An Improved Methodology for Erosion Hazard Mapping Part II: Application to Lesotho

1 January 1988

journal article
Published by Taylor & Francis in Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography

Vol. 70 (3) , 181
https://doi.org/10.2307/521070

Abstract

The improved erosion hazard methodology presented in Part I of this paper was applied to Lesotho. Values for variables describing the contribution of the major factors in erosion were abstracted from existing topographic, soil and rainfall maps, and from climatic data and crop yield statistics. Using the SLEMSA framework as a model for combining the influence of the variables, the information was organized on a 14×14 km grid to give an erosion hazard map of Lesotho. Practical and methodological difficulties are discussed. Slope and rainfall are the dominant factors, and they largely explain the variation in 'Erosion Hazard Units' from 64 in the southern lowlands to 3230 in the north-eastern mountains. Lesotho is confirmed as having the highest erosion hazard of any single country in southern and central Africa.

Keywords

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