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THE IMPACT OF SLOPE GRADIENTS ON THE GENERATION OF SURFACE RUNOFF IN LABORATORY CONDITIONS
Abstract
The generation and occurrence of surface runoff from a slope is driven by many factors, such as the slope gradient, the physical properties and current state of the soil, the type and density of the vegetation cover, and the intensity and duration of rainfall events. Within the study experiments with a rainfall simulator were focused on an analysis of the impact of a changing slope gradient on the generation of surface runoff and the amount of eroded soil material. The experiments were conducted in laboratory conditions on a disturbed soil sample, which was exposed to 12-minute continuous and discontinuous simulated rainfalls with a given intensity of 5 mm/min. In the case of the discontinuous rainfall, the impact of the interruption on the amount of the surface runoff generated as well as on the course of the soil moisture values within the irrigated area was investigated every 3 minutes. The experiment also investigated the relationship between the time after which the surface runoff occurred and the slope gradient of the irrigated area, when various values of the slope gradient were used. Apart from the volume of the surface runoff generated, the weight of the eroded soil material and the ratio between the volumes of infiltrated water and the surface runoff were also calculated. The results of the rainfall simulator experiment confirmed the key role the antecedent soil moisture and the slope gradient of the area investigated have in the generation of surface runoff, especially in its volume and the time after which the surface runoff occurs. The results obtained during the laboratory experiment are an important complement to the terrain measurements and could be used together to better understand the processes involved in the generation of surface runoff and sediment transport.
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