Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 21, 2025
07:20
Laboratory and Field Protocol for Estimating Sheet Erosion Rates from Dendrogeomorphology
Published on: January 7, 2019
8.1K
Rainfall erosivity in South America: Current patterns and future perspectives
Nelva B Riquetti1, Carlos R Mello2, Samuel Beskow1
1Federal University of Pelotas, Water Resources Graduate Program, Campus Porto, Rua Gomes Carneiro, 1, 96010-610 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
The Science of the Total Environment
|May 16, 2020
Summary
Climate change will significantly alter rainfall erosivity (R-factor) across South America. Projections show reduced R-factor in the Amazon but increases in the Andes, with varied impacts elsewhere.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Climate Science
- Soil Science
Background:
- Rainfall erosivity is a primary driver of soil erosion, with potential climate change impacts on agriculture and ecosystems.
- Understanding long-term changes in rainfall erosivity is crucial for environmental management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To project the impact of climate change on rainfall erosivity (R-factor) and mean annual precipitation in South America.
- To develop the first R-factor map for South America under baseline and future climate scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Utilized three global circulation models (CanESM2, HadGEM2-ES, MIROC5) and an ensemble average under Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5.
- Employed a geographical model incorporating latitude, longitude, altitude, and mean annual precipitation from WorldClim data.
- Downscaled climate projections to a 20 km spatial resolution for South America.
Main Results:
- Projected significant reductions in mean annual precipitation and R-factor in the Amazon Forest region (NR, ANR).
- Anticipated the highest R-factor increases in the Central and South Andes regions (CAR, SAR) due to increased precipitation.
- Observed contradictory projections for the Central-South Region (CSR), indicating higher uncertainty, with some areas showing increased R-factor and others decreased.
Conclusions:
- Climate change is projected to reduce overall R-factor and annual precipitation in South America, with the most substantial changes occurring between the baseline and 2010-2040.
- Regional variations are significant, with Amazonian regions facing decreases and Andean regions experiencing increases in erosivity.
- The study highlights the need for adaptive strategies in agriculture and land management to mitigate climate change impacts on soil erosion.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Precipitation Processes
4.3K
The experimental conditions in a gravimetric analysis should be optimized to maximize the particle size and purity of the obtained precipitate. Ideally, the concentration of the precipitating reagent should be low with effective stirring to maintain low relative supersaturation for the growth of large crystals. In homogeneous precipitation, the precipitant is slowly generated by a chemical reaction in the solution to avoid local reagent excesses. For example, urea decomposes gradually to...
4.3K
01:17Precipitation and Co-precipitation
3.9K
Precipitation and coprecipitation methods can be used to separate a mixture of ions in a solution. In qualitative inorganic analysis, ions that form sparingly soluble precipitates with the same reagent are separated based on the differences in solubility products. For example, consider the separation of Cu(II) and Fe(II) ions by precipitation as insoluble sulfides. First, copper(II) sulfide is precipitated by the addition of acidic H2S, where the dissociation of H2S is suppressed. Adding H2S...
3.9K
02:41Responses to Drought and Flooding
11.8K
Water plays a significant role in the life cycle of plants. However, insufficient or excess of water can be detrimental and pose a serious threat to plants.
11.8K
01:16What is Climate?
20.3K
Climate refers to the prevailing weather conditions in a specific area over an extended period. As the saying goes, “Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.” Climate is influenced by geographic factors, such as latitude, terrain, and proximity to bodies of water.
20.3K
01:57Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
27.7K
Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.
27.7K
01:03Precipitation Gravimetry
12.4K
Precipitation gravimetry is based on converting an analyte into a sparingly soluble precipitate, which is separated by filtration and weighed. An ideal precipitate should be pure, insoluble, of known composition, and easily filtered from the reaction mixture.
In determining nickel by gravimetric analysis, a precipitant of ethanolic dimethylglyoxime is added to a hot nickel salt solution. This is quickly followed by the dropwise addition of dilute ammonia solution until precipitation occurs. A...
In determining nickel by gravimetric analysis, a precipitant of ethanolic dimethylglyoxime is added to a hot nickel salt solution. This is quickly followed by the dropwise addition of dilute ammonia solution until precipitation occurs. A...
12.4K