Kinetic energy of rainfall as driving force of soil detachment and transport

Code:	GF17-33751L
Principal Investigator:	prof. Dr. Andreas Klik
Department's Principal Investigator:	prof. Dr. Ing. Tomáš Dostál,
Co-operation:	Ústav fyziky atmosféry, Akademie věd ČR (Zuzana Chládová) University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Austria (Andreas Klik) Institute of Land and Water Management, Petzenkirchen, Austria (Peter Strauss) University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand (Thomas Cochrane)
Start:	2017-01-12
End:	2019-01-12
Research focus:	1) compare drop size distributions of rainfall at locations in Austria, Czech Republic and New Zealand, 2) derive rainfall kinetic energy) - intensity relationships, 3) evaluate temporal distribution of KE-I relationship, 4) investigate the relationship between rainfall erosivity and soil erosion.

Research team members at the departement:

Abstract

Raindrop size, velocity and shape, wind speed and the rainfall intensity control the erosive storm. Increasing drop size increases the kinetic energy which affects soil detachment and transport. Limited data on raindrop characteristics are available. Objectives of the study are to 1) compare drop size distributions of rainfall events at comparable locations in Austria, Czech Republic, and New Zealand, 2) derive rainfall kinetic energy (KE) - intensity (I) relationships for rainfall erosivity estimation, 3) evaluate temporal distribution of the KE-I relationship, and 4) investigate the relationship between rainfall erosivity and soil erosion. At sites in Austria, Czech Republic and New Zealand disdrometers will be installed to determine the erosive force of rainstorms. Relationships between rainfall kinetic energy and intensity will be determined. Next to the disdrometers erosion plots will be installed to register the erosive force of the rainfall. Based on the obtained results we will check and adapt the existing correlations between rainfall energy and soil detachment and transport.