Erosivity Values for Individual Design Storms

A method was developed for determining the erosive power, R_st, of individual rainfall events of any selected frequency and duration for any of the four SCS type storms. The method provides an easy, rapid procedure for assessing erosion or pollution potential on a storm basis, since sediments themselves are pollutants and are carriers of chemical pollutants. It also allows designers of conservation measures to determine the range of erosion potential that might be encountered, and the most critical combination of storm type and soil or ground cover conditions. In some cases, managers could use this method to determine harvest schedules that would minimize erosion losses from the more susceptible fields.