Rainfall erosivity estimation using daily rainfall amounts for South Australia

Abstract

The rainfall erosivity model relating storm erosivity to daily rainfall amounts was tested for 4 sites in South Australia where seasonal rainfall erosivity is generally out of phase with seasonal rainfall because of the predominant winter rainfall. The model worked reasonably well, with the coefficient of efficiency varying from 0.54 to 0.77, and the average discrepancy between actual and estimated monthly distribution was no more than 3%. The model performance in the winter rainfall area is similar to that in the uniform and summer rainfall areas. A set of regional parameter values estimated using a combined dataset is recommended for other sites in the agricultural and viticultural areas of South Australia where the mean annual rainfall ranges from 300 to 500 mm. The R-factor and its seasonal distribution were estimated for 99 sites in South Australia using long-term daily rainfall data. The R-factor varies mostly between 250 and 500 MJ . mm/(ha . h . year). Rainfall erosivity peaks in winter in the southern part of the western agricultural area and the south-east corner of the State, while it peaks in summer in the inland area east of the South Flinders and Mount Lofty Ranges.