Mm Of Rain Research Articles

Cloud characteristics and their role in the 2024 United Arab Emirates extreme rainfall events

ABSTRACT Intensified by climate change, extreme rainfall events are frequently increasing and have become severe particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. On 16 April 2024, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) experienced a record-breaking flood event, characterized by ~ 250 mm of rain within a 24-hour period and surpassed the previous record of 1949. Later, on 2 May 2024, another rainfall event occurred but with low rainfall (~20 mm in 12 hours). These consecutive incidents raised a need to understand convective mechanism, so present study focus to analyse it using various cloud properties over Dubai. Our findings inferred that the April event was mostly driven by extensive cloud such as cumulonimbus which stretched up to ~ 16 km, with prominent features of high optical thickness (~150), small-sized cloud droplets (~23.89 µm), and considerable liquid water content (~2185 g/m−2). Further, we found high (~400–1800 J kg−1) and comparatively low (~0–700 J kg−1) potential energies, which trigerred convection on April 16 and May 02 respectively. Thus our study gained insights related to occurrence of convective activities at regional level using atmospheric and cloud parameters. These outcomes can be used as an input in climate models to improve weather patterns even in arid environments like Dubai, where cloud seeding is a regular practice.

The influence of rainfall patterns on factor of safety for clayey soil slopes

The persistent trend of rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns caused by climate change has prompted significant concern around the world. This research aims to evaluate the instability of slopes in Almaty, Kazakhstan, under various rainfall patterns, groundwater tables, and slope geometries by incorporating the principles of unsaturated soil mechanics. However, there have been a limited number of studies incorporating the principle of unsaturated soil mechanics with constant rainfall patterns in Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan, on the impact of rainfall-causing landslides. Hence, in this research, GeoStudio software (SEEP/W and SLOPE/W) was used to simulate the factor of safety (FoS) and pore water pressure for the investigated slopes under different rainfall patterns. Results from Hyprop and statistical method show that the saturated volumetric water content is 0.502, whereas the residual one is 0.147 and for the permeability function the conductivity coefficient started to sharply decrease at the suction value of 2 kPa when the air-entry value was 24 kPa. Findings from numerical analysis show the change in FoS for the slope of 10 m height and 27-degree slope angle was 6%, 7%, 7%, and 8% for cyclic, delayed, advanced, and normal distributions, respectively. For the slope with 20 m height and the same 27-degree angle, the change in FoS was 8%, 10%, 8%, and 11% for the cyclic, delayed, advanced, and normal distributions, respectively. These same patterns were shown in slopes with 35-degree and 45-degree angles, having the same 10 m and 20 m heights. Comparatively, this shows that slopes under cyclic rainfall patterns (240 mm of rain within 12 days) are less prone to failure compared to slopes under continuous, delayed, or regularly distributed rainfall patterns. Moreover, an increase in slope height and angle also affect the FoS negatively. It should be noted that the results obtained are only applicable to clayey-loam soil.

Assessment of flash flood risks in the desert cities: a case study on Sabah Al-Ahmad, Kuwait

ABSTRACT Flash floods from rainstorms pose a severe natural hazard, especially dangerous in arid regions. This has occurred multiple times in Kuwait: in 1967, 1997, 2009, 2013, 2018, and 2020. For example, about 300 mm of rain beset the State of Kuwait on the 14th and 15th of November 2018. Subsequently, Sabah Al-Ahmad City was declared an environmental disaster zone, grappling with extensive water accumulation in its roads, urban zones, and surrounding valleys. This study focuses on (i) monitoring the hydro-geomorphological impacts of the floods on Sabah Al-Ahmad City and (ii) assessing the strategic plan to diminish flood risks, aiming to prevent a recurrence akin to the catastrophic events during rainstorms. (iii) proposing a protection plan for the city. The research employs various methodologies, including drones (UAV), field surveys, hydrological modelling, digital elevation model analysis, and spatial analysis of multi-spectral satellite imagery. These methods are instrumental in comprehending how flash floods impact the sustainable development of urban areas in Kuwait. Our approach is designed to support decision-makers and urban planners, enabling them to proactively identify flood-prone zones before future urban development initiatives in Kuwait.

Density, occupancy and detectability of tortoise species (Chelonoidis spp.) in the Atlantic Forest: implications for conservation and management

ABSTRACT Understanding the distribution, abundance and detectability of species is pivotal for effective conservation and management strategies. This study investigated the populations of Chelonoidis denticulatus and Chelonoidis carbonarius within one of the largest remnants of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil (Vale Natural Reserve). The aim was to evaluate species abundance, factors influencing occupancy and detectability, and implications for conservation. Sampling occurred from 2015 to 2018 across 24 line transects. We measured climate and landscape variables potentially associated with species occurrence in each transect. We used the Royle–Nichols model to estimate abundance, while occupancy modelling assessed occupancy, detectability, and the effects of variables. The estimated population size of both species (C. denticulatus: 153 individuals, C. carbonarius: 105 individuals) was notably lower than in Amazonian areas. Detectability surged after rainfall, exceeding 70% with at least 55 mm of rain on the prior day. Occupancy of C. denticulatus correlated positively with forest cover, while both species were negatively affected by distance from water. The study’s findings signal potential critical conditions for Chelonoidis species in the Atlantic Forest. The small estimated populations, coupled with their reliance on water availability and forest cover for occupancy and detectability, pose significant conservation challenges. As climate change threatens the planet, these factors assume heightened significance. Given the alarming scenario of potentially critical population status within the Atlantic Forest, urgent attention is needed for robust conservation strategies. Strengthening ecological knowledge specific to this biome is essential to developing effective measures that counter the impacts of habitat loss, climate change and other threats. This study underscores the importance of preserving water resources and forest cover within the Atlantic Forest to secure the future of Chelonoidis species and highlights the need for comprehensive, targeted conservation efforts.

A study of extreme rainfall events and urban flooding over Hyderabad, October 2020

The present study analyses and describes the evolution of the Mesoscale Convective Complex (MCC) and its atmospheric conditions during Extreme rainfall event in Hyderabad, on 13th October 2020. This extreme weather event was a mesoscale event embedded in a synoptic-scale system. During the second week of October 2020, a depression formed over the west-central Bay of Bengal (BoB) and travelled north-westwards through peninsular India, causing heavy rains in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states of India on October 13-14. On October 13, many parts of Hyderabad and Cyberabad received more than 300 mm of rain within 24 hrs. Satellite imagery suggests that this mesoscale system constituted a unique set of structured convection those reported in MCC. This MCC has a cloud shield with a continuous low IR temperature of less than - 33 °C over an area of more than 100000 km2 and a cloud shield with a continuous low IR temperature of less than -54 °C over an area of more than 50000 km2 over Hyderabad with a life cycle of about 9 hours. This MCC featured multi cellular characteristics, showing that there was significant low-level moisture in its environment, as well as a mix of vigorous updrafts, implying significant rainfall rates over Hyderabad. The synoptic features suggest that with high precipitable water, the long axis of low-level moisture convergence at 0850 hPa and large horizontal vorticity at 0925 hPa were oriented parallel to the system's mean wind flow. In this case, a clusters of thunderstorms arose in the area of moisture convergence which prolonged the duration of extremely heavy rainfall. The high rain rate, relatively sluggish storm motion, and prolonged back-building over the same locations for several hours are likely to blame for the heavy rainfall accumulations that were observed. The hydrological conditions compounded the effects of the torrential rain, resulting in a natural hazard.

Temporal Dynamics and Dispersal Patterns of the Primary Inoculum of Coniella diplodiella, the Causal Agent of Grape White Rot.

Grape white rot can cause considerable yield losses in viticulture areas worldwide and is principally caused by Coniella diplodiella. The fungus overwinters in berry mummies on the soil surface or on the trellis and produces pycnidia and conidia that serve as primary inoculum. However, little is known about the temporal dynamics and dispersal pattern of C. diplodiella conidia. In this study, we investigated the production and dispersal of C. diplodiella conidia from a primary inoculum source, namely, affected mummified berries that overwintered in two vineyards in northern Italy in 2021 and 2022. Conidia of C. diplodiella were repeatedly produced in berry mummies from the budburst of vines to harvesting, with approximately 50 and 75% of the total conidia in a season being produced before fruit set and véraison, respectively. The production dynamics of C. diplodiella conidia over time were described by a Weibull equation in which the thermal time is the independent variable, with a concordance correlation coefficient of ≥0.964. A rainfall cutoff of ≥0.2 mm provided an overall accuracy of ≥0.86 in predicting conidial dispersal through rain splashes from berry mummies on the soil surface, with the number of dispersed conidia increasing with the amount of rainfall. The dispersal of conidia from mummies on the trellis by washing with rain required at least 6.1 mm of rain. The proposed mathematical equations and rain cutoffs can be used to predict periods with a high dispersal risk of C. diplodiella.

AVALIAÇÃO MULTIVARIADA DA QUALIDADE DAS ÁGUAS SUPERFICIAIS E ÁGUA FINAL DE ABASTECIMENTO PÚBLICO DE BELÉM, PARÁ, BRASIL

MULTIVARIATE ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE WATER QUALITY AND FINAL PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY IN BELÉM, PARÁ, BRAZIL. The present study investigated the sources of variability in the water quality of surface springs that supply the Metropolitan Region of Belém (Pará, Brazil), as well as the treated water produced by the main water treatment station in the region. Data provided by Companhia de Saneamento do Pará were used, referring to physical-chemical and bacteriological analyzes carried out in the period from 2010 to 2020. In addition, precipitation data were considered in this study, in units of mm of rain, obtained by consulting the database of the National Institute of Meteorology. The application of principal component analysis, as an exploratory data analysis tool, allowed the grouping of the most relevant parameters of the results and proved to be efficient in reducing the data set, explaining more than 65% of the total variance, in all objects of study. Thus, it was possible to observe a general profile of the quality of surface water investigated, and, in this way, demonstrate the impact of urban pressure on the environment, as well as the need for maintenance and conservation of surface water resources.

Channel change during catastrophic flood: Example of Storm Alex in the Vésubie and Roya valleys

Documenting and interpreting channel responses to catastrophic floods help understanding how rapid fluvial metamorphosis can propagate in a catchment under sediment cascading effects. The recent example of the October 2020 Storm Alex in SE France (∼500 mm of rain in 24 h) provides a unique opportunity to investigate major geomorphic responses along 70 km of two confined alpine valleys (Vésubie and Roya) and to link them to sediment wave initiation and propagation. GIS-based analysis of remote sensing data (high-resolution ortho-imagery and airborne LiDAR data) acquired before and after the flood allowed combining channel changes with sediment erosion and deposition along a 35-km reach of the Vésubie, including the most impacted portions of the valley. In the Roya, the analysis was restricted to 2D morphological changes reconstructed with the sequence of ortho-imagery. Archives of aerial imagery were also used to integrate the storm impact in the historical trajectory of the rivers. The reconstruction of geomorphic responses shows a quasi-continuous fluvial metamorphosis along the investigated stream networks, with dramatic active channel widening and aggradation, having no antecedent analogs during the last 70 years in both valleys. The different glacial imprints between the two valleys are considered a key factor explaining the exacerbated channel response in the Vésubie, where a braided channel emerged along a 35-km river length. Many evidences strongly support that the fuelling effect of alluvial storage is a key element of the sediment cascade at the origin of the braided channel formation. This regional case study allows us to discuss the critical role of floodplain and terrace erosion in the formation of the post-flood braided channel, and to compare the geomorphic impact of the storm with similar reported cases in the literature.

Hydrometeorological field instrumentation in Lesser Himalaya to advance research for future water and food security.

Hydrometeorological monitoring and continuous data collection in ungauged mountainous regions are exciting and challenging for water resource planners compared to the measurement in plain areas. Lesser Himalayas in the mountainous areas face the insufficiency of continuous hydrometeorological data, hindering our understanding of hydrological processes and hampering integrated water resources management. This present study focuses on the setup of the field instruments for collecting hydrometeorological data and analyzing continuously collected data at Aglar watershed to assess hydrometeorological parameters' spatial and temporal distribution. The instrumentation includes monitoring one sub-surface flow, five stream flows, four rain gauges, and one automatic weather station. The relationship between the stage and the discharge was established based on the collected data for three streams. The analyzed seasonal rainfall revealed 726.7 mm of rain occurred during the monsoon with an intensity of less than 16 mm/day. The Paligaad sub-watershed displayed a flashy response towards the rainfall events, whereas the Upper Aglar exhibited a wide range of dampening runoff responses for different rainfall events. The monitored sub-surface flow varies annually, and during the monsoon season, interflow and baseflow hydrograph decayed more rapidly at the rate of 0.04 day-1 and 0.78 day-1, respectively. The installed AWS has been used to measure crop water requirements and plan for better strategies to cope with future food and water security. The high-frequency generated data will help answer the queries related to hydrological responses of different watershed characteristics.

Introduction

Introduction

Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) Occurrence along Beaches of South-Eastern Australia: Understanding Where, When and Why.

Unprovoked shark bites have increased over the last three decades, yet they are still relatively rare. Bull sharks are globally distributed throughout rivers, estuaries, nearshore areas and continental shelf waters, and are capable of making long distance movements between tropical and temperate regions. As this species is implicated in shark bites throughout their range, knowledge of the environmental drivers of bull shark movements are important for better predicting the likelihood of their occurrence at ocean beaches and potentially assist in reducing shark bites. Using the largest dataset of acoustically tagged bull sharks in the world, we examined the spatial ecology of 233 juvenile and large (including sub-adult and adult) bull sharks acoustically tagged and monitored over a 5.5-year period (2017-2023) using an array of real-time acoustic listening stations off 21 beaches along the coast of New South Wales, Australia. Bull sharks were detected more in coastal areas of northern NSW (<32° S) but they travelled southwards during the austral summer and autumn. Juveniles were not detected on shark listening stations until they reached 157 cm and stayed north of 31.98° S (Old Bar). Intra-specific diel patterns of occurrence were observed, with juveniles exhibiting higher nearshore presence between 20:00 and 03:00, whilst the presence of large sharks was greatest from midday through to 04:00. The results of generalised additive models revealed that large sharks were more often found when water temperatures were higher than 20 °C, after >45 mm of rain and when swell heights were between 1.8 and 2.8 m. Understanding the influence that environmental variables have on the occurrence of bull sharks in the coastal areas of NSW will facilitate better education and could drive shark smart behaviour amongst coastal water users.

Summer rain and wet soil rather than management affect the distribution of a toxic plant in production grasslands

In the northern forelands of the Alps, farmers report an increase of Jacobaea aquatica in production grasslands. Due to its toxicity, the species affects grassland productivity and calls for costly control measures. We are investigating the extent to which management practices or climatic factors are responsible for the increase of the species and how the situation will change due to climate change. We tested for effects of management intensity, fertilization, agri-environmental measures, and soil disturbance, and modeled the occurrence of the species under rcp4.5 and rcp8.5 scenarios. The main determinants of the occurrence of the species are soil type and summer rainfall. A high risk is associated with wet soils and > 400 mm of rain between June and August; an influence of the management-related factors could not be detected. Under the climate-change scenarios, the overall distribution decreases and shifts to the wetter alpine regions. Thus, the current increase is rather a shift in the occurrence of the species due to the altered precipitation situation. Under future climatic conditions, the species will decline and retreat to higher regions in the Alps. This will decrease the risk of forage contamination for production grassland in the lowlands.

Analysis of the probability of rainfall in the Fingeshwar Tehsil of the Gariyaband District for crop planning

Rainfall probability analysis improves predictions of the minimum assured rainfall to aid crop planning. An attempt has been made to look into the patterns of rainfall distribution, including weekly, seasonal, and annual rainfall, using data collected from the Fingeshwar tehsil of the Gariyaband district, Chhattisgarh, over a ten-year period (2011-2020). Using the Weibull plotting position function, expected weekly, monthly, seasonal, and yearly rainfall values were calculated for various probability levels. Based on a 10-year yearly average, the data revealed that 1074.4 mm of rain were actually seen, following an average of 52.2 rainy days. A rainfall amount with a 75% probability level predicts 862.9 mm annually. The largest amount of weekly rainfall, 49 mm, was predicted to fall in the 35th week, followed by 32.1 mm in the 25th standard week and the least amount, 0.0 mm, in the 20-22nd, 29, 37, 40-42nd SMW. This prediction was made at a 75% chance level, same like the one before. According to a study of monthly rainfall at 70, 75, and 80% probability levels, the three crucial wet months are July, August, and September, with probabilities of getting a monthly rainfall between 0 and 50 mm. At a 70% probability level, the seasonal rainfall report projects 833 mm for the Kharif season. Thus, it can conclude that the kharif season's activities could start between the 22nd and the 23rd standard week and farmers can properly produce paddy crops in highland areas followed by any rabi crop in rabi season.

Groundwater mapping and locally engaged water governance in a small island terrain: Case study of Karainagar island, Northern Sri Lanka

AbstractGroundwater is a vital resource under threat in island communities. Karainagar, a 22 km2island, is one of seven islands off the coast of Jaffna in Northern Sri Lanka, with its population of just about 11,000 persons, experiences seasonal water shortage, and salinity in groundwater as twin threats impacting on their lives. This paper reports on a 3‐year study (October 2019 to September 2022) to map groundwater dynamics of Karainagar island spatially and seasonally and discusses the patterns revealed in terms of community needs, policy implications, and governance ideas that could already be considered by relevant authorities and citizens jointly. Thirty‐six dug wells used for drinking, domestic, agricultural, and public purposes were selected, and water level, salinity, and pH changes recorded along with daily rainfall. This paper offers a thorough description of the geography, land use, distribution of wells, and water bodies, followed by discussion of the current status of the groundwater in Karainagar island. Year‐to‐year differences in rainfall pattern resulted in different rates of change and range in water level with a corresponding reverse pattern seen in salinity with some exceptions across the island. Cumulative rainfall required to reach full capacity of wells ranged from 652 to 892 mm over the 3 years with an average figure of 739 mm of rain. This implies that any further rainfall during early phase of the main rainy season is potential surface water for storage and runoff. Practices such as unregulated pumping and construction of tube wells are argued to be contributing to increase in salinity levels with health implications for residents. A participatory governance approach that overcomes limitations of the existing institutional approach is proposed. Its success based on broad stakeholder engagement, improved equity, and transparency when supported by adequate policies and village level aquifer monitoring will enable sustainability of groundwater resources in Karainagar.

Examination of the environmental behavior of phosphogypsum with the application of lab-scale experiment

Phosphogypsum (PG) is a reject of the phosphoric acid production process in phosphate fertilizer industries. The process results in the production of relatively large quantities of PG that it might cause serious environmental and human health concerns. The data of a laboratory investigation of PG are presented here. Lab-scale experiments with lysimeters were conducted in order to simulate and examine the environmental characteristics and the temporal behavior of PG leachates in terms of physicochemical characteristics and chemical composition. Based on the results, leachates from already deposited for many years PG or its mixture with marble powder, seemed to have better pH and conductivity values and lower elemental concentrations compared to leachates from freshly disposed PG. However, the leachates characteristics improve and stabilize in both cases after four days of irrigation or of 1080–1240 mm of rain. Most major elements were found to have minimal leachability, and the material satisfied the environmental limits for its disposal at landfills for inert and non-hazardous wastes.

Unprecedented Winter Rainfall Initiates Large Snow Avalanche and Mass Movement Cycle in New Zealand's Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana

AbstractAn exceptional July 2022 winter storm brought 550 mm of precipitation to the Southern Alps of New Zealand. A series of alpine mass movements occurred during the storm, including a widespread snow avalanche cycle, debris flows, and erosion from rain runoff. We detail the sequence of events in the Kitchener avalanche path. Here, two large snow avalanches were followed by a debris flow. Substantial erosion of deposition and the underlying alluvial fan were induced by runoff from over 300 mm of rain falling after the first avalanche. The Kitchener path saw the largest avalanche since 1986, testing the utility of a diversion berm constructed for a 1:100‐year event. Results from a unmanned aerial vehicle lidar survey and numerical modeling characterize the rain‐on‐snow hazard sequence. In particular, the rain‐on‐snow event occurred on a deep mid‐winter snowpack, offering insights into future hazards posed by increasingly frequent extreme alpine precipitation.

A multi-modal machine learning approach to detect extreme rainfall events in Sicily

In 2021 almost 300 mm of rain, nearly half of the average annual rainfall, fell near Catania (Sicily Island, Italy). Such events took place in just a few hours, with dramatic consequences on the environmental, social, economic, and health systems of the region. These phenomena are now very common in various countries all around the world: this is the reason why, detecting local extreme rainfall events is a crucial prerequisite for planning actions, able to reverse possibly intensified dramatic future scenarios. In this paper, the Affinity Propagation algorithm, a clustering algorithm grounded on machine learning, was applied, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time, to detect extreme rainfall areas in Sicily. This was possible by using a high-frequency, large dataset we collected, ranging from 2009 to 2021 which we named RSE (the Rainfall Sicily Extreme dataset). Weather indicators were then been employed to validate the results, thus confirming the presence of recent anomalous rainfall events in eastern Sicily. We believe that easy-to-use and multi-modal data science techniques, such as the one proposed in this study, could give rise to significant improvements in policy-making for successfully contrasting climate change.

Hurricane-induced lahars at Volcán de Colima (México): seismic characterization and numerical modeling

The Volcán de Colima, one of the most active volcanoes in Mexico, has experienced several volcanic crises over the last century with the emplacement of voluminous block-and-ash flow deposits providing large volumes of loose material along the main ravines. During the rainy season, this material is easily eroded forming lahars. Over 40 events with variable magnitude (105-106 m3) have been detected each year. The largest events that cause damages to infrastructure are usually triggered during the hurricane season (from mid-August to October) when more than 250 mm of rain usually are accumulated over a few days. On 23 October 2015, Hurricane Patricia hit the Volcán de Colima. The hurricane was announced as having reached category 5 thereby representing the largest ever recorded hurricane event in Mexico. It rapidly weakened after landfall but followed a straight trajectory toward the volcano. Up to 400 mm of rain were recorded over 30 hours. The event was recorded at a monitoring station located in the middle reaches of the La Lumbre ravine on the SW flank of the volcano, which was equipped with a rain gauge, a geophone (10 Hz), and a video camera. A multi-pulse lahar started around 8 pm (GMT) and lasted for more than five hours. The seismic signal and the video images were analyzed to identify the timing of the main pulses, the sediment concentrations, and maximum flow peak discharge. Data show that the lahar was characterized by three main pulses, in the range of debris flows with maximum flow-depth of 8 m, interspersed by more dilute tails as hyperconcentrated flow, as also observed from the frequency contents of the seismic signal. A total volume of 2.5 × 106 m3 was estimated based on the strong correlation between the seismic amplitude and the flow discharge. The lahar destroyed one bridge and ~500 m of the interstate road leaving several villages cut off for a few days. Based on the flow magnitude, duration, and the associated damage, this event probably represents the largest one recorded over the last 20 years. The FLO-2D model was used to replicate the observed event to estimate the maximum inundation limits of lahars along the five principal ravines of the volcano, in an attempt to design a hazard map for catastrophic hurricane-induced events.

Rainfall Intensity Duration Frequency Curve Statistical Analysis and Modeling for Patna, Bihar

Using data from 41 years in Patna, India, the study’s goal is to analyze the trends of how often it rains on a weekly, seasonal, and annual basis (1981–2020). First, utilizing the intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curve and the relationship by statistically analyzing rainfall, the historical rainfall data set for Patna, India, during a 41-year period (1981–2020), was evaluated for its quality. Changes in the hydrologic cycle as a result of increased greenhouse gas emissions are expected to induce variations in the intensity, length, and frequency of precipitation events. One strategy to lessen vulnerability is to quantify probable changes and adapt to them. Techniques such as log-normal, normal, and Gumbel are used (EV-I). Distributions were created with durations of 1, 2, 3, 6, and 24 hours and return times of 2, 5, 10, 25, and 100 years. There were also mathematical correlations discovered between rainfall and recurrence interval. Findings: Based on findings, the Gumbel approach produced the highest intensity values, whereas the other approaches produced values that were close to each other. The data indicates that 461.9 mm of rain fell during the monsoon season’s 301st week. However, it was found that the 29th week had the greatest average rainfall, 92.6 mm. With 952.6 mm on average, the monsoon season saw the highest rainfall. Calculations revealed that the yearly rainfall averaged 1171.1 mm. Using Weibull’s method, the study was subsequently expanded to examine rainfall distribution at different recurrence intervals of 2, 5, 10, and 25 years. Rainfall and recurrence interval mathematical correlations were also developed. Further regression analysis revealed that short wave irrigation, wind direction, wind speed, pressure, relative humidity, and temperature all had a substantial influence on rainfall. Originality and Value: The results of the rainfall IDF curves can provide useful information to policymakers in making appropriate decisions in managing and minimizing floods in the study area.

WEPP interrill erodibility for clay soils in the crop lands of Northern NSW and Southern Queensland, Australia

Context Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) soil erosion model parameters are rare for cultivated cropping soils in Australia. Aims Measure WEPP interrill erodibility (Ki) for cropping soils. Methods Plots were 50% side-slopes of row-crop furrows. Rainfall was applied for 30 min at 107 mm h−1 under a rainfall simulator, then at higher and lower rainfall intensities for 10 or 6 min. Several of these rainfall sequences were performed with drying between (events). Runoff, sediment concentrations and sediment sizes in runoff and the soil surface after rain and sediment settling velocities were measured. Soils were well-aggregated Vertosols and a Dermosol: clay 31–69%, silt ~20%. Settling velocities and undispersed particle size distributions for rainfall wet soil are provided for a range of soils in Supplemental Data, for use by WEPP users. Key results Runoff during 30 min and 54 mm of rain was 28–44 mm or 50–86% rainfall. Soil losses were 26–61 t ha−1 and sediment concentrations 67–127 g L−1. Infiltration, runoff, sediment concentration and soil losses were sometimes different for soils and events. Gatton and Emerald soils had lower soil losses and Cecilvale, Mywybilla and Narrabri soils had higher soil losses. Conclusions Mean Ki for Emerald and Gatton soils were significantly lower, 2 960 000 and 3 209 600 kg.s m−4, respectively. Ki values were not significantly different for the Cecilvale, Narrabri and Mywybilla soils, 3 900 000 kg.s m−4. Implications WEPP Ki values were like values found for USA cropping on clay soils. Sizes in the soil surface and sediment, and settling velocity distributions, were similar between soils but sediment sizes were finer.