Comparison of the soil losses from 7Be measurements and the monitoring data by erosion pins and runoff plots in the Three Gorges Reservoir region, China

The potential for using 7Be measurements to document soil redistribution associated with a heavy rainfall was estimated using 7Be method on a bare purple soil plot in the Three Gorges Reservoir region of China. The results were compared with direct measurement from traditional approaches of erosion pins and runoff plots. The study shows that estimation of soil losses from 7Be are comparable with the monitoring results provided by erosion pins and runoff plots, and are also in agreement with the existing knowledge provided by 137Cs measurements. The results obtained from this study demonstrated the potential for using 7Be technique to quantify short-term erosion rates in these areas.

► The soil redistribution associated with a heavy rainfall was estimated using 7Be measurements.
► Estimation of soil losses from 7Be are comparable with the monitoring data provided by erosion pins and runoff plots.
► The potential for using 7Be measurements to quantify short-term erosion rates in purple soil areas was demonstrated.