Influence of DEM resolution on the RUSLE model: Case of abandoned quarries in Settat province (Morocco)

Abstract

Topographic slope information is one of the critical variables, which governs soil erosion. This topographic slope can be derived from the Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Significant discrepancies are found in the estimation of soil erosion using different DEMs of different resolutions. In the present study, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was used for soils in the Settat province (Morocco) to assess the risk of water erosion caused by abandoned quarries. The soil erosion rate was divided into five classes to illustrate the erosion rate variability using two DEMs (30m and 90m). The impact of topography on erosion was determined by calculating the value of the LS factors. In this case, the values obtained vary between 0 - 120.623 for ASTER DEM (30m) and 0 - 10.225 for DEM SRTM (90m). The results also show that most quarries have a soil loss rate that varies between 0 t/ha/year and 8.1 t/ha/year for ASTER DEM (30 m). However, for DEM SRTM (90 m), the soil loss rate is zero. This suggests that RUSLE model users should use high-resolution input data for a close representation of reality and capture the maximum results with reasonable accuracy.