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2025 Vol.30, Issue 2
Estimation and Validation of Monthly Rainfall Erosivity to Apply for Soil Loss Equation

토양 침식량 산정을 위한 월별 강우 침식 인자 추정 및 적용성 검증

Jang Yoojin1
,
Park Minseok12
,
Seo Yonghwee1
,
Hyun Seunghun1*
장유진 1
,
박민석 12
,
서용휘 1
,
현승훈 1*
1Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
2Ojeong Resilience Institute, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
1고려대학교 환경생태공학과
2고려대학교 오정리질리언스연구원
*Corresponding Author
30 April 2025. pp. 1-12
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Abstract

Various empirical models have been developed to estimate the rainfall erosivity factor (R factor) in soil loss equation. However, estimating the R factor requires high-resolution rainfall data and the empirical models must be validated prior to local application. This study reviewed three major R factor models and evaluated the applicability of these models using hourly rainfall data (1973~2007) archived for four cities (Seoul, Chuncheon, Namwon, and Jeju) in Korea. The monthly R factor was calculated using the EI30 method based on hourly rainfall data. Monthly effective rainfall amounts and the number of effective rainy days were extracted, and model parameters were estimated using subset data from 1973 to 2002. Subsequent validation test conducted using subset data from 2003 to 2007. Stepwise regression analysis identified the monthly rainfall amount and the number of rainy days with daily rainfall exceeding 10 mm as the most significant variables of the R factor. The validation result showed acceptable predictive capability (R2³ 0.7) but the accuracy reduced with increasing R factor. Use of effective rainfall variables was found to simplify the process for R factor prediction, compared to the EI30 method. However, the existing R factor models do not fully incorporate the interaction between rainfall amount and intensity and the nonlinearity of R factor with rainfall data. Therefore, improving R factor estimation models is necessary to enhance soil erosion predictions under future climate conditions where extreme rainfall events are expected to occur.

Keywords
Rainfall erosivity factor
Soil erosion
Rainfall amount
Rainfall intensity
Regression analysis
References

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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국지하수토양환경학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
  • Journal Title(Ko) :지하수토양환경
  • Volume : 30
  • No :2
  • Pages :1-12
  • Received Date : 2025-02-25
  • Revised Date : 2025-03-18
  • Accepted Date : 2025-04-09
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7857/JSGE.2025.30.2.001
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