The Effect of Raindrop Kinetic Energy on Soil Erodibility
Soil erosion is a very complex phenomenon, resulting
from detachment and transport of soil particles by erosion agents.
The kinetic energy of raindrop is the energy available for detachment
and transport by splashing rain. The soil erodibility is defined as the
ability of soil to resist to erosion. For this purpose, an experimental
study was conducted in the laboratory using rainfall simulator to
study the effect of the kinetic energy of rain (Ec) on the soil
erodibility (K). The soil used was a sandy agricultural soil of 62.08%
coarse sand, 19.14% fine sand, 6.39% fine silt, 5.18% coarse silt and
7.21% clay. The obtained results show that the kinetic energy of
raindrops evolves as a power law with soil erodibility.
[1] Abrahams, Athol. D., Atkinson, J.F., 1993. Relation between grain
velocity and sediment concentration in overland flows. Water Resources
Research, Vol. 29, n°9, pages: 3021-3028.
[2] Atlas, D.,1953. Optical extinction by rainfall. J. Meteor., 10, 486-488.
[3] Brooks, S. M. and Spencer T., 1995. Vegetation modification of rainfall
characteristics: implication for rainfall erosivity following logging in
Sabah, Malaysia. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 7(3): 435-446.
[4] Ellison, W.D., 1944. Studies of raindrop erosion. Agricultural
Engineering 25, 131-6, 181-2.
[5] Ellison, W.D., 1947. Soil erosion studies. Agricultural Engineering. V.
28, p. 402-405.
[6] FornisRicardo L., Hans R. Vermeulen, Jan D. Nieuwenhuis, 2004.
Kinetic energy–rainfall intensity relationship for Central Cebu,
Philippines for soil erosion studies. Journal of Hydrology 300, PP: 20–
32.
[7] Fournier, 1972. La recherche en érosion et conservation des sols dans le
continent africain.
[8] Fox, D.M. and Bryan, R.B., 1999. The relationship of soil loss by
interrill erosion to slope gradient. Catena 38: 211-222.
[9] Gunn, R. et G. R. Kinzer, 1949. The terminal drops in stagnant air, J.
Meteorol., 6, 243-248.
[10] Guy, B.J., Dickinson, W.T., Rudra, R.P. 1990. Hydraulics of sedimentladen
sheet flow and the influence of simulated rainfall Earth surface
Processes and Landforms, Vol. 15, pp: 101-118.
[11] Hudson, N., 1995. Soil conservation, 3rd ed. 391pp, BT Batsford,
London.
[12] Kinnel, P.I.A., 1973. The problem of assessing the erosive power of
rainfall from meteorological observations. S.S.S.AP Vol. 37 N°4pp 617-
662.
[13] Kinnel, 1982. Laboratory studies on the effect of drop size on splash
erosion. J. Agric. Eng. 27, 431-439.
[14] Kinnell P.I.A. and Cummings D. 1993. Soil/slope gradient interactions
in erosion by rain-impacted flow. Amer. Soc. of Agric. Engineers. 36,
pp381-387.
[15] Laws, J. O., 1941. Measurements of the fall velocities of waterdrops and
raindrops. Transactions- American Geophysical Union, 22, 709-721.
[16] Laws, J.O., Parsons, D.A., 1943. The relationship of raindrop size to
intensity. Trans. Am. Geophys. Union 24, pages: 452-460.
[17] MatmazMikos, DarjaJostetGregorPetkovsek, 2010. Rainfall and runoff
erosivity in the alpine climate of north Slovenia: a comparison of
different estimation methods. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 51:1, 115-
126.
[18] Meyer, L.D., 1958. An investigation of methods for simulating rain fall
on standard runoff plots and a sandy of the drop size velocity and kinetic
energy of selected spray nozzles USDA, ARS, Spec. Rep. number 81.
[19] Moussouni, A., Mouzai L. and Bouhadef M., 2012. Laboratory
experiments: Influence of rainfall characteristics on runoff and water
erosion, Waset, 68, 1540-1543.
[20] Moussouni, A., Mouzai L. and Bouhadef M., 2013. The effects of rain
and overland flow powers on agricultural soil erodibility, Waset, 76,
439-442.
[21] Nyssen J., Vandenreyken H., Moeyersons J., Deckers J., Mitiku Haile,
Salles C.,Govers G., 2005. Rainfall erosivity and variability in the
Northern Ethiopian Highlands. Journal of Hydrology 311 (2005) 172-
187.
[22] Pal Indrani, Al-TabbaaAbir, 2009. Suitability of different erosivity
models used in RUSLE2 for the South West Indian region. Department
of Engineering. University of Cambridge, Trumpington street,
Cambridge CB IPZ, UK.
[23] Pan, C, Shangguan Z., 2006. Runoff hydraulic characteristics and
sediment generation in sloped grassplots under simulated rainfall
conditions. Journal of Hydrology 331: 178–185.
[24] Poesen, J., 1985. An improved splash transport model. Zeitschrift fur
Geomorphologie, 29(2):193–211.
[25] Quansah, C., 1981. The effect of soil type, rain intensity and their
interactions on splash detachment and transport. Journal of Soil Science
32, 215– 224.
[26] Riezebos , T. &Epema, G., 1985. Drop shape and erosivity. Part II:
Splash detachment, transport and erosivity indices. Earth Surface
Processes and Landforms, 10(1): 69-74.
[27] Roose E., 1981. Dynamique actuelle des sols ferralitiques et ferrugineux
tropicaux d’Afrique occidentale. Cah. O.R.S.T.O.M., Sér. Pédol., vol.,
XVIII, N°3-4, pp :285-286.
[28] Roose E. et F. Lelong, 1976. Les facteurs de l’érosivité hydrique en
Afrique Tropicale. Etudes sur petites parcelles expérimentales de sol.
Revue de Géographie physique et de géologie dynamique, vol. XVIII,
fasc. 4, pp. 365-374.
[29] Sempere Torres, D., Salles, C. Creutin, J. D. et Delrieu, G., 1992
quantification of soil detachment by raindrop impact: performance of classical formulae of kinetic energy in Mediterranean storms. Erosion
and sediment transport monitoring programs in river basin. IAHS Publ.
n°. 210.
[30] Van Boxel H. Jhon, 1997. Numerical model for the fall speed of raindrop
in a rainfall simulator. Workshop on wind and water erosion.
[31] Van Dijk, A.I.J.M., Bruijnzeel, L.A.,Rosewell, C.J., 2002. Rainfall
intensity – kinetic energy relationships: a critical literature appraisal.
Journal of Hydrology 261: 1-23.
[32] Willis, P.T., 1984. Functional fits of some observed drop size
distributions and parameterization of rain. L. Atmos. Sci. 41 (9), 1648-
1661.
[33] Wischmeïer, W.H. and Smith, D.D., 1958. Predicting rainfall erosion
losses - a guide to conservation planning, Science and Education
Administration, United States Department of Agriculture.
[34] Zachar, 1982. Soil erosion dupts. In soil science 10 Bratislava.
[1] Abrahams, Athol. D., Atkinson, J.F., 1993. Relation between grain
velocity and sediment concentration in overland flows. Water Resources
Research, Vol. 29, n°9, pages: 3021-3028.
[2] Atlas, D.,1953. Optical extinction by rainfall. J. Meteor., 10, 486-488.
[3] Brooks, S. M. and Spencer T., 1995. Vegetation modification of rainfall
characteristics: implication for rainfall erosivity following logging in
Sabah, Malaysia. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 7(3): 435-446.
[4] Ellison, W.D., 1944. Studies of raindrop erosion. Agricultural
Engineering 25, 131-6, 181-2.
[5] Ellison, W.D., 1947. Soil erosion studies. Agricultural Engineering. V.
28, p. 402-405.
[6] FornisRicardo L., Hans R. Vermeulen, Jan D. Nieuwenhuis, 2004.
Kinetic energy–rainfall intensity relationship for Central Cebu,
Philippines for soil erosion studies. Journal of Hydrology 300, PP: 20–
32.
[7] Fournier, 1972. La recherche en érosion et conservation des sols dans le
continent africain.
[8] Fox, D.M. and Bryan, R.B., 1999. The relationship of soil loss by
interrill erosion to slope gradient. Catena 38: 211-222.
[9] Gunn, R. et G. R. Kinzer, 1949. The terminal drops in stagnant air, J.
Meteorol., 6, 243-248.
[10] Guy, B.J., Dickinson, W.T., Rudra, R.P. 1990. Hydraulics of sedimentladen
sheet flow and the influence of simulated rainfall Earth surface
Processes and Landforms, Vol. 15, pp: 101-118.
[11] Hudson, N., 1995. Soil conservation, 3rd ed. 391pp, BT Batsford,
London.
[12] Kinnel, P.I.A., 1973. The problem of assessing the erosive power of
rainfall from meteorological observations. S.S.S.AP Vol. 37 N°4pp 617-
662.
[13] Kinnel, 1982. Laboratory studies on the effect of drop size on splash
erosion. J. Agric. Eng. 27, 431-439.
[14] Kinnell P.I.A. and Cummings D. 1993. Soil/slope gradient interactions
in erosion by rain-impacted flow. Amer. Soc. of Agric. Engineers. 36,
pp381-387.
[15] Laws, J. O., 1941. Measurements of the fall velocities of waterdrops and
raindrops. Transactions- American Geophysical Union, 22, 709-721.
[16] Laws, J.O., Parsons, D.A., 1943. The relationship of raindrop size to
intensity. Trans. Am. Geophys. Union 24, pages: 452-460.
[17] MatmazMikos, DarjaJostetGregorPetkovsek, 2010. Rainfall and runoff
erosivity in the alpine climate of north Slovenia: a comparison of
different estimation methods. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 51:1, 115-
126.
[18] Meyer, L.D., 1958. An investigation of methods for simulating rain fall
on standard runoff plots and a sandy of the drop size velocity and kinetic
energy of selected spray nozzles USDA, ARS, Spec. Rep. number 81.
[19] Moussouni, A., Mouzai L. and Bouhadef M., 2012. Laboratory
experiments: Influence of rainfall characteristics on runoff and water
erosion, Waset, 68, 1540-1543.
[20] Moussouni, A., Mouzai L. and Bouhadef M., 2013. The effects of rain
and overland flow powers on agricultural soil erodibility, Waset, 76,
439-442.
[21] Nyssen J., Vandenreyken H., Moeyersons J., Deckers J., Mitiku Haile,
Salles C.,Govers G., 2005. Rainfall erosivity and variability in the
Northern Ethiopian Highlands. Journal of Hydrology 311 (2005) 172-
187.
[22] Pal Indrani, Al-TabbaaAbir, 2009. Suitability of different erosivity
models used in RUSLE2 for the South West Indian region. Department
of Engineering. University of Cambridge, Trumpington street,
Cambridge CB IPZ, UK.
[23] Pan, C, Shangguan Z., 2006. Runoff hydraulic characteristics and
sediment generation in sloped grassplots under simulated rainfall
conditions. Journal of Hydrology 331: 178–185.
[24] Poesen, J., 1985. An improved splash transport model. Zeitschrift fur
Geomorphologie, 29(2):193–211.
[25] Quansah, C., 1981. The effect of soil type, rain intensity and their
interactions on splash detachment and transport. Journal of Soil Science
32, 215– 224.
[26] Riezebos , T. &Epema, G., 1985. Drop shape and erosivity. Part II:
Splash detachment, transport and erosivity indices. Earth Surface
Processes and Landforms, 10(1): 69-74.
[27] Roose E., 1981. Dynamique actuelle des sols ferralitiques et ferrugineux
tropicaux d’Afrique occidentale. Cah. O.R.S.T.O.M., Sér. Pédol., vol.,
XVIII, N°3-4, pp :285-286.
[28] Roose E. et F. Lelong, 1976. Les facteurs de l’érosivité hydrique en
Afrique Tropicale. Etudes sur petites parcelles expérimentales de sol.
Revue de Géographie physique et de géologie dynamique, vol. XVIII,
fasc. 4, pp. 365-374.
[29] Sempere Torres, D., Salles, C. Creutin, J. D. et Delrieu, G., 1992
quantification of soil detachment by raindrop impact: performance of classical formulae of kinetic energy in Mediterranean storms. Erosion
and sediment transport monitoring programs in river basin. IAHS Publ.
n°. 210.
[30] Van Boxel H. Jhon, 1997. Numerical model for the fall speed of raindrop
in a rainfall simulator. Workshop on wind and water erosion.
[31] Van Dijk, A.I.J.M., Bruijnzeel, L.A.,Rosewell, C.J., 2002. Rainfall
intensity – kinetic energy relationships: a critical literature appraisal.
Journal of Hydrology 261: 1-23.
[32] Willis, P.T., 1984. Functional fits of some observed drop size
distributions and parameterization of rain. L. Atmos. Sci. 41 (9), 1648-
1661.
[33] Wischmeïer, W.H. and Smith, D.D., 1958. Predicting rainfall erosion
losses - a guide to conservation planning, Science and Education
Administration, United States Department of Agriculture.
[34] Zachar, 1982. Soil erosion dupts. In soil science 10 Bratislava.
@article{"International Journal of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences:68657", author = "A. Moussouni and L. Mouzai and M. Bouhadef", title = "The Effect of Raindrop Kinetic Energy on Soil Erodibility", abstract = "Soil erosion is a very complex phenomenon, resulting
from detachment and transport of soil particles by erosion agents.
The kinetic energy of raindrop is the energy available for detachment
and transport by splashing rain. The soil erodibility is defined as the
ability of soil to resist to erosion. For this purpose, an experimental
study was conducted in the laboratory using rainfall simulator to
study the effect of the kinetic energy of rain (Ec) on the soil
erodibility (K). The soil used was a sandy agricultural soil of 62.08%
coarse sand, 19.14% fine sand, 6.39% fine silt, 5.18% coarse silt and
7.21% clay. The obtained results show that the kinetic energy of
raindrops evolves as a power law with soil erodibility.
", keywords = "Erosion, runoff, raindrop kinetic energy, soil
erodibility, rainfall intensity, raindrop fall velocity.", volume = "8", number = "12", pages = "879-5", }
