Abstract
Abstract Rainfall erosivity is an important factor to be considered when predicting soil erosion. Precipitation data for 1971–2010 from 39 stations located in the Loess Plateau of China were collected to calculate the spatiotemporal variability of rainfall erosivity, and the long-term tendency of the erosivity was predicted using data from the HadGEM2-ES model. Statistical analyses were done using Mann–Kendall statistic tests and ordinary Kriging interpolation. The results showed that the annual mean rainfall erosivity in the Loess Plateau decreased from 1,286.02 MJ mm hm−2 h−1 a−1 in 1971–1990 to 1,201.46 MJ mm hm−2 h−1 a−1 in 1991–2010 and mainly occurred in July to August. The rainfall erosivity decreased from the southeast to the northwest of the Loess Plateau and was closely related to the annual precipitation amount. However, the effect of annual precipitation on rainfall erosivity weakened under climate change: the annual precipitation increased and the rainfall erosivity decreased. Climate change, however, had little influence on the spatial variation in rainfall erosivity in the Loess Plateau. The results obtained can facilitate the prediction of spatial and temporal variations in soil erosion in the Loess Plateau.
Highlights
Soil erosion is one of the most important ecological problems in the world
A third of arable land has been exposed to soil erosion, which has increased at a rate of 1.0 × 107 hm2 per year (Pimentel et al )
Predicting and protecting against soil erosion are of great significance to the construction of an ecological civilization and to the sustainable development of the economy and society
Summary
Soil erosion is one of the most important ecological problems in the world. A third of arable land has been exposed to soil erosion, which has increased at a rate of 1.0 × 107 hm per year (Pimentel et al ). Soil erosion removes fertile soil and seriously threatens agricultural production and food security. The eroded soil usually enters rivers, causing siltation and water eutrophication, and endangers water safety and affects normal production and life. Predicting and protecting against soil erosion are of great significance to the construction of an ecological civilization and to the sustainable development of the economy and society. Mechanisms of soil erosion and measures to control it have been hot research topics (Lal ; Pimentel )
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