Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Experimental Erosion pp 29–43Cite as

A Conventional Experimental Technique: Rainfall Simulation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 341 Accesses

Abstract

Rainfall simulation is widely used for the experimental study on soil and water conservation. This chapter reviews the characteristics, application, and prospect of rainfall simulator. The rainfall simulators could be divided into two main groups: the non-pressurized rainfall simulators, including the thread droppers and the needle droppers, and the pressurized water rainfall simulators, including the spout and the sprayer. The former could be hardly found at present due to its drawback that the minimum size of drop produced is far larger and more even than most natural rainfall and the simulator could not easily generate rains with the similar energy to the natural one. Rainfall simulation halls with automatic operation and observation systems are booming in recent years, but the basic simulators will not be completely replaced in virtue of the cheap price and convenient manipulations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adams R, Elliott S. 2006. Physically based modelling of sediment generation and transport under a large rainfall simulator. Hydrological Processes, 20(11): 2253–2270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aksoy H, Unal N E, Cokgor S, et al. 2012. A rainfall simulator for laboratory-scale assessment of rainfall-runoff-sediment transport processes over a two-dimensional flume. Catena, 98: 63–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al A S, Bonhomme C, Dubois P, et al. 2017. Investigation of the wash-off process using an innovative portable rainfall simulator allowing continuous monitoring of flow and turbidity at the urban surface outlet. Science of the Total Environment, 609: 17–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Battany M C, Grismer M E. 2000. Development of a portable field rainfall simulator for use in hillside vineyard runoff and erosion studies. Hydrological Processes, 14(6): 1119–1129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanquies J, Scharff M, Hallock B. 2003. The design and construction of a rainfall simulator. International Erosion Control Association (IECA), 34th Annual Conference and Expo. Las Vegas: 044.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowyer-Bower T A S, Burt T P. 1989. Rainfall simulators for investigating soil response to rainfall. Soil Technology, 2(1): 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bubzenzer G D. 1979. Inventory of rainfall simulators. Proceedings of the rainfall simulator workshop, Tucson, AZ: 120–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen W L, Tang K L. 2000. A new SR style field artificial rainfall simulator. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 7(4): 106–110 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen W L, Wang Z L. 1991. The trial research on the behaviours of artificial rainfall by Simulation. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation, 11(2): 55–62 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke M A, Walsh R P D. 2007. A portable rainfall simulator for field assessment of splash and slopewash in remote locations. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 32(13): 2052–2069.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dang F J, Ge S F, Zheng J. 2006. A circular on research of rainfall simulator-model DQSY. Science of Soil and Water Conservation, 4(5): 99–102 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Esteves M, Planchon O, Lapetite J M, et al. 2000. The ‘EMIRE’ large rainfall simulator: design and field testing. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 25(7): 681–690.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunn R, Kinzer G D. 1949. The terminal velocity of fall for water droplets in stagnant air. Journal of Meteorology, 6(4): 243–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kesgin E, Dogan A, Agaccioglu H. 2018. Rainfall simulator for investigating sports field drainage processes. Measurement, 125: 360–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lora M, Camporese M, Salandin P. 2016. Design and performance of a nozzle-type rainfall simulator for landslide triggering experiments. Catena, 140: 77–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer L D, McCune D L. 1958. Rainfall simulator for runoff plot. Agricultural Engineering, 39(10): 644–648.

    Google Scholar 

  • NIED (National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention), JAPAN. 2015. Large-scale rainfall simulator—the globe’s No. 1 scale and capability. [2018-12-01]. http://www.bosai.go.jp/e/facilities/rainfall.html.

  • Park S W, Mitchell J K, Bubenzern G D. 1983. Rainfall characteristics and their relation to splash erosion. Transactions of the ASAE, 26(3): 0795–0804.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salem H M, Valero C, Muñoz M Á, et al. 2014. Effect of reservoir tillage on rainwater harvesting and soil erosion control under a developed rainfall simulator. Catena, 113: 353–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharpley A, Kleinman P. 2003. National phosphorus runoff project: Pennsylvania - rainfall simulator and plot scale comparison. Journal of Environmental Quality, 32(1): 2172–2179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shelton C H, Von Bernuth R D, Rajbhandari S P. 1985. A continuous-application rainfall simulator. Transactions of the ASAE, 28(4): 1115–1119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shen B, Zheng N X, Tian W P. 2003. The research on the rainfall erode of the compress roadbed slope-surface. Journal of Chongqing Jiaotong University, 22(4): 64–67 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vergni L, Todisco F, Vinci A. 2018. Setup and calibration of the rainfall simulator of the Masse experimental station for soil erosion studies. Catena, 167: 448–455.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallbrink P J, Croke J. 2002. A combined rainfall simulator and tracer approach to assess the role of Best Management Practices in minimising sediment redistribution and loss in forests after harvesting. Forest Ecology and Management, 170(1–3): 217–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X Y, Gao H W, Du B, et al. 2000. Conservation tillage effect on runoff and infiltration under simulated rainfall. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation, 20(3): 23–25,62 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Watung R L, Sutherland R A, El-Swaify S A. 1996. Influence of rainfall energy flux density and antecedent soil moisture content on splash transport and aggregate enrichment ratios for a Hawaiian Oxisol. Soil Technology, 9(4): 251–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wildhaber Y S, Bänninger D, Burri K, et al. 2012. Evaluation and application of a portable rainfall simulator on subalpine grassland. Catena, 91(3): 56–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson C J, Wallbrink P J, Murray A S. 1999. Minimum impact logging systems in forest erosion. CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, Technical Report 19/99, [2018-12-01]. http://www.clw.csiro.au/publications/technical99/tr19-99.pdf.

  • Wischmeier W H, Smith D D. 1958. Rainfall energy and its relation to soil loss. Transactions, American Geophysical Union, 39(2): 285–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu C W, Xu N J. 1995. The experiment on properties of rainfall-simulator of swayed sprinkler. Journal of Nanchang University, 17(1): 58–66 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu Q X, Zhao H Y, Han B. 2003. Benefit and characteristics of grass-shrub vegetation for reducing soil erosion in loess hilly region. Acta Agrestia Sinica, 11(1): 23–26 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu X Z, Liu Z Y, Xiao P Q, et al. 2015. Gravity erosion on the steep loess slope: Behavior, trigger and sensitivity. Catena, 135: 231–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu X Z, Liu D Q, Zhang H W, et al. 2006a. Laboratory rainfall simulation with controlled rainfall intensity and drainage. Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 28(5): 52–58 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu X Z, Zhang H W, Dong Z D. 2006b. Experimental study on SX2002 Pipe-Network-Type precipitation simulation apparatus. Soil and Water Conservation in China, (4): 8–10,52 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Xue Y N. 2007. Design of indoor simulation test system based on efficiency analysis of rainwater resource utilization. Dalian: Dalian University of Technology: 16–22 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ye C L, Xu Z Y, Yang C Y. 2001. Study on water and soil loss during procession of constructing qinhuangdao-shenyang special line for passengers train. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 15(2): 9–13 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Z J, Li G Y. 1989. Review and prospect on equipments and methods for rainfall stimulating. Soil and Water Conservation in China, (5): 30–33 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou P H, Dou B Z, Sun Q F, et al. 1981. Preliminary experimental study of rainfall energy. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation, (1): 51–61 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Hydraulic Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China

    Xiangzhou Xu

  2. Department of Geography, Urban, Environment and Sustainability Studies, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN, USA

    Tongxin Zhu

  3. State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    Hongwu Zhang

  4. School of Hydraulic Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China

    Lu Gao

Authors
  1. Xiangzhou Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tongxin Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hongwu Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lu Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Science Press and Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Xu, X., Zhu, T., Zhang, H., Gao, L. (2020). A Conventional Experimental Technique: Rainfall Simulation. In: Experimental Erosion. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3801-8_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation