Cartography · 2000 · 243 citations · 16 references
ComputingEarth SciencesGeoinformaticsDigital Elevation ModelingGeomorphologySoil ScienceErosionSlope AnalysisSoil ErosionTerrain ModelingTerrain MorphometryTerrain Surface ModelingSlope AngleSlope EstimationSlope LengthSlopesSoil Erosion ModellingSoil Erosion PredictionSoil Loss EstimationSoil Loss Modeling
The Universal Soil Loss Equation has been used for a number of years to estimate soil erosion. One of its parameters is slope length, however, slope length has traditionally been estimated for large areas rather than calculated. Using data from regular grid DEMs, a method is described in this paper for calculating the cumulative downhill slope length. In addition, methods for calculating slope angle and downhill direction (aspect) are defined. Details of the algorithm and its associated advantages and disadvantages are discussed.
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