Chapter 1
Introduction
Abstract An understanding of erosion processes is important for the design and
operation of soil conservation projects, and study related to environmental and ecological issues. This collection of work develops new data sets and experimental
methods to quantify the dynamics of soil loss that represent different stages in the
development of soil functions. The application of the new data tests how simulation
and observation can be coupled to guide beneficial intervention in soils in order to
control soil erosion, especially that on the steep slope.
Keywords Background · Similarity law · Rainfall simulation · Observation
technique
The study of soil erosion may focus on experimental science for the controlled experiment lays a firm foundation for soil-conservation research (Zhao et al. 2012; Guo
et al. 2017). In order to understand a large, complex, and slowly evolving geomorphic system, earth scientists may resort to the study of a smaller and simpler analog
(Schumm et al. 1987). Chorley (1964) identified three broad classes of physical models, namely, segments of unscaled reality, scale models, and analog models. The scale
model may be a replica of a natural landform, scaled in such a way that ratios of significant dimensions and forces are equal to those in nature, although their absolute
magnitudes may be greatly different. Scale models need not necessarily to reproduce a specific prototype, but they may be a scaled-down version of a general class
of geomorphic features. Furthermore, a physical analog model may reproduce some
significant aspects of the form and function of a natural phenomenon, but the forces,
materials, and processes may be quite dissimilar to those in nature. Physical models
can be used in generating and testing for hypothetical, predictive, and descriptive purposes. However, the inherent uncertainties in the relationships between the model and
their prototypes always require field validation before the results can be utilized with
confidence for prediction or postdiction. The monitoring of segments of unscaled
reality is a widely used approach, and it has a long history. A particularly fruitful use
has been adopted by the agricultural engineers who collect runoff and sediment yield
data from field plots with different soils, cover types, and management regimes.
© Science Press and Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
X. Xu et al., Experimental Erosion,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3801-8_1
1
Introduction
Abstract An understanding of erosion processes is important for the design and
operation of soil conservation projects, and study related to environmental and ecological issues. This collection of work develops new data sets and experimental
methods to quantify the dynamics of soil loss that represent different stages in the
development of soil functions. The application of the new data tests how simulation
and observation can be coupled to guide beneficial intervention in soils in order to
control soil erosion, especially that on the steep slope.
Keywords Background · Similarity law · Rainfall simulation · Observation
technique
The study of soil erosion may focus on experimental science for the controlled experiment lays a firm foundation for soil-conservation research (Zhao et al. 2012; Guo
et al. 2017). In order to understand a large, complex, and slowly evolving geomorphic system, earth scientists may resort to the study of a smaller and simpler analog
(Schumm et al. 1987). Chorley (1964) identified three broad classes of physical models, namely, segments of unscaled reality, scale models, and analog models. The scale
model may be a replica of a natural landform, scaled in such a way that ratios of significant dimensions and forces are equal to those in nature, although their absolute
magnitudes may be greatly different. Scale models need not necessarily to reproduce a specific prototype, but they may be a scaled-down version of a general class
of geomorphic features. Furthermore, a physical analog model may reproduce some
significant aspects of the form and function of a natural phenomenon, but the forces,
materials, and processes may be quite dissimilar to those in nature. Physical models
can be used in generating and testing for hypothetical, predictive, and descriptive purposes. However, the inherent uncertainties in the relationships between the model and
their prototypes always require field validation before the results can be utilized with
confidence for prediction or postdiction. The monitoring of segments of unscaled
reality is a widely used approach, and it has a long history. A particularly fruitful use
has been adopted by the agricultural engineers who collect runoff and sediment yield
data from field plots with different soils, cover types, and management regimes.
© Science Press and Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
X. Xu et al., Experimental Erosion,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3801-8_1
1