Semi-deterministic estimation of erosion with remote sensing data

Earth´s changing surface reflects a dynamic linkage between various internal and surface processes. The aim of this ongoing project is to quantify erosion based on morphology combined with climatological data (precipitation) in a tectonically and climatologically very active area. This study is carried out as a consequence of good results in previous works, using both: empirical and deterministic approaches by means of remote sensing data. First: the empirical attempt, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) with its ability to operate on various, from catchment to area, scales. This approach delivers a good idea about soil erosion, especially when focusing on the sensitivity of soil loss, but not taking big mass transports, like in landslides or by rivers, into account. Second, there is the river profile analysis carried out for various streams individually. This attempt is detachment limited and will not give an accurate idea about what is going on beyond the considered catchment. We want to combine both attempts in one equation to use the strengths of each approach and improve our previous results for a large study area but with comparable fine-resolution. This study should make a contribution to the understanding of the correlation between climatic factors, tectonics, soil erosion and river incision. In contrast to former research we want to create a comprehensive model describing all these relationships only on the basis of remote sensing data. Our model is not limited to the presented study area but applicable anywhere where erosion takes place.