Abstract
This study examines the relationship between gully erosion in channels, sidewalls, and interfluves, and precipitation parameters (duration, total accumulation, average intensity, and maximum intensity) annually and seasonally to determine seasonal drivers for precipitation-related erosion. Ordinary Least Square regression models of erosion using precipitation and antecedent precipitation at weekly lags of up to twelve weeks were developed for three erosion variables for each of three geomorphic areas: channels, interfluves, and sidewalls (nine models in total). Erosion was most pronounced in winter months, followed by spring, indicating the influence of high-intensity precipitation from frontal systems and repeated freeze-thaw cycles in winter; erosion in summer was driven by high-intensity precipitation from convectional storms. Annually, duration was the most important driver for erosion, however, during winter and summer months, precipitation intensity was dominant. Seasonal models retained average and maximum precipitation as drivers for erosion in winter months (dominated by frontal systems), and retained maximum precipitation intensity as a driver for erosion in summer months (dominated by convectional storms). In channels, precipitation duration was the dominant driver for erosion due to runoff-related erosion, while in sidewalls and interfluves intensity parameters were equally important as duration, likely related to rain splash erosion. These results show that the character of precipitation, which varies seasonally, is an important driver for gully erosion and that studies of precipitation-driven erosion should consider partitioning data by season to identify these drivers.
Highlights
Erosion is a global problem, in the southeastern United States, where erodible soils, high relief, and climatic and meteorological factors encourage soil erosion
The duration of precipitation had an annual mean of 278.7 min, but the longest seasonal mean duration was received in winter (424.7 min), and the shortest in autumn
Both average and maximum precipitation intensity were higher in summer months
Summary
Erosion is a global problem, in the southeastern United States, where erodible soils, high relief, and climatic and meteorological factors encourage soil erosion. Erosion is one of the most dangerous forms of soil degradation, which is caused by natural and anthropogenic activities. Erosion can initiate from anthropogenic factors like farming or grazing on susceptible soils, increased runoff from land-use changes due to logging or construction, and poor vegetative cover from wildfire or high soil salinity. Natural drivers for soil erosion are meteorological variables, topography, and soil type and texture [1,2]. Changes in land use can increase soil erosion. Vast regions of the United States experienced soil erosion when forested lands were converted to croplands in the late 19th century and the early
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