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An integrated modeling approach for estimating monthly global rainfall erosivity
Ayele A Fenta1, Atsushi Tsunekawa2, Nigussie Haregeweyn3
1International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan. ayelealmaw@tottori-u.ac.jp.
This study models global monthly rainfall erosivity using satellite data and rain gauges. Findings reveal distinct seasonal patterns and high erosivity in tropical regions, crucial for soil erosion control.
Area of Science:
- Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Hydrology
- Soil Science
Background:
- Accurate modeling of monthly rainfall erosivity is essential for effective soil erosion control strategies.
- Integrating satellite observations with ground-based rain gauge data enhances rainfall erosivity estimations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and present a framework for modeling global monthly rainfall erosivity.
- To disaggregate annual erosivity estimates into monthly values for improved spatiotemporal analysis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Geographically Weighted Regression to model global monthly rainfall erosivity.
- Integrated long-term (2001-2020) mean annual rainfall erosivity estimates from IMERG (Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM) with station data from GloREDa (Global Rainfall Erosivity Database).
- Disaggregated merged annual erosivity into monthly values using monthly rainfall erosivity fractions from IMERG data.
Main Results:
- Global mean monthly rainfall erosivity exhibits distinct seasonality, peaking in summer months in each hemisphere.
- Northern Hemisphere summer (June-August) showed peak erosivity around 200 MJ mm ha⁻¹ h⁻¹ month⁻¹, while Southern Hemisphere summer (December-February) peaked around 700 MJ mm ha⁻¹ h⁻¹ month⁻¹.
- Tropical regions displayed the greatest erosivity, with high intra-annual variability observed within 10-30° latitude in both hemispheres.
Conclusions:
- The developed monthly rainfall erosivity maps provide a valuable tool for enhancing spatiotemporal soil erosion modeling.
- These maps are critical for informed planning and implementation of soil conservation measures globally.
- Understanding seasonal and latitudinal variations in rainfall erosivity is key to mitigating soil loss.
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