Spatial and temporal variations of rainfall-runoff erosivity (R) factor in Kakheti, Georgia

Abstract

Soil erosion is a very complicated process. Rainfall erosivity is one of the main factors affecting on soil erosion. The erosive power of precipitation is accounted for by the rainfall erosivity factor (R-factor). Rainfall erosivity (R-factor) itself is a very important factor in soil erosion modeling. R-factor is a product of rainfall kinetic energy and rainfall intensity. Rainfall intensity change is one of the main indicators of climate change. It has a great influence on agriculture as one of the main factors causing soil erosion. Information of rainfall erosivity is rarely available with good spatial and temporal coverage. Accurate estimation of rainfall erosivity requires continuous rainfall data. Because many parts of the world still do not have detailed rainfall intensity data available, many studies have been performed to estimate R-factor based on available rainfall data. There are several alternative methods cited in science literature. This study aims to evaluate the temporal as well as the spatial distribution of rainfall erosivity and to calculate average annual rainfall erosivity for three study periods (1936–1962; 1963–1989; 1990–2016) in Kakheti, east Georgia. As far as Kakheti is the agrarian region, frequency and intensity of the rain are very important factors in agriculture point of view. Our study provides the assessment of rainfall erosivity potential with use of modern research methods for five weather stations (Telavi, Gurjaani, Sagarejo, Dedoplistskaro and Lagodekhi) in Kakheti. Rainfall erosivity potential was determined for every weather stations in Kakheti region from literature and records from meteorological stations. Then the same factor was determined by the selected methods (for each method separately), and the outcomes was compared, which allows us to determine the validity of a particular method for the study area. From the three methods used in the study process, method by Loureiro & Cautinho was finally used for the assessment rainfall erosivity during three study periods.