Water erosion risk assessment in South Africa : a proposed methodological framework

Southern African geomorphology : looking back, moving forward

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
This study describes a multi-process and multi-scale approach for soil erosion risk assessment under South African conditions. The framework includes assessment of sheet-rill erosion at a national scale based on the principles and components defined in the Universal Soil Loss Equation; gully erosion in a large catchment located in the Eastern Cape Province by integrating 11 important factors into a GIS; and sediment migration for a research catchment near Wartburg in KwaZulu-Natal by means of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool. Three hierarchical levels are presented, illustrating the most feasible erosion assessment techniques and input datasets that are required for application at a regional scale with proper incorporation of the most important erosion contributing factors. The methodological framework is not interpreted as a single assessment technique but rather as an approach that guides the selection of appropriate techniques and datasets according to scale dependency and modelled complexity of the erosion processes.


Type de document :
Article de monographie

Source :
Geografiska annaler. Series A. Physical geography, issn : 0435-3676, 2013, vol. 95, n°. 4, p. 323-336, nombre de pages : 14, Références bibliographiques : 2 p.

Date :
2013

Editeur :
Pays édition : Suede, Stockholm, Svenska sällskapet för antropologi och geografi