MIRSED towards an MIR approach to modelling hillslope soil erosion at the national scale.

Brazier, R. E. and Rowan, J. S. and Anthony, S. G. and Quinn, P. F. (2001) MIRSED towards an MIR approach to modelling hillslope soil erosion at the national scale. CATENA, 42 (1). pp. 59-79. ISSN 0341-8162

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Abstract

This paper reports a new methodology for assessing regional and national patterns of hillslope scale soil erosion rates in the UK using a MIR (minimum information requirement) version of WEPP (Water Erosion Prediction Project) known as MIRSED. WEPP is parameterised using a national coverage, environmental database containing topographic, soil, land management and climate variables for all hillslopes within each grid cell to be modelled. The MIRSED matrix summarises the behaviour of WEPP in a multi-dimensional parameter space, allowing results to be queried using a subset of key, spatially variable parameters to produce an averaged hillslope soil erosion response from each 1 km2 grid cell. The approach is demonstrated for the Great Ouse catchment, Cambridgeshire, UK and highlights highest hillslope erosion rates of 2.2 t ha−1 year−1 associated with steepest slopes, erodible soils and management practices that leave the soil exposed for critical times of the year. A mean soil erosion rate of 0.4 t ha−1 year−1 is predicted from hillslopes across the catchment which compares well with observed data collated at different scales, using contrasting measurement techniques.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
CATENA
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/libraryofcongress/ge
Subjects:
?? SOIL EROSIONHILLSLOPE EROSIONEROSION MODELLINGGISWEPPUKEARTH-SURFACE PROCESSESGE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ??
ID Code:
21526
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
20 Jan 2009 14:46
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
19 Sep 2023 00:16