Spatio-Temporal Variation in Rainfall Erosivity over Jordan Using Annual and Seasonal Precipitation - Natural Resources

NR > Vol.9 No.6, June 2018

Spatio-Temporal Variation in Rainfall Erosivity over Jordan Using Annual and Seasonal Precipitation ()

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DOI: 10.4236/nr.2018.96016 896 Downloads 2,602 Views Citations

Author(s)

Y. Farhan¹, S. Alnawaiseh²

Affiliation(s)

¹The Trustee Council of Al-Ahliyya University, Amman, Jordan.
²Geography Department, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this research is to estimate the annual and seasonal rainfall erosivity over Jordan based on three different regression models. Readily available annual and seasonal precipitation data with long records (40 - 53 years) pertaining to 40 weather stations were utilized to estimate rainfall erosivity. The spatial distribution of rainfall erosivity over Jordan is controlled largely by morphological (relief) and climatic factors. The lowest R-values (28 MJ mm.ha^-1.h^-1.yr-¹) are found in the arid zone, where the average annual rainfall is below 100 mm, whereas the highest R-values are found in the northern highlands (505 MJ mm.ha^-1.h^-1.yr^-1) where the average annual rainfall approaches 650 mm. The correlation between annual and seasonal precipitation (mm) and annual erosivity exhibits a very strong relationship (R varies from 0.964 to 1.0, and all correlations are significant at 0.01 level [2-tailed test]). Moderate positive correlations were achieved between latitude (N) and the mean annual/seasonal precipitation (R ranges from 0.407 to 0.642, and all correlations are significant at 0.01 level [2-tailed test]). Spatial differences observed in erosivity, afforded a substantial source of information and maps for predicting erosion in Jordan. According to the present analysis, two parameters proved to be useful to predict rainfall erosivity on a national level. These parameters are the average annual precipitation, and latitude.

KEYWORDS

Rainfall Erosivity, Regression Models, Pearson Correlation, Annual and Seasonal Precipitation, Soil Erosion

Share and Cite:

Farhan, Y. and Alnawaiseh, S. (2018) Spatio-Temporal Variation in Rainfall Erosivity over Jordan Using Annual and Seasonal Precipitation. Natural Resources, 9, 242-267. doi: 10.4236/nr.2018.96016.

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