| Abstract: | Separation of rill and inter-rill erosion is required in many of the soil erosion models currently being developed. The feasibility of basing the separation on the hydraulic properties of the flow and resultant sediment production is examined in a laboratory simulation of rill initiation and development. Four stages are identified in the process of rill formation; these are sheetflow, flowline development, micro-rills, and micro-rills with headcuts. There are significant differences in terms of flow characteristics between the stages, especially between sheetflow and flowlines, indicating the promise of this method for making a more precise distinction between rill and inter-rill erosion. |
