Performance analysis of models of soil loss MEUPS and WEPP: contribution to implementation in watersheds

Abstract

Considering the geographical landscape as a scenery where process the relations between socio-economic and physical-environmental systems, the analysis of human action from the different land uses is necessary to understand its implications in the hydrosedimentological processes and the relief features. Using the remote sensing products and GIS, this proposal aims to evaluate the performance of predictive models of soil erosion (USLE and WEPP) as methodological contribution to modeling of environmental systems. The analysis of soil loss by the models USLE (Wischmeier and Smith, 1978) and WEPP (Water Erosion Prediction Project - Laflen, 1991), compared to the results of experimental plots contribute to the development of the models and to the evaluation of its applicability to Brazilian soils and climate. This work proposes to generate geomorphological maps to investigate processes of soil loss, especially because the characteristics of the relief forms may be a relevant instrument for the planning of land use, having reference of quantitative data established by empirical analysis and by modeling. The proposed methodologies applied in an integrated perspective contribute to geographical studies and serve as a subsidy to the issues of environmental planning and land management.