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The Significance of Digital Elevation Models in the Calculation of LS Factor and Soil Erosion

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  • Maria Michalopoulou

    (Department of Geology, Division of Applied Geology and Geophysics, University of Patras, 265 04 Patras, Greece)

  • Nikolaos Depountis

    (Department of Geology, Division of Applied Geology and Geophysics, University of Patras, 265 04 Patras, Greece)

  • Konstantinos Nikolakopoulos

    (Department of Geology, Division of Applied Geology and Geophysics, University of Patras, 265 04 Patras, Greece)

  • Vasileios Boumpoulis

    (Department of Geology, Division of Applied Geology and Geophysics, University of Patras, 265 04 Patras, Greece)

Abstract

This study focuses on the role of topography in soil erosion modelling by examining the impact of topographic data from various sources on the calculation of the slope length and slope steepness factor (LS). For this purpose, the Pinios dam drainage basin in the Ilia Regional Unit, Western Greece, was selected as a pilot area of this study. Specifically, six Digital Elevation Models (DEM) from four different sources with various resolutions (5, 30, and 90 m) were compared with ground control point (GCP) values to assess their relative vertical accuracy. These DEM were acquired for the calculation of the LS factor by using two different equations. Then the calculated LS factors were implemented in the RUSLE model for the estimation of soil loss. The current study includes a comparative analysis of the elevation, the slopes, the LS factor, and the soil loss. The results showed that the 5 m resolution DEM had the best vertical accuracy, and thus it is considered to be the most suitable DEM for soil erosion modelling. Moreover, the comparison of the DEM elevation values showed high similarity, in contrast to the slope values. In addition, the comparative assessment of the LS and soil loss values calculated from each DEM with the two LS equations revealed a great divergence. It is noticeable that both LS and soil loss results presented higher values for slopes greater than 20°. It is concluded that the comparison of the LS values calculated with the two examined approaches and the use of different DEM with various resolutions and different sources does not change consistently with the increase of DEM grid size and accuracy. Thus, it is very significant in soil erosion modelling to use an LS equation that imports thresholds in its formula to avoid overestimation in soil loss calculations.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Michalopoulou & Nikolaos Depountis & Konstantinos Nikolakopoulos & Vasileios Boumpoulis, 2022. "The Significance of Digital Elevation Models in the Calculation of LS Factor and Soil Erosion," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-36, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:9:p:1592-:d:916828
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nirmal Kumar & Sudhir Kumar Singh, 2021. "Soil erosion assessment using earth observation data in a trans-boundary river basin," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 107(1), pages 1-34, May.
    2. Spyridon Lainas & Nikolaos Depountis & Nikolaos Sabatakakis, 2021. "Preliminary Forecasting of Rainfall-Induced Shallow Landslides in the Wildfire Burned Areas of Western Greece," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Nektarios N. Kourgialas & Georgios C. Koubouris & George P. Karatzas & Ioannis Metzidakis, 2016. "Assessing water erosion in Mediterranean tree crops using GIS techniques and field measurements: the effect of climate change," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 83(1), pages 65-81, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Semih Ediş & Özgür Burhan Timur & Gamze Tuttu & İbrahim Aytaş & Ceyhun Göl & Ali Uğur Özcan, 2023. "Assessing the Impact of Engineering Measures and Vegetation Restoration on Soil Erosion: A Case Study in Osmancık, Türkiye," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Indie G. Dapin & Victor B. Ella, 2023. "GIS-Based Soil Erosion Risk Assessment in the Watersheds of Bukidnon, Philippines Using the RUSLE Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.

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