The source of sediment transported by raindrop induced saltation

SummaryThe movement of particles traveling by raindrop induced saltation from 5 equally long segments on bare planar slopes 0.8 m to 20 m in length inclined at 5% was simulated under 100 mm h−1 rain with drops of 2.7 mm in size. Initially, the sediment discharges were dominated by material detached from near the downstream boundary but, as time progressed, the dominant source moved upslope as particles detached in the upslope areas contributed to the sediment discharge. On the 20 m long slope, the top 4 m long slope segment was the dominant contributor to the discharge at the steady state. This result is consistent with the relative degree of protection against detachment provided by the shallow flows in that segment. However, on the 4 m long slope, although the uppermost 0.8 m long segment had the highest potential for detachment, the capacity to transport material from that segment was restrictive and the dominant source at the steady state occurred further down the slope. The results of the simulations indicate that if the slope is divided into a number of equally long segments, the segment contributing to the greatest source of the sediment discharged by raindrop induced saltation at the steady state moves down the slope as slope length is reduced.

► A model simulating of the movement of material by raindrop induced saltation was applied to 0.8–20 m long slopes.
► Initially, sediment discharges were dominated by material detached near the downstream boundary but the dominant source moved upslope with time.
► The upslope extent of the primary source at the steady state is limited by transport restrictions associated with very shallow flows near the upslope boundary.
► The greatest source of sediment discharged at the steady state moved downslope as slope length decreases.