Quantifying the time‐specific kinetic energy of simulated rainfall using a dynamic rain gauge system

Wacha, Kenneth M.; Huang, Chi‐hua; O'Brien, Peter L.; Papanicolaou, Athanasios N.; Hatfield, Jerry L.

doi:10.1002/ael2.20042

Title: Quantifying the time‐specific kinetic energy of simulated rainfall using a dynamic rain gauge system

Journal Article · 24 March 2021 · Agricultural & Environmental Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.20042 · OSTI ID:1773944

^[1]; Huang, Chi‐hua ^[1]; O'Brien, Peter L. ^[2]; Papanicolaou, Athanasios N. ^[3];

^[2]

USDA‐ARS, National Soil Erosion Research Lab West Lafayette IN 47907 USA
USDA‐ARS, National Lab. for Agriculture and the Environment 1015 N. University Blvd. Ames IA 50011 USA
Hydraulics and Sediment Knoxville TN 37919 USA

Abstract Raindrop impact derives from the kinetic energy of falling raindrops. Determining the kinetic energy of rainfall requires the size distribution and terminal velocity of raindrops, which necessitates complex instrumentation. To avoid this, empirical relations have been developed that relate rainfall intensity and the rate of kinetic energy, i.e., time‐specific kinetic energy (KE _time ). In this study, a dynamic rain gauge system (DRGS) was used to quantify the KE _time generated by a rainfall simulator without need of measuring raindrop size distributions or impact velocities. In a series of 10 rainfall tests, the KE _time and rainfall intensity were 860.9 (±88.6) J m ² h ⁻¹ and 72.1 (±1.9) mm h ⁻¹ , respectively. Estimated KE _time was found to agree well with the power‐law relation presented by Petrů and Kalibová for high‐intensity simulated rainfall, which are the conditions when higher deviations occur. The DRGS may be a useful tool in quantifying the KE _time of rainfall simulators in hopes to better understand raindrop impact mechanisms.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-06OR23100

OSTI ID:: 1773944

Journal Information:: Agricultural & Environmental Letters, Journal Name: Agricultural & Environmental Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 6; ISSN 2471-9625

Publisher:: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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