Comment on “Rill erosion processes on steep colluvial deposit slope under heavy rainfall in flume experiments with artificial rain by F. Jiang et al.”

Abstract

Since rill flows are characterized by small water depths and steeply sloping channels, the corresponding hydraulic conditions are very different to those which are typically found in channels of streams and rivers. Furthermore, limited information is currently available on the effect of rainfall on flow resistance. The objective of this comment was to investigate the applicability of a recently theoretically deduced rill flow resistance equation, based on a power-velocity profile, using measurements carried out by Jiang et al. for both different slope steepness conditions and rainfall intensity. The relationship between the velocity profile parameter Γ, the channel slope and the flow Froude number was calibrated using the data by Jiang et al. The theoretical approach and the measurements carried out in the investigated conditions allowed to state that a) the Darcy-Weisbach friction factor can be accurately estimated using the proposed theoretical approach, b) the data were supportive of the slope independence hypothesis of rill velocity stated by Govers and c) the Darcy-Weisbach friction factor varies with rainfall intensity.