Erosion model for reclamation areas

Conference · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5439653

Vipulanandan, C; Krizek, R J; Wilkey, M L

To extend the limited amount of knowledge available on erosion problems associated with the reclamation of coal waste piles, a two-year experimental program was undertaken at the Staunton 1 area situated in Macoupin County, Illinois. The program consisted of monitoring erosion on test plots involving three different thicknesses of soil cover and slopes (horizontal:vertical) ranging from 7:1 to 3:1 (that is, from about 14% to 33%). Test results indicate that a large amount of erosion took place during the first few hundred millimeters of rainfall and that the rate of erosion decreased with cumulative rainfall. Furthermore, the available data show no apparent correlation between the amount of erosion and the slope angle and inconclusive evidence of its relationship to the thickness of cover. Erosion quantities predicted by use of the Universal Soil Loss Equation differ substantially from the measured quantities; this is undoubtedly due in large part to the fact that the latter was developed for different conditions and is mainly applicable to agricultural lands. Since erosion is a consequence of the complex interaction of many factors, it is very difficult to generalize this phenomenon in a quantitative manner by means of a theoretical approach. Accordingly, the erosion data from the Staunton 1 site were used to develop an erosion model which appears to be helpful in predicting the erosion of reclamation areas. The variables incorporated in the model included the slope angle, slope area, thickness of soil cover, and cumulative rainfall.

• Research Organization: Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL
• OSTI ID: 5439653
• Report Number(s): CONF-821175-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
510500* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
COAL MINING
EQUATIONS
EROSION
FEDERAL REGION V
FIELD TESTS
FORECASTING
ILLINOIS
LAND RECLAMATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MINERAL WASTES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
RAIN
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
REVEGETATION
SOIL CONSERVATION
SOLID WASTES
STATISTICAL MODELS
SURFACE MINING
TESTING
USA
WASTES