Conversion of the universal soil loss equation to SI metric units

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is widely used to estimate erosion in the United States and foreign countries. With foreign application of the USLE and adoption of the International System of Units (SI) in the United States, conversion of the USLE to SI units is necessary. Conversion factors were derived by considering the dimensions of each variable of the USLE factors. These conversion factors may be used to convert USLE factor values given in U.S. customary units to SI units. However, when basic data for the USLE factors are already in SI units, values for the USLE factors can be computed directy in SI units without conversion from U.S. customary units.