Comparing Rusle LS Calculation Methods across Varying DEM Resolutions

<p>Soil erosion is a global problem that reduces land productivity and causes environmental degradation. Soil erosion models, such as the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), are used to estimate the severity and distribution of erosion. The topographic factor (LS), which combines slope length and angle, is an important part of RUSLE. This work compared two methods of L calculation, the grid cumulation (GC) and the contributing area (CA) methods, and two methods of S calculation, the neighborhood (NBR) and maximum downhill slope (MDS) methods. These were compared across digital elevation models (DEMs) of 1, 5, 10, and 30m resolutions. This study rectifies the lack of direct and consistent testing OF these methods across multiple sites and DEM resolutions.</p> <p>The CA method produces higher mean, median, and max values of L than the GC method across all landscapes, especially along drainage channels where the greatest area accumulates to produce extremely high L values. The GC method, unlike the CA method, accounts for decreases in slope steepness that initiate deposition and reset accumulated values. Differences between these methods occur most from different treatments of convergence. The CA method combines flow paths but the GC method only continues the one longest flow path.</p> <p>The NBR and MDS method produced similar mean and median S values. However, maximum values using the NBR method are more sensitive to DEM resolution and decrease more with coarse resolutions. The NBR method produces lower S values along ridge lines and higher S values along drainage channels and concave depressions and slopes. This is due to the averaging of calculating slope angle in the NBR method. The neighborhood method smooths landscapes and reduces the ability to capture erosion variability related to S.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Cultural and Environmental Resource Management

Year dc:date.available

2020

Author dc:creator

• Moody, Amanda

Contributors dc:contributor

• Robert Hickey
• Sterling Quinn
• Michael Pease

• RUSLE
• L Factor
• S Factor
• Slope length
• Slope angle
• GIS
• Geographic Information Sciences
• Natural Resources and Conservation
• Natural Resources Management and Policy
• Physical and Environmental Geography

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1357

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-2381