Scale Effects of Basin Elements on Coefficients in Runoff-Erosion Modeling

Abstract

Scale effects of basin elements on coefficients in runoff-erosion modeling are discussed by dividing a small test field with the area of 5200 m² in Brazil into elements in three ways: 4, 10 and 23 elements. Standardized Powell method is applied for the optimization of parameters in the model. Simulation results of runoff, sediment yield and the coefficients for the three ways of basin division proved that in this particular case the precise division of the river basin into small elements did not always give better result. Although the 10 elements division gave the best results, even simulation results by only 4 elements division were fairly good.