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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Tucson, Arizona » SWRC » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #108547

Title: CAPITULO 1. GENERALIDADES SOBRE SIMULACION DE LLUVIA 1276

Author
item SANCHEZ-COHEN, I. - INIFAP, MEXICO
item Stone, Jeffry

Submitted to: Use of Rainfall Simulators for Parameterizing Process-Based Hydrologic Mode
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Conducting experiments using small to large plots has been a useful tool in agricultural research for evaluating the effects of management on runoff and erosion. Although many experiments measure runoff and erosion under natural rainfall, many use a machine called a rainfall simulator to apply water on the plot. These simulators have the advantage of being less expensive than monitoring natural data, quicker, and under controlled conditions. This chapter presents an overview of the types and objectives of rainfall simulator experiments.

Technical Abstract: Rainfall simulation is applying water artificially to an area, usually one to 30 square meters, with the objective of measuring the amount of water and sediment which leaves the area. Experiment using rainfall simulators have been conducted since the 1930's in the United States on both croplands and rangelands. The experiments are valuable because they are relatively inexpensive to conduct and offer the potential of accumulating a large amount of data very rapidly under controlled conditions. This chapter presents an overview of the types and objectives of rainfall simulator experiments.