DEM-based numerical modelling of runoff and soil erosion processes in the hilly–gully loess regions

For sake of improving our current understanding on soil erosion processes in the hilly–gully loess regions of the middle Yellow River basin in China, a digital elevation model (DEM)-based runoff and sediment processes simulating model was developed. Infiltration excess runoff theory was used to describe the runoff generation process while a kinematic wave equation was solved using the finite-difference technique to simulate concentration processes on hillslopes. The soil erosion processes were modelled using the particular characteristics of loess slope, gully slope, and groove to characterize the unique features of steep hillslopes and a large variety of gullies based on a number of experiments. The constructed model was calibrated and verified in the Chabagou catchment, located in the middle Yellow River of China and dominated by an extreme soil-erosion rate. Moreover, spatio-temporal characterization of the soil erosion processes in small catchments and in-depth analysis between discharge and sediment concentration for the hyper-concentrated flows were addressed in detail. Thereafter, the calibrated model was applied to the Xingzihe catchment, which is dominated by similar soil erosion processes in the Yellow River basin. Results indicate that the model is capable of simulating runoff and soil erosion processes in such hilly–gully loess regions. The developed model are expected to contribute to further understanding of runoff generation and soil erosion processes in small catchments characterized by steep hillslopes, a large variety of gullies, and hyper-concentrated flow, and will be beneficial to water and soil conservation planning and management for catchments dealing with serious water and soil loss in the Loess Plateau.     

An analysis of the impact of spatial variability in rainfall on runoff and sediment predictions from a distributed model

This paper investigates the effect of introducing spatially varying rainfall fields to a hydrological model simulating runoff and erosion. Pairs of model simulations were run using either spatially uniform (i.e. spatially averaged) or spatially varying rainfall fields on a 500‐m grid. The hydrological model used was a simplified version of Thales which enabled runoff generation processes to be isolated from hillslope averaging processes. Both saturation excess and infiltration excess generation mechanisms were considered, as simplifications of actual hillslope processes. A 5‐year average recurrence interval synthetic rainfall event typical of temperate climates (Melbourne, Australia) was used. The erosion model was based on the WEPP interrill equation, modified to allow nonlinear terms relating the erosion rate to rainfall or runoff‐squared. The model results were extracted at different scales to investigate whether the effects of spatially varying rainfall were scale dependent. A series of statistical metrics were developed to assess the variability due to introducing the spatially varying rainfall field. At the catchment (approximately 150 km²) scale, it was found that particularly for saturation excess runoff, model predictions of runoff were insensitive to the spatial resolution of the rainfall data. Generally, erosion processes at smaller sub‐catchment scales, particularly when the sediment generation equation had non linearity, were more sensitive to spatial rainfall variability. Introducing runon infiltration reduced the total runoff and sediment yield at all scales, and this process was also most sensitive to the rainfall resolution. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Review of field observations of runoff generation in the tropics

Over the last thirty years, French hydrologists have observed flow characteristics at the outlets of small tropical watersheds, characteristics which vary between arid zones, humid zones and equatorial rainforest zones. The main physical phenomena related to the various types of runoff generation have been observed and analysed. The generation of runoff and subsurface runoff following tropical rainstorms depends on soil surface formations, texture and structure as well as vegetation cover, geological substrata, weathered material and climate.

Analysis is also made of experimental rainfall-runoff relationships, the shape of flood hydrographs and the conditions necessary for the occurrence of steady base flow. Scale effects between experimental plot and watershed have been studied to identify any effect this may have upon runoff generation and flow. Tables detail watershed characteristics and relationships between these and rainfall and runoff.     

Summer and winter regimes of runoff generation and soil erosion on cultivated loess soils (The Netherlands)

Monthly runoff and soil loss data of three fallow experimental plots are presented, comprising a summer and following winter season. The fallow plots were only tilled once, at the end of April. Summer runoff appeared to be controlled by rainfall intensity and conforms to the Horton model of overland flow generation. Winter runoff was primarily controlled by rainfall amount and conforms to the saturation or storage control model of runoff generation. Summer runoff volume was one fourth of winter runoff volume. Summer soil loss was twice as high as winter soil loss and was caused by high intensity, high energy rainfall. Winter soil loss was due to detachment limited erosion, caused by low intensity, low energy rainfall. Mean sediment concentration of winter runoff was one seventh of that of summer runoff. Implications for runoff and erosion of climatic change, involving increased rainfall amounts or intensities in summer or winter, are given.     

A simple overland flow calculation method for distributed groundwater recharge models

A method to improve the calculation of overland flow in distributed groundwater recharge models is presented and applied to two sub‐catchments in the Thames Basin, UK. Recharge calculation studies tend to simulate the runoff flow component of river flow in a simplistic way, often as a fraction of rainfall over a particular period. The method outlined in this study intends to improve the calculation of groundwater recharge estimates in distributed recharge models but does not present an alternative to complex overland flow simulators. This method uses seasonally varying coefficients to calculate runoff for specified hydrogeological classes or runoff zones, which are used to model baseflow index variations across the basin. It employs a transfer function model to represent catchment storage. Monte Carlo simulation was applied to refine the runoff values. Decoupling the runoff zones between the two sub‐catchments produces a better match between the simulated and observed values; however, the difference between observed runoff and the simulated output indicates other factors, such as landuse and topographical characteristics that affect the generation of runoff flow, need to be taken into account when classifying runoff zones. British Geological Survey © NERC 2011. Hydrological Processes © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distributed discharge and sediment concentration predictions in the sub‐humid Ethiopian highlands: the Debre Mawi watershed

Experimental research in the Ethiopian highlands found that saturation excess induced runoff and erosion are common in the sub‐humid conditions. Because most erosion simulation models applied in the highlands are based on infiltration excess, we, as an alternative, developed the Parameter Efficient Distributed (PED) model, which can simulate water and sediment fluxes in landscapes with saturation excess runoff. The PED model has previously only been tested at the outlet of a watershed and not for distributed runoff and sediment concentration within the watershed. In this study, we compare the distributed storm runoff and sediment concentration of the PED model against collected data in the 95‐ha Debre Mawi watershed and three of its nested sub‐watersheds for the 2010 and 2011 rainy seasons. In the PED model framework, the hydrology of the watershed is divided between infiltrating and runoff zones, with erosion only taking place from two surface runoff zones. Daily storm runoff and sediment concentration values, ranging from 0.5 to over 30 mm and from 0.1 to 35 g l^?1, respectively, were well simulated. The Nash Sutcliffe efficiency values for the daily storm runoff for outlet and sub‐watersheds ranged from 0.66 to 0.82, and the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency for daily sediment concentrations were greater than 0.78. Furthermore, the model uses realistic fractional areas for surface and subsurface flow contributions, for example between saturated areas (15%), degraded areas (30%) and permeable areas (55%) at the main outlet, while close similarity was found for the remaining hydrology and erosion parameter values. One exception occurred for the distinctly greater transport limited parameter at the actively gullying lower part of the watershed. The results suggest that the model based on saturation excess provides a good representation of the observed spatially distributed runoff and sediment concentrations within a watershed by modelling the bottom lands (as opposed to the uplands) as the dominant contributor of the runoff and sediment load. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

PHYSICAL PROCESS BASED SOIL EROSION MODEL IN A SMALL WATERSHED IN THE HILLY LOESS REGION

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Base flow separation for soil erosion simulation in a granitic forested headwater catchment using a process-based model,GeoWEPP

Distributed erosion models, which simulate the physical processes of water flow and soil erosion, are effective for predicting soil erosion in forested catchments. Although subsurface flow through multiple pathways is dominant for runoff generation in forested headwater catchments, the process-based erosion model, Geo-spatial interface for Water Erosion Prediction Project(Geo WEPP), does not have an adequate subsurface component for the simulation of hillslope water flow. In the current study, t...     

Spatial distribution of surface properties,runoff generation and landscape development in the Zin Valley Badlands,northern Negev,Israel

In?ltration tests, soil mapping and soil property analysis were used to assess the effect of within‐storm rainfall conditions on spatial patterns of surface characteristics relevant for runoff generation, continuity and erosion in the Zin Valley Badlands. Runoff and erosion differ strongly between ridges and slopes. Soils at both locations are susceptible to sealing, but on the sideslopes deep desiccation cracks inhibit continuous ?ow, even during high magnitude rainstorms. The discontinuous nature of runoff has a feedback on surface conditions. Erosion on the ridges maintains shallow soils prone to sealing while in?ltration and deposition on the sideslopes enhance soil depth, a prerequisite for stable desiccation cracks. Some runoff generated on the ridges is transmitted to the valley via rills. On straight sideslopes, rills are single and often discontinuous, indicating limited frequency of continuous runoff. Along concave valley heads, rill systems are well integrated and continuous, concentrating runoff and reducing in?ltration losses along slopes. The longitudinal, V‐shaped valley morphology of small catchments in the Zin Valley Badlands re?ects the long‐term effect of different erosion rates in valley heads and on sideslopes. Over time, valley incision lengthened the sideslopes, reducing the portion of annual rainfall that was runoff‐effective. Once sideslopes reached a critical length that inhibited frequent continuous ?ow, a colluvium with an increased in?ltration capacity developed, reducing runoff frequency even further. Consequently, erosion on the valley sideslopes decreased. Continuous ?ow from ridges to the valley channel remained more common in integrated rill systems in concavities and valley heads, leading to more erosion and retreat of the valley heads. The spatial patterns of runoff and erosion in the Zin Valley Badlands demonstrate that landscape development is strongly affected by processes that lead to differentiation of soil properties on hillslopes with uniform lithology. The patterns of surface characteristics and their role in landscape development are strongly dependent on rainfall conditions, highlighting the need for geomorphologists to identify the dynamic spatial and temporal scales relevant for landscape development. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Water and sediment balances of a contour bench terracing system in a semi-arid cultivated zone (El Gouazine,central Tunisia)

Abstract

Contour benches are earthen structures constructed across cultivated slopes, at intervals down the slope, largely used in semi-arid zones. The results of an experiment to monitor water and sediment balance inside a contour bench terrace system are presented. The study site, located in the El-Gouazine watershed (central Tunisia), includes two terraced plots of approximately 3000 m², one of which was left fallow for several years, while the other was tilled. The characteristics of rainfall—runoff processes and erosion inside both terraced plots during a two-year period (2004–2006) are described. Ploughing reduced runoff by 75%. Erosion was monitored following runoff episodes that produced observable deposits in the bench channel. After ploughing, erosion was reduced by 44% between July 2004 and July 2005 and by 50% between October 2005 and July 2006. However, erosion per millimetre of runoff was about twice as great on the tilled soil as on the fallow. Even though ploughing weakens the soil, it seems to reduce erosion by increasing infiltration. For the studied rain events, ploughing used in combination with contour bench terraces seems to have limited erosion and enhanced the effectiveness of contour bench terrace management.     

RUNOFF GENERATION AND SOIL EROSION IN SMALL AGRICULTURAL CATCHMENTS WITH LOESS-DERIVED SOILS

Over a two-year period, rainfall, runoff and sediment output were measured in six small agricultural catchments (3–10 ha) in south Limburg (The Netherlands). These measurements were needed for validation of an erosion model for South Limburg (LISEM). In this paper, results of the measurements are presented and processes that determine surface runoff and sediment yield during winter and summer rainfall are identified. Before the start of the measurement programme, surface slaking and crust formation on the erodible loess soils were thought to be the main cause of overland flow and soil erosion in South Limburg. This was the starting point for soil conservation measures in the area. The measurement results discussed in this paper show that in some catchments much runoff occurred in winter and that soil moisture storage capacity may be just as important for runoff generation as infiltration capacity. Therefore, when modelling soil erosion and optimizing erosion control measures for South Limburg, runoff generation through Hortonian as well as through saturation overland flow must be considered.     

Modelling the potential impacts of groundwater hydrology on long‐term drainage basin evolution

Fluvial erosion processes are driven by water discharge on the land surface, which is produced by surface runoff and groundwater discharge. Although groundwater is often neglected in long‐term landscape evolution problems, water table levels control patterns of Dunne runoff production, and groundwater discharge can contribute significantly to storm flows. In this analysis, we investigate the role that groundwater movement plays in long‐term drainage basin evolution by modifying a widely used landscape evolution model to include a more detailed representation of basin hydrology. Precipitation is generated by a stochastic process, and the precipitation is partitioned between surface runoff and groundwater recharge using a specified infiltration capacity. Groundwater flow is simulated by a dynamic two‐dimensional Dupuit equation for an unconfined aquifer with an irregular underlying impervious layer. The model is applied to the WE‐38 basin, an experimental catchment in Pennsylvania, because 60–80 per cent of the discharge is derived from groundwater and substantial hydrologic and geomorphic information is available. The hydrologic model is first calibrated to match the observed streamflows, and then the combined hydrologic/geomorphic model is used to simulate scenarios with different infiltration capacities. The results of this modelling exercise indicate that the basin can be divided into three zones with distinct streamflow‐generating characteristics, and different parts of the basin can have different geomorphic effective events. Over long periods of time, scenarios in which groundwater discharge is large tend to modify the topography in a way that promotes groundwater discharge and inhibits Dunne runoff. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Piecewise prediction model for watershed‐scale erosion and sediment yield of individual rainfall events on the Loess Plateau,China

Establishing a universal watershed‐scale erosion and sediment yield prediction model represents a frontier field in erosion and soil/water conservation. The research presented here was conducted on the Chabagou watershed, which is located in the first sub‐region of the hill‐gully area of the Loess Plateau, China. A back‐propagation artificial neural model for watershed‐scale erosion and sediment yield was established, with the accuracy of the model, then compared with that of multiple linear regression. The sensitivity degree of various factors to erosion and sediment yield was quantitatively analysed using the default factor test. On the basis of the sensitive factors and the fractal information dimension, the piecewise prediction model for erosion and sediment yield of individual rainfall events was established and further verified. The results revealed the back‐propagation artificial neural network model to perform better than the multiple linear regression model in terms of predicting the erosion modulus, with the former able to effectively characterize dynamic changes in sediment yield under comprehensive factor conditions. The sensitivity of runoff erosion power and runoff depth to the erosion and sediment yield associated with individual rainfall events was found to be related to the complexity of surface topography. The characteristics of such a hydrological response are thus closely related to topography. When the fractal information dimension is greater than the topographic threshold, the accuracy of prediction using runoff erosion power is higher than that of using runoff depth. In contrast, when the fractal information dimension is smaller than the topographic threshold, the accuracy of prediction using runoff depth is higher than that of using runoff erosion power. The developed piecewise prediction model for watershed‐scale erosion and sediment yield of individual rainfall events, which introduces runoff erosion power and runoff depth using the fractal information dimension as a boundary, can be considered feasible and reliable and has a high prediction accuracy. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling soil erosion using a spatially distributed model in a karst catchment of northwest Guangxi,China

Reliable assessment of the spatial distribution of soil erosion is important for making land management decisions, but it has not been thoroughly evaluated in karst geo‐environments. The objective of this study was to modify a physically based, spatially distributed erosion model, the revised Morgan, Morgan and Finney (RMMF) model, to estimate the superficial (as opposed to subsurface creep) soil erosion rates and their spatial patterns in a 1022 ha karst catchment in northwest Guangxi, China. Model parameters were calculated using local data in a raster geographic information system (GIS) framework. The cumulative runoff on each grid cell, as an input to the RMMF model for erosion computations, was computed using a combined flow algorithm that allowed for flow into multiple cells with a transfer grid considering infiltration and runoff seepage to the subsurface. The predicted spatial distributions of soil erosion rates were analyzed relative to land uses and slope zones. Results showed that the simulated effective runoff and annual soil erosion rates of hillslopes agreed well with the field observations and previous quantified redistribution rates with caesium‐137 (¹³⁷Cs). The estimated average effective runoff and annual erosion rate on hillslopes of the study catchment were 18 mm and 0.27 Mg ha^?1 yr^?1 during 2006–2007. Human disturbances played an important role in accelerating soil erosion rates with the average values ranged from 0.1 to 3.02 Mg ha^?1 yr^?1 for different land uses. The study indicated that the modified model was effective to predict superficial soil erosion rates in karst regions and the spatial distribution results could provide useful information for developing local soil and water conservation plans. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Predicting the impact of linear landscape elements on surface runoff,soil erosion,and sedimentation in the Wahnbach catchment,Germany

Model predictions concerning the endangerment of on‐site and off‐site damages due to runoff, soil erosion and sedimentation under alternative design and operation policies are of particular importance in recent catchment planning and management. By using the raster‐based model approach, linear landscape elements, such as streets and roads, and their impacts on flow paths are often neglected. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the effects of linear landscape elements on patterns of soil erosion, sediment transport and sedimentation. To accomplish this, roads are considered while determining flow paths. Simulations in the well‐investigated catchment of the Wahnbach River (54 km²) in a low mountain range in Germany were carried out using a combination of different models for hydrology and soil erosion. Although the study focuses on the catchment scale of the Wahnbach River, detailed investigations concerning the sub‐catchment scale (21 ha) were also conducted. The simulation results show that these spatial structures mainly affect the pattern of soil erosion and sedimentation. On the sub‐catchment scale, improved identification of active zones for sediment dynamic becomes possible. On the catchment scale, the predicted runoff is about 20% higher, and sediment outputs were four times larger than predicted when roads were considered. Soil erosion increases by 37% whereas sedimentation is reduced by 29%. The model improvement could not be evaluated on the catchment scale because of the high variability and heterogeneity of land use and soils, but road impacts could be explained by simulations on the sub‐catchment scale. It can be concluded that runoff concentration due to rerouted flow paths leads to lower non‐concentrated and higher concentric‐linear surface runoff. Thus, infiltration losses decline and surface runoff and soil erosion increase because sedimentation is reduced. Further, runoff concentration can cause soil erosion hot spots. In the model concept used in this study, buffering of runoff and sediments on the upslope side of roads and in local depressions adjacent to roads cannot be simulated. Flow paths will only be rerouted because of road impacts, but the temporal ponding of water is not simulated. Therefore, the drastic increase of predicted sediment output due to road impact does not seem to be reliable. However, results indicate that the consideration of roads when determining flow paths enabled more detailed simulations of surface runoff, soil erosion and sedimentation. Thus, progress in model‐based decision‐making support for river catchment planning and management can be achieved. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

How do streamflow generation mechanisms affect watershed hypsometry?

Several studies have shown that the dominant streamflow generation mechanism in a river basin can leave distinct geomorphological signatures in basin topography. In particular, it has been suggested previously that basins generated by groundwater discharge tend to have a larger hypsometric integral than surface runoff basins because fluvial erosion is more focused in the valleys where groundwater discharge tends to occur. In this analysis, we aim to clarify this relationship by developing an alternative method to quantify the effects of streamflow generation mechanisms on basin hypsometry and by using a numerical model that can generate streamflow by different processes to evaluate the sensitivity of the results to the hydrological and geomorphological properties of the basin. The model results suggest that the hypsometric characteristics that are usually associated with groundwater discharge basins, such as a larger hypsometric integral, occur primarily when drainage networks are still advancing in the watershed. During later stages of development, an additional factor such as lithological controls or a distinct geomorphological process would be needed to preserve these features. The model results also show that the hypsometric effects are stronger when the parameters of the fluvial erosion process promote the influence of small discharge rates. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A simulation model for unified interrill erosion and rill erosion on hillslopes

A mathematical model was developed for simulating runoff generation and soil erosion on hillslopes. The model is comprised of three modules: one for overland flow, one for soil infiltration, and one for soil erosion including rill erosion and interrill erosion. Rainfall and slope characteristics affecting soil erosion on hillslopes were analysed. The model results show that the slope length and gradient, time distribution rainfall, and distribution of rills have varying influence on soil erosion. Erosion rate increases nonlinearly with increase in the slope length; a long slope length leads to more serious erosion. The effect of the slope gradient on soil erosion can be both positive and negative. Thus, there exists a critical slope gradient for soil erosion, which is about 45° for the rate of erosion at the end of the slope and about 25° for the accumulated erosion. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A GIS-BASED DISTRIBUTED SOIL EROSION MODEL： A CASE STUDY OF TYPICAL WATERSHED, SICHUAN BASIN

Based on the measuring data and Digital Elevation Data (DEM) in a typical watershed--Hemingguan Watershed, Nanbu County, Sichuan Province of China, a GIS-based distributed soil erosion model was developed particularly for the purple soil type. It takes 20 m × 20 m grid as calculating unit and operates at 10-minute time interval. The required input data to the model include DEM, soil, land use, and time-series of precipitation and evaporation loss. The model enables one to estimate runoff, erosion and sediment yield for each grid cell and route the flow along its flow path to the watershed outlet. Furthermore, the model is capable of calculating the total runoff; erosion and sediment yield for the entire watershed by recursion algorithm. The validation of the model demonstrated that it could quantitatively simulate the spatial distribution of hydrological variables in a watershed, such as runoff, vegetation entrapment, soil erosion, the degree of soil and water loss. Moreover, it can evaluate the effect of land use change on the runoff generation and soil erosion with an accuracy of 80% and 75% respectively. The application of this model to a neighboring watershed with similar conditions indicates that this distributed model could be extended to other similar regions in China.     

Seasonal patterns of runoff and erosion responses to simulated rainfall in a badland area in Mediterranean mountain conditions (Vallcebre,southeastern Pyrenees)

Regolith surface characteristics and response were examined over a three‐year period in a badland area in a Mediterranean middle‐mountain zone near Vallcebre (Eastern Pyrenees). Preliminary work carried out in this area indicated clear seasonal patterns of regolith properties driven by frost heaving in winter and crusting and erosion in the rest of the year. Rainfall simulations were performed with a small portable nozzle simulator in order to study seasonal changes in runoff generation, erosion rates and raindrop effect on bulk density changes. The results showed large seasonal variations in runoff and erosion responses. In?ltration rates after runoff start were correlated with precipitation depth before runoff start; runoff generation was therefore related to regolith saturation only to a very limited extent. Erosion rates were more controlled by runoff rates than by the weakness of regolith against raindrop splash, and sediment grain size increased with concentration. The combined role of antecedent regolith moisture and bulk density explained most of the seasonal variability in in?ltration, bulk density changes during rainfall and erosion rates, but some seasonal differences in sediment detachability were not explained by these variables and may be attributed to changes in roughness. Overall, runoff and erosion responses were relatively stable during spring and autumn, whereas wide variations in in?ltration rates and sediment detachment occurred in winter and summer respectively. Experiments conducted in a single season would have produced poorly representative, if not erroneous, results. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The applicability of a parsimonious model for local and regional prediction of runoff

Abstract

The Hydrological Recursive Model (HRM), a conceptual rainfall-runoff model, was applied for local and regional simulation of hourly discharges in the transnational Alzette River basin (Luxembourg-France-Belgium). The model was calibrated for a range of various sub-basins with a view to analysing its ability to reproduce the variability of basin responses during flood generation. The regionalization of the model parameters was obtained by fitting simultaneously the runoff series of calibration sub-basins after their spatial discretization in lithological contrasting isochronal zones. The runoff simulations of the model agreed well with the recorded runoff series. Significant correlations with some basin characteristics and, noticeably, the permeability of geological formations, could be found for two of the four free model parameters. The goodness of fit for runoff predictions using the derived regional parameter set was generally satisfactory, particularly for the statistical characteristics of streamflow. A more physically-based modelling approach, or at least an explicit treatment of quick surface runoff, is expected to give better results for high peak discharge.