Simulated rainfall erosivity: Measurement and evaluation using piezoelectric sensors

Rainfall simulators have been used intensively in order to mimic natural rainfall for various land-surface and water interaction processes. The characteristics of the simulated rainfall are the main indicators to judge the performance of the rainfall simulator. This study attempted to investigate the potential of piezoelectric transducers to measure and evaluate dripper-type simulated rainfall drop size distribution (DSD) and kinetic energy (KE). The directly measured KE was significantly correlated with the estimated KE using the drop size distribution and empirical rain drop fall velocity relationships. This result emphasizes the potential use of the piezoelectric sensor to directly measure and evaluate rainfall kinetic energy.