EROSION RATES IN BADLAND AREAS OF THE CENTRAL EBRO BASIN (NE-SPAIN)

Erosion rates have been estimated for two badland areas in the Ebro Basin ("El Barranco" and "La Charca" plots) using direct measurement techniques. These measurements were made by means of erosion pins and a microtopographic profile gauge. Measurements with erosion pins at the "El Barranco" plot indicate highest erosion rates around rills and at rill junctions. In contrast, at the "La Charca" plot, only small differences between erosional rates for rill and interrill areas are observed. Microtopographic profiles carried out in "El Barranco" show irregular ground lowering, greater in rill than in interrill areas. At "La Charca", similar denudation rates are observed in rill and interrill areas. Erosion rates determined with the microtopographic profile gauge were 7 and 19 mm/year in "El Barranco" and "La Charca" plot respectively, and close to 6 and 17 mm/year respectively, using erosion pins.