experimental Plots

Forestry management is crucial in mitigating erosion processes after extensive fires in Mediterranean woodlands. Fire alters forest ecosystems, causing an increase in rates of geomorphic processes. The September 1989 fire in Mt. Carmel covered an area of 4 km2 in the main recreation area of a typical Mediterranean forest area. Six experimental plots, covering an area of 300-500 m(2) each, were established in order to determine the effect of forestry management practice on soil erosion after the fire; runoff and sediments were collected during and after each rainstorm. Rainfall was measured by two recorders and several rain gauges at the study site. During the first year following the fire, sediment yield was 100-500 times higher than on vegetated slopes. Sediment movement was increased mainly by the lack of vegetation. Results show that there is a clear trend of decrease in sediment yield between the first year and the next five. After this period the burnt areas recovered to similar rates of erosion as in the unburnt areas. The clearings of burnt logs by machine and cable sliding increased the sediment yield in the experimental plots. After vegetation development in the second season following the fire, no significant differences were found among the types of management practice plots.

scholarly journals Assessing the large-scale impacts of environmental change using a coupled hydrology and soil erosion model

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 687-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joris P. C. Eekhout ◽  
Wilco Terink ◽  
Joris de Vente
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Vegetation Development ◽  
Erosion Model ◽  
Complete Representation ◽  
Large Catchment

Abstract. Assessing the impacts of environmental change on soil erosion and sediment yield at the large catchment scale remains one of the main challenges in soil erosion modelling studies. Here, we present a process-based soil erosion model, based on the integration of the Morgan–Morgan–Finney erosion model in a daily based hydrological model. The model overcomes many of the limitations of previous large-scale soil erosion models, as it includes a more complete representation of crucial processes like surface runoff generation, dynamic vegetation development, and sediment deposition, and runs at the catchment scale with a daily time step. This makes the model especially suited for the evaluation of the impacts of environmental change on soil erosion and sediment yield at regional scales and over decadal periods. The model was successfully applied in a large catchment in southeastern Spain. We demonstrate the model's capacity to perform impact assessments of environmental change scenarios, specifically simulating the scenario impacts of intra- and inter-annual variations in climate, land management, and vegetation development on soil erosion and sediment yield.

scholarly journals Estimation of soil redistribution rates due to snow cover related processes in a mountainous area (Valle d'Aosta, NW Italy)

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 517-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Ceaglio ◽  
K. Meusburger ◽  
M. Freppaz ◽  
E. Zanini ◽  
C. Alewell
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Mountainous Area ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil Redistribution ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Soil Accumulation ◽  
Snow Gliding

Abstract. Mountain areas are widely affected by soil erosion, which is generally linked to runoff processes occurring in the growing season and snowmelt period. Also processes like snow gliding and full-depth snow avalanches may be important factors that can enhance soil erosion, however the role and importance of snow movements as agents of soil redistribution are not well understood yet. The aim of this study was to provide information on the relative importance of snow related processes in comparison to runoff processes. In the study area, which is an avalanche path characterized by intense snow movements, soil redistribution rates were quantified with two methods: (i) by field measurements of sediment yield in an avalanche deposition area during 2009 and 2010 winter seasons; (ii) by caesium-137 method, which supplies the cumulative net soil loss/gain since 1986, including all the soil erosion processes. The snow related soil accumulation estimated with data from the deposit area (27.5 Mg ha−1 event−1 and 161.0 Mg ha−1 event−1) was not only higher than the yearly sediment amounts, reported in literature, due to runoff processes, but it was even more intense than the yearly total deposition rate assessed with 137Cs (12.6 Mg ha−1 yr−1). The snow related soil erosion rates estimated from the sediment yield at the avalanche deposit area (3.7 Mg ha−1 and 20.8 Mg ha−1) were greater than the erosion rates reported in literature and related to runoff processes; they were comparable to the yearly total erosion rates assessed with the 137Cs method (13.4 Mg ha−1 yr−1 and 8.8 Mg ha−1 yr−1). The 137Cs method also showed that, where the ground avalanche does not release, the erosion and deposition of soil particles from the upper part of the basin was considerable and likely related to snow gliding. Even though the comparison of both the approaches is linked to high methodological uncertainties, mainly due to the different spatial and temporal scales considered, we still can deduce, from the similarity of the erosion rates, that soil redistribution in this catchment is driven by snow movement, with a greater impact in comparison to the runoff processes occurring in the snow-free season. Nonetheless, the study highlights that soil erosion processes due to the snow movements should be considered in the assessment of soil vulnerability in mountain areas, as they significantly determine the pattern of soil redistribution.

scholarly journals Estimation of Sediment Yield and Maximum Outflow Using the IntErO Model in the Sarada River Basin of Nepal

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devraj Chalise ◽  
Lalit Kumar ◽  
Velibor Spalevic ◽  
Goran Skataric
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Surface Erosion ◽  
Good Opportunity ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Erosion Coefficient ◽  
To Come

Soil erosion is a severe environmental problem worldwide as it washes away the fertile topsoil and reduces agricultural production. Nepal, being a hilly country, has significant erosion disputes as well. It is important to cognise the soil erosion processes occurring in a river basin to manage the erosion severity and plan for better soil conservation programs. This paper seeks to calculate the sediment yield and maximum outflow from the Sarada river basin located in the western hills of Nepal using the computer-graphic Intensity of Erosion and Outflow (IntErO) model. Asymmetry coefficient of 0.63 was calculated, which suggests a possibility of large floods to come in the river basin in the future whereas the maximum outflow from the river basin was 1918 m³ s−1. An erosion coefficient value of 0.40 was obtained, which indicates surface erosion of medium strength prevails in the river basin. Similarly, the gross soil loss rate of 10.74 Mg ha−1 year−1 was obtained with the IntErO modeling which compares well with the soil loss from the erosion plot measurements. The IntErO model was used for the very first time to calculate soil erosion rates in the Nepalese hills and has a very good opportunity to be applied in similar river basins.

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal Patterns of Hillslope Erosion Investigated Based on Field Scouring Experiments and Terrestrial Laser Scanning

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1674
Author(s):  
Pengfei Li ◽  
Mingkui Hao ◽  
Jinfei Hu ◽  
Chendi Gao ◽  
Guangju Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Sharp Decrease ◽  
Spatiotemporal Patterns ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Weak Relationship ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Relative Errors

Hillslope erosion is an essential source of catchment sediment yield. However, the current understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns of field hillslope erosion processes is limited. In this study, fourteen runoff scouring experiments were undertaken on two plots (A and B) established on one field slope of the hilly and gully loess plateau in China. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was employed to investigate soil erosion processes across the hillslopes of the plots. The results demonstrated that the TLS-derived cumulative sediment yields of the hillslopes were more accurate than the TLS-derived consecutive sediment yields (i.e., the sediment yields for individual experiments). The magnitudes of the mean absolute/relative errors for the TLS-derived cumulative sediment yield for slopes A and B were 0.87 kg/25.02% and 1.26 kg/56.82%, respectively, with the linear relation R2 between the calculated and measured values over 0.60 (p < 0.001). The sediment yields from the hillslopes fluctuated considerably even when the runoff production became stable, leading to a weak relationship between the sediment yield and runoff discharge (the R2 values for slopes A and B were 0.57 (p = 0.002) and 0.08 (p = 0.321) for inter-experiments, and 0.37 (p < 0.001) and 0.06 (p = 0.035) for intra-experiments, respectively). The development of hillslope erosion was found to experience three major stages, which included a rapid increase and widespread distribution, a sharp decrease, and a stable distribution of the area with erosion/deposition. The rill development impacted the cumulative erosion and sediment yield rather than the cumulative deposition, with the impacts of rill depth and rill width development being stronger than those of rill length. The peak sediment yield corresponded well with the evolution of rills, partly accounting for the weak relationship between runoff and sediment yield. Our results provide a useful reference for the development of process-based soil erosion models and the establishment of spatially targeted control of soil erosion.

scholarly journals Assessing the large-scale impacts of environmental change using a coupled hydrology and soil erosion model

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joris P. C. Eekhout ◽  
Wilco Terink ◽  
Joris de Vente
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Vegetation Development ◽  
Erosion Model ◽  
Large Catchment

Abstract. Assessing the impacts of environmental change on soil erosion and sediment yield at the large catchment scale remains one of the main challenges in soil erosion modelling studies. Here, we present a process-based soil erosion model, based on the integration of the Morgan-Morgan-Finney erosion model in a daily-based hydrological model. The model overcomes many of the limitations of previous large-scale soil erosion models, as it includes a more complete representation of crucial processes like surface runoff generation, dynamic vegetation development, and sediment deposition, and runs at the catchment scale with a daily time step. This makes the model especially suited for evaluation of the impacts of environmental change on soil erosion and sediment yield at large spatial scales. The model was successfully applied in a large catchment in southeastern Spain. We demonstrate the models capacity to perform impact assessments of environmental change scenarios, specifically simulating the scenario impacts of intra- and inter-annual variations in climate, land management and vegetation development on soil erosion and sediment yield.

scholarly journals Evaluating the importance of surface soil contributions to reservoir sediment in alpine environments: a combined modelling and fingerprinting approach in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park

Solid Earth ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 963-978 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Palazón ◽  
L. Gaspar ◽  
B. Latorre ◽  
W. H. Blake ◽  
A. Navas
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
Sediment Fingerprinting ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Resource Information ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Alpine Environments

Abstract. Soil in alpine environments plays a key role in the development of ecosystem services and in order to maintain and preserve this important resource, information is required on processes that lead to soil erosion. Similar to other mountain alpine environments, the Benasque catchment is characterised by temperatures below freezing that can last from November to April, intense rainfall events, typically in spring and autumn, and rugged topography which makes assessment of erosion challenging. Indirect approaches to soil erosion assessment, such as combined model approaches, offer an opportunity to evaluate soil erosion in such areas. In this study (i) the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) hydrological and erosion model and (ii) sediment fingerprinting procedures were used in parallel to assess the viability of a combined modelling and tracing approach to evaluate soil erosion processes in the area of the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park (central Spanish Pyrenees). Soil erosion rates and sediment contribution of potential sediment sources defined by soil type (Kastanozems/Phaeozems; Fluvisols and Cambisols) were assessed. The SWAT model suggested that, with the highest specific sediment yields, Cambisols are the main source of sediment in the Benasque catchment and Phaeozems and Fluvisols were identified as the lowest sediment contributors. Spring and winter model runs gave the highest and lowest specific sediment yield, respectively. In contrast, sediment fingerprinting analysis identified Fluvisols, which dominate the riparian zone, as the main sediment source at the time of sampling. This indicates the importance of connectivity as well as potential differences in the source dynamic of material in storage versus that transported efficiently from the system at times of high flow. The combined approach enabled us to better understand soil erosion processes in the Benasque alpine catchment, wherein SWAT identified areas of potential high sediment yield in large flood events but sediment fingerprinting identified areas that, due to high connectivity, contribute more to channel-stored sediment deposits.

scholarly journals Assessment of soil erosion and sediment yield using erosion potential method: Case study - Vrbas river basin (B&H)

2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Novica Lovric ◽  
Radislav Tosic
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Potential Method ◽  
The Past ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Made In

Soil erosion is one of the most significant forms of land degradation in the Bosnia and Herzegovina. The mapping of soil erosion in B&H, as in the study area, was realized 30 years ago (1979-1985). The past decades has been marked by the changes which retained visible tracks and caused numerous changes in the intensity of erosion processes. In this paper, the mapping of the recent state of erosion intensity was performed, and then an analysis of changes was made in relation to the state of 30 years ago. The erosion potential method (EPM) was used for mapping the soil erosion and calculation of gross annual erosion and sediment yield. Erosion Map of the Vrbas river basin was made in the scale of 1:25,000. This Erosion Map counts a total of 69 topographic sections and 4,524 erosion polygons (plots). According to the Erosion Map of the Vrbas river basin, 5,666.88 km2 of the study area is affected by erosion, while 621.71 km2 are accumulating sediments. Annual gross erosion in the Vrbas river basin is 1,223,989.60 m3/year, while sediment yield is 366,088.10 m3/year. These research results are important because this is the first soil erosion map for the Vrbas river basin with EPM methodology for the whole river basin on territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The results can be applied in the field of spatial and urban planning, water and soil management on the local and regional level.

LAVSED-II—A model for predicting suspended load in northern streams

1986 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Y. Julien ◽  
M. Frenette
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Transport ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Suspended Load ◽  
Climatic Parameters ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
Empirical Relationships ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
St Lawrence River

The model LAVSED-II (LAVal SEDimentological model number II) has been developed to evaluate the suspended load in northern streams that results from rainfall and snowmelt erosion on upslope areas. The most important parameters are (1) the physical characteristics involved in soil erosion processes and (2) the climatic parameters on a month-to-month basis. Two fundamental relationships are obtained from the governing physical processes and empirical relationships describing snowmelt and sediment transport. The model has been applied to four large watersheds, tributaries of the St. Lawrence River. The computed sediment yield compares very well with the measured suspended load (mostly wash load) in the rivers. The magnitude of the peak during spring is particularly well predicted. The computed sediment yield is shown to be very sensitive to meteorological data. In the case of ungaged watersheds, the model can be applied to estimate the sediment yield.

Impacts of climate and land use changes on the erosion processes in a Mediterranean agricultural catchment (Northern Morocco)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamza Briak ◽  
Rachid Moussadek ◽  
Khadija Aboumaria ◽  
Fassil Kebede ◽  
Rachid Mrabet
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
Baseline Scenario ◽  
Erosion Processes

&lt;p&gt;Recent studies on vulnerability to climate and land use change show a trend towards increased aridity accelerating soil erosion which is the primary factor to be considered by decision makers in the environmental field. Furthermore, to reduce the soil erosion intensity, it is required to clarify the sources zones of sediment yield where soil conservation works have to focus on. The model selected for this work is the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) which is one of many models widely used to assess soil erosion risk and simulate conservation measures efficiency. In fact, the objective of this work is to evaluate the effects of different agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) on sediments using SWAT model in the Kalaya river basin located in the North of Morocco in order to recommend the most appropriate one. The model was calibrated and validated using observed data of flow and sediment concentration; the performance of the model was evaluated using statistical methods and the total soil erosion rate was estimated by this model in the study area. However, we concentrated on the representation of three interesting and most usable practices by the SWAT model: contouring, strip-cropping and terracing. The general parameters of the model have been modified to reflect the implementation of four different BMPs. The modification of these parameters was based on previous research and modeling efforts conducted in watersheds. Resulting sediment yield were compared with the result of simulation of the baseline scenario (existing conditions). In fact, effective measures to reduce sediment losses at the watershed level are organized according to their effectiveness, and these are terracing (28% reduction and the value is 15t/ha/y) followed by strip-cropping (9% reduction and the value is 5t/ha/y). On the other hand, measurements performed by the contouring are inappropriate for the study area because they have contributed to increasing the soil erosion (more than 31% of losses and the value is 17t/ha/y more than existing conditions). The mean annual values of sediment yields obtained for scenarios with and without BMPs were compared to assess the effectiveness of BMPs. Among all other practices, terracing was the most effective BMPs for reducing sediments which is perfectly recommended in the Mediterranean regions in general to avoid the risk of damage during intense rainfall. These results indicates that the use of terracing on agricultural land can potentially make improvements marked the control and limitation of soil erosion, and it also affords useful information for involved stakeholders in water and soil conservation activities for targeted management.&lt;/p&gt;

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