2
However, the main disadvantage of the RUSLE R factor is that it needs continuous data on precipitation. Data on the pluviograph for at least 20 years is required to
calculate the initial rainfall erosivity (Renard et al. 1997). Data with such a high
temporal resolution is not available in many countries and regions, and its processing is very tedious and time-consuming (Lai et al. 2016; Lee and Heo 2011).
Therefore, numerous studies have established a mathematical regression equation
between R and variable rainfall, such as annual rainfall (Renard and Freimund
1994), monthly rainfall, and daily rainfall (Panagos et al. 2016b). These simplified
methods provide great convenience for studying the spatial and temporal variabilities of rainfall erosivity. Annual precipitation data are relatively easy to obtain in
most places and are reliable, and this simplified method assumes that annual erosivity is correlated with annual precipitation (Lee and Heo 2011). Annual precipitation
data were used as simple estimates of rainfall erosivity in many parts of the globe
(Almagro et al. 2017; Amanambu et al. 2019; Duulatov et al. 2019; Lee and Heo
2011; Naipal et al. 2015; Renard and Freimund 1994; Yang et al. 2003).
Rainfall erosivity is the ability of rainfall to cause soil erosion through raindrop
impact and surface washout when the infiltration capacity is exceeded (Almagro
et al. 2017). It has attracted considerable attention in the process of quantitative
prediction of soil erosion and sediment yield. Among all the factors of erosion,
rainfall erosivity and land cover/control factor are considered to be the most dynamic
(Panagos et al. 2016a).
1.2 Impacts of Climate Change on Rainfall Erosivity
Climate changes that are related to soil erosion mainly include changes in temperature and precipitation (Li and Fang 2016). Climate change may change rainfall erosivity due to the changes in precipitation patterns (Mondal et al. 2016). The
characteristics of precipitation (amount of precipitation, intensity, and spatialtemporal distribution) directly cause soil erosion (Teng et al. 2018). Conversely, an
increase in temperature indirectly causes soil erosion (Li and Fang 2016). The addition of water vapor to the atmosphere affects the nature of climate circulation,
thereby changing the intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation (Almagro
et al. 2017).
In arid and semi-arid climates, such as in Central Asia, temperature and rainfall
events increases more significantly than those in many other regions worldwide
(Immerzeel et al. 2013; Unger-Shayesteh et al. 2013). According to the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report
(AR5), the global average precipitation and surface temperature have significantly
changed, and the report assumes that these changes are likely to continue throughout the twenty-first century (Change 2014). Numerous researchers (Almagro et al.
2017; Amanambu et al. 2019; Borrelli et al. 2020; Gupta and Kumar 2017; Plangoen
et al. 2013; Teng et al. 2018; Yang et al. 2003) have described the impact of climate
change on soil erosion by water globally and regionally.
1 Introduction and Background of Rainfall Erosivity Processes and Soil Erosion
However, the main disadvantage of the RUSLE R factor is that it needs continuous data on precipitation. Data on the pluviograph for at least 20 years is required to
calculate the initial rainfall erosivity (Renard et al. 1997). Data with such a high
temporal resolution is not available in many countries and regions, and its processing is very tedious and time-consuming (Lai et al. 2016; Lee and Heo 2011).
Therefore, numerous studies have established a mathematical regression equation
between R and variable rainfall, such as annual rainfall (Renard and Freimund
1994), monthly rainfall, and daily rainfall (Panagos et al. 2016b). These simplified
methods provide great convenience for studying the spatial and temporal variabilities of rainfall erosivity. Annual precipitation data are relatively easy to obtain in
most places and are reliable, and this simplified method assumes that annual erosivity is correlated with annual precipitation (Lee and Heo 2011). Annual precipitation
data were used as simple estimates of rainfall erosivity in many parts of the globe
(Almagro et al. 2017; Amanambu et al. 2019; Duulatov et al. 2019; Lee and Heo
2011; Naipal et al. 2015; Renard and Freimund 1994; Yang et al. 2003).
Rainfall erosivity is the ability of rainfall to cause soil erosion through raindrop
impact and surface washout when the infiltration capacity is exceeded (Almagro
et al. 2017). It has attracted considerable attention in the process of quantitative
prediction of soil erosion and sediment yield. Among all the factors of erosion,
rainfall erosivity and land cover/control factor are considered to be the most dynamic
(Panagos et al. 2016a).
1.2 Impacts of Climate Change on Rainfall Erosivity
Climate changes that are related to soil erosion mainly include changes in temperature and precipitation (Li and Fang 2016). Climate change may change rainfall erosivity due to the changes in precipitation patterns (Mondal et al. 2016). The
characteristics of precipitation (amount of precipitation, intensity, and spatialtemporal distribution) directly cause soil erosion (Teng et al. 2018). Conversely, an
increase in temperature indirectly causes soil erosion (Li and Fang 2016). The addition of water vapor to the atmosphere affects the nature of climate circulation,
thereby changing the intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation (Almagro
et al. 2017).
In arid and semi-arid climates, such as in Central Asia, temperature and rainfall
events increases more significantly than those in many other regions worldwide
(Immerzeel et al. 2013; Unger-Shayesteh et al. 2013). According to the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report
(AR5), the global average precipitation and surface temperature have significantly
changed, and the report assumes that these changes are likely to continue throughout the twenty-first century (Change 2014). Numerous researchers (Almagro et al.
2017; Amanambu et al. 2019; Borrelli et al. 2020; Gupta and Kumar 2017; Plangoen
et al. 2013; Teng et al. 2018; Yang et al. 2003) have described the impact of climate
change on soil erosion by water globally and regionally.
1 Introduction and Background of Rainfall Erosivity Processes and Soil Erosion