ARS | Publication request: Combined Wind and Water Erosion Modeling

Submitted to: Soil and Water Conservation Society
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: February 12, 2009
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Current soil erosion prediction technologies in the United States for water and wind erosion are vastly different. An effort is underway to create a combined process-based water and wind erosion model, based upon the technologies in the USDA Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) and Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS). Work over the past several years has resulted in two prototype models. The initial prototype contains basic components from WEPP that were created as standalone hydrology and water erosion programs, then incorporated as modules within the Object Modeling System (OMS), a software development platform created by USDA-ARS in Fort Collins, Colorado. A wind detachment module from WEPS was also added, and then a new model created in OMS that could predict both multiple water and wind erosion events. However, this model still lacks several necessary components, including water balance, plant growth, and soil disturbance effects. Another more recent prototype uses the WEPS model code as the base platform, and has the WEPP water erosion modules added to it. This combined model is currently being tested and necessary enhancements added. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently provided an updated set of requirements for the combined tool, which they hope to implement in their field offices in a web-based GIS format. This presentation will provide information on current project developments and status.