Soil-erosion assessment at basin scale through 137Cs content analysis based on pedo-morphological units |
| |
Authors: | S Grauso F Onori M Esposito M Neri G Armiento P Bartolomei C Crovato F Felici M Marcinnò P Regina C Tebano |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Environment, Global Changes and Sustainable Development, ENEA CR Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy;(2) Department of Environment, Global Changes and Sustainable Development, ENEA CR Portici, Via del Vecchio Macello, 80055 Portici (NA), Italy;(3) U-Series srl, via G. Fanin 48, 40127 Bologna, Italy;(4) Department of Advanced Physics Technologies, ENEA CR Bologna, via dei Colli 16, 40136 Bologna, Italy;(5) Department of Agroindustry and Health Protection, ENEA CR Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00060 Rome, Italy;(6) via Nizzetti 66, 95030 Tremestieri Etneo (Catania), Italy;(7) Present address: Snamprogetti SpA, via Toniolo, 1, 61032 Fano (PU), Italy;(8) Present address: ENEA CCEI - Bari, via Roberto da Bari 119, 70122 Bari, Italy |
| |
Abstract: | Soil loss evaluation by means of radioisotopic content measurements represents a promising technique, half-way between field
surveys and theoretical models, which still suffers from its practical limits when applied at basin scale. A main limit is
represented by the costs of field investigations and laboratory investigations on the high number of soil samples required
by a traditional sampling scheme, such as regular grid or transects. A non-conventional soil sampling scheme was tested with
the aim to consider a relative scanty number of soil samples and to verify the feasibility of this technique on large areas.
This scheme was based on the hypothesis that land analysis and classification could point out areas characterised by homogeneous
behaviour with respect to the 137Cs deposition and transmission model. A Geographic Information System (GIS)-aided procedure allowed to classify the selected
basin area in pedo-morphological units, representative of the different pedologic, morphologic and land-use conditions, to
locate few sampling points for each unit. Outcomes pointed out a low correlation between 137Cs contents and soil physical and compositional characteristics. Nevertheless, the isotopic methodology allowed to estimate
a total soil loss value at basin scale almost consistent with both observed data, given by reservoir sedimentation measurements
and estimates from the application of the RUSLE model. Thus, the results can be considered encouraging and they allow to deem
that the isotopic methodology can be refined in order to account for erosion and deposition processes even at river basin
scale and with a limited number of soil samples. |
| |
Keywords: | 137Cs Soil erosion River basin GIS Sicily |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|