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Revised Slope Steepness Factor for the Universal Soil Loss Equation
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1987
Year
EngineeringRock SlopeGeomorphologyLong SlopesSlope Steepness FactorEarth ScienceSocial SciencesShort SlopesGeotechnical EngineeringSlope StabilityErosion PredictionHydrogeologyGeographyErosionSoil PhysicHydrologySediment TransportHillslope ProcessSoil ErosionSoil ModelingCivil EngineeringSoil StructureSlope Effect
The authors aim to develop a separate slope‑effect equation for short slopes dominated by interrill erosion. They derived this equation by analyzing historical and recent data from natural and simulated rainfall erosion plots. The study presents revised slope steepness relationships for the Universal Soil Loss Equation, featuring two linear segments with a 9% breakpoint that predict lower erosion on slopes steeper than 9% and flatter than about 1%, and additional relationships for thaw‑weakened soil conditions.
ABSTRACT Areanalysis of historical and recent data from both natural and simulated rainfall soil erosion plots has resulted in new slope steepness relationships for the Universal Soil Loss Equation. For long slopes on which both interrill and rill erosion occur, the relationships consist of two linear segments with a breakpoint at 9% slope. These relationships predict less erosion than current relationships on slopes steeper than 9% and slopes flatter than about 1%. A separate equation is proposed for the slope effect on short slopes where only interrill erosion is present. For conditions where surface flow over thaw-weakened soil dominates the erosion process, two relationships with a breakpoint at 9% slope are presented.