Potential changes in rainfall erosivity under climate change in
southeastern United States
Abstract
Climate change will amplify erosion rates as erosive power of rainfall
will likely increase due to change in rainfall characteristics (e.g.,
energy, intensity, duration as well as frequency). According to
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment report (IPCC
AR4), it is projected that by mid-21st Century, the rainfall across
southeastern US will both increase and decrease in intensity, which will
substantially affect rainfall erosivity. Few studies have estimated the
impact of climate change (e.g., rainfall intensity) on rainfall
erosivity across US and around the world. However, previously published
erosion indices have discrepancies due to differences in methodologies
(e.g., primarily omission of small and low rainfall intensity) adopted
in those studies. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate
change in erosion indices for the period 2030-2059 using the benchmark
rainfall indices established for southeastern region of US. Hourly
precipitation data were retrieved from NA-CORDEX under Representative
concentration pathways (RCP) 8.5. Results on change in erosion indices
as a result of climate change will be presented.