Express method of estimation of gully erosion potential
Abstract
An express method for calculation of gully erosion potential is proposed. It is based on the estimation of critical flow characteristics at which linear erosion of soil begins. The novelty of the proposed approach is the transition from calculating the critical velocity of erosion initiation to calculating the critical runoff depth at which such velocity is realized. All values necessary for calculating the critical runoff depth and the gully erosion potential as the normalized difference between the maximum runoff depth and its critical value are well-defined and could be obtained both from measurements and by calculation. The method is easily and quickly implemented in any geographical information system; the output is the distribution of the level of the gully potential over the territory (catchment) and the degree of risk of the development of gully erosion for the entire territory (catchment). The results of evaluating the gully erosion potential by the express method were compared with the data of gully erosion calculation using the detailed dynamic model and showed the satisfactory agreement. This confirms the possibility of applying the expressmethod for quick assessment of development potential of particular territories, as well as the risks of landscape disturbance during natural processes of gully erosion.
Supporting agencies: The study was financially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project no. 18-05-60147).
About the Author
A. Yu. Sidorchuk
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russian Federation
Faculty of Geography, Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Fluvial Processes, Leading Scientific Researcher, D.Sc. in Geography
Russian Federation
Faculty of Geography, Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Fluvial Processes, Leading Scientific Researcher, D.Sc. in Geography
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Review
For citations:
Sidorchuk A.Yu. Express method of estimation of gully erosion potential. Lomonosov Geography Journal. 2021;(1):54-61. (In Russ.)
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