Soil erosion in an avalanche release site (Valle d'Aosta: Italy): towards a winter factor for RUSLE in the Alps
Soil erosion in Alpine areas is mainly related to extreme topographic and weather conditions. Although different methods of assessing soil erosion exist, the knowledge of erosive forces of the snow cover needs more investigation in order to allow soil erosion modeling in areas where the snow lays on...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2014-07-01
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| Series: | Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/14/1761/2014/nhess-14-1761-2014.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819280455880409088 |
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| author | S. Stanchi M. Freppaz E. Ceaglio M. Maggioni K. Meusburger C. Alewell E. Zanini |
| author_facet | S. Stanchi M. Freppaz E. Ceaglio M. Maggioni K. Meusburger C. Alewell E. Zanini |
| author_sort | S. Stanchi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soil erosion in Alpine areas is mainly related to extreme topographic and
weather conditions. Although different methods of assessing soil erosion
exist, the knowledge of erosive forces of the snow cover needs more
investigation in order to allow soil erosion modeling in areas where the snow
lays on the ground for several months. This study aims to assess whether the
RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) empirical prediction model,
which gives an estimation of water erosion in t ha yr<sup>−1</sup> obtained from
a combination of five factors (rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility,
topography, soil cover, protection practices) can be applied to mountain
areas by introducing a winter factor (<i>W</i>), which should account for the soil
erosion occurring in winter time by the snow cover. The <i>W</i> factor is
calculated from the ratio of Ceasium-137 (<sup>137</sup>Cs) to RUSLE erosion rates.
Ceasium-137 is another possible way of assessing soil erosion rates in the
field. In contrast to RUSLE, it not only provides water-induced erosion but
integrates all erosion agents involved. Thus, we hypothesize that in mountain
areas the difference between the two approaches is related to the soil
erosion by snow. In this study we compared <sup>137</sup>Cs-based measurement of
soil redistribution and soil loss estimated with RUSLE in a mountain slope
affected by avalanches, in order to assess the relative importance of winter
erosion processes such as snow gliding and full-depth avalanches. Three
subareas were considered: DS, avalanche defense structures, RA, release area,
and TA, track area, characterized by different prevalent winter processes.
The RUSLE estimates and the <sup>137</sup>Cs redistribution gave significantly
different results. The resulting ranges of <i>W</i> evidenced relevant differences
in the role of winter erosion in the considered subareas, and the application
of an avalanche simulation model corroborated these findings. Thus, the
higher rates obtained with the <sup>137</sup>Cs method confirmed the relevant role
of winter soil erosion. Despite the limited sample size (11 points), the
inclusion of a <i>W</i> factor in RUSLE seems promising for the improvement of
soil erosion estimates in Alpine environments affected by snow movements. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T00:44:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-249cefc9fd0246f3b01e37248364c8bc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1561-8633 1684-9981 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T00:44:05Z |
| publishDate | 2014-07-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-249cefc9fd0246f3b01e37248364c8bc2022-12-21T17:23:51ZengCopernicus PublicationsNatural Hazards and Earth System Sciences1561-86331684-99812014-07-011471761177110.5194/nhess-14-1761-2014Soil erosion in an avalanche release site (Valle d'Aosta: Italy): towards a winter factor for RUSLE in the AlpsS. Stanchi0M. Freppaz1E. Ceaglio2M. Maggioni3K. Meusburger4C. Alewell5E. Zanini6University of Turin, Department of Agriculture, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), Largo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, TO 10095, ItalyUniversity of Turin, Department of Agriculture, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), Largo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, TO 10095, ItalyFondazione Montagna Sicura – Montagne Sûre, Villa Cameron, Località Villard de la Palud, 1, 11013 Courmayeur (AO), ItalyUniversity of Turin, Department of Agriculture, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), Largo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, TO 10095, ItalyEnvironmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistr. 30, 4056 Basel, SwitzerlandEnvironmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistr. 30, 4056 Basel, SwitzerlandUniversity of Turin, Department of Agriculture, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), Largo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, TO 10095, ItalySoil erosion in Alpine areas is mainly related to extreme topographic and weather conditions. Although different methods of assessing soil erosion exist, the knowledge of erosive forces of the snow cover needs more investigation in order to allow soil erosion modeling in areas where the snow lays on the ground for several months. This study aims to assess whether the RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) empirical prediction model, which gives an estimation of water erosion in t ha yr<sup>−1</sup> obtained from a combination of five factors (rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, topography, soil cover, protection practices) can be applied to mountain areas by introducing a winter factor (<i>W</i>), which should account for the soil erosion occurring in winter time by the snow cover. The <i>W</i> factor is calculated from the ratio of Ceasium-137 (<sup>137</sup>Cs) to RUSLE erosion rates. Ceasium-137 is another possible way of assessing soil erosion rates in the field. In contrast to RUSLE, it not only provides water-induced erosion but integrates all erosion agents involved. Thus, we hypothesize that in mountain areas the difference between the two approaches is related to the soil erosion by snow. In this study we compared <sup>137</sup>Cs-based measurement of soil redistribution and soil loss estimated with RUSLE in a mountain slope affected by avalanches, in order to assess the relative importance of winter erosion processes such as snow gliding and full-depth avalanches. Three subareas were considered: DS, avalanche defense structures, RA, release area, and TA, track area, characterized by different prevalent winter processes. The RUSLE estimates and the <sup>137</sup>Cs redistribution gave significantly different results. The resulting ranges of <i>W</i> evidenced relevant differences in the role of winter erosion in the considered subareas, and the application of an avalanche simulation model corroborated these findings. Thus, the higher rates obtained with the <sup>137</sup>Cs method confirmed the relevant role of winter soil erosion. Despite the limited sample size (11 points), the inclusion of a <i>W</i> factor in RUSLE seems promising for the improvement of soil erosion estimates in Alpine environments affected by snow movements.http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/14/1761/2014/nhess-14-1761-2014.pdf |
| spellingShingle | S. Stanchi M. Freppaz E. Ceaglio M. Maggioni K. Meusburger C. Alewell E. Zanini Soil erosion in an avalanche release site (Valle d'Aosta: Italy): towards a winter factor for RUSLE in the Alps Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
| title | Soil erosion in an avalanche release site (Valle d'Aosta: Italy): towards a winter factor for RUSLE in the Alps |
| title_full | Soil erosion in an avalanche release site (Valle d'Aosta: Italy): towards a winter factor for RUSLE in the Alps |
| title_fullStr | Soil erosion in an avalanche release site (Valle d'Aosta: Italy): towards a winter factor for RUSLE in the Alps |
| title_full_unstemmed | Soil erosion in an avalanche release site (Valle d'Aosta: Italy): towards a winter factor for RUSLE in the Alps |
| title_short | Soil erosion in an avalanche release site (Valle d'Aosta: Italy): towards a winter factor for RUSLE in the Alps |
| title_sort | soil erosion in an avalanche release site valle d aosta italy towards a winter factor for rusle in the alps |
| url | http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/14/1761/2014/nhess-14-1761-2014.pdf |
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