Rainfall erosivity map for Brazil

Rainfall erosivity is the potential ability for rainfall to cause soil loss. Erosivity can be quantified by means of the R factor calculation of the universal soil loss equation (USLE). The purpose of this study was to investigate the spatial distribution of annual rainfall erosivity in Brazil. For each of eight Brazilian regions covering the whole of the territory of Brazil, one adapted equation was applied using pluviometric records obtained from 1600 weather stations. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to interpolate the values and to generate a map showing spatial variations of erosivity. The annual values of erosivity ranged from 3116 to 20,035 MJ mm ha(-1) h(-1) year(-1). The region with highest annual values was the extreme northwestern, while the northeastern region showed the lowest annual values of erosivity. For the most part of the Brazilian territory, December and January revealed the highest erosivity values, while the lowest values were observed from June to September. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.