Interrill Erosion on Desert Hillslopes, Southern Arizona

自然坡面和人工坡面的土壤侵蚀都是严重的 这是美国和全世界的问题。 有效 水引起的侵蚀的解决方案受到缺乏基本的 微观层次的理解降水和 侵蚀过程 特别是我们缺乏健全的数学模型 可以预测由于水流冲刷而造成的土壤侵蚀 宽面（细沟间侵蚀），一种重要的 在许多地区，特别是在干旱和半干旱地区，土壤侵蚀是一个严重的问题。 现有的模型没有考虑到松散的沉积物， 降雨前在地面上累积（分离储存）， 以及水流冲刷的省略过程。 这项研究将完善 通过包括和比较这些变量来建立细沟间侵蚀模型。 亚伯拉罕教授和他的学生将模拟降雨 美国农业部的配对试验田 亚利桑那州的核桃峡谷农业实验流域。 一个情节 将覆盖一个屏幕，以消散雨滴的影响; 其他人则会受到模拟雨滴的全面冲击。 因此 第二块土地将受到雨滴和土壤侵蚀 和流动侵蚀，而第一个将只经历流动侵蚀。 在成对图上进行的测量将使其 可以模拟相对流速和雨滴的变化 侵蚀，校准细沟间侵蚀模型，从而开发 预测方程，并比较沉积物的特性 被流水和雨滴侵蚀 这个项目将产生对一个主要地貌的基本见解 对土壤保持计划具有重要意义的过程 国内和国外

Soil erosion on both natural and cultivated slopes is a serious problem in the United States and throughout the world. Effective solutions to water-induced erosion are impeded by the absence of basic microlevel understandings of the relationship between precipitation and erosion processes. In particular, we lack sound mathematical models that will predict soil erosion resulting from water flowing across surfaces in broad sheets (interrill erosion), an important form of erosion in many regions, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. Existing models do not take into account loose sediment that has accumulated on ground surfaces prior to rainfall (detachment storage), and the omit processes of flow erosion. This research will refine models of interrill erosion by including and comparing those variables. Professor Abrahams and his students will apply simulated rainfall to matched pairs of experimental plots at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed in Arizona. One plot will be covered with a screen that will dissipate raindrop impact; the other will receive the full impact of the simulated raindrops. Thus the second plot will be subject to erosion from both raindrop impact and flow erosion, while the first will experience only flow erosion. The measurements that will be taken on the paired plots will make it possible to model variations in relative rates of flow and in raindrop erosion, to calibrate the interrill erosion model and thereby develop predictive equations, and to compare the characteristics of sediments eroded by flowing water and by raindrop impact. This project will yield basic insights into a major geomorphologic process with important implications for soil conservation programs domestically and abroad.