InTeGrate Modules and Courses >A Growing Concern > Student Materials > Unit 5 > Landscape characteristics (LS factor)
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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Initial Publication Date: October 16, 2014

Landscape characteristics (LS factor)

The image on the right was taken in a region of Ecuador where farming takes place on nearly all available land. Where would you expect soil erosion from runoff to be highest in this photo?

As you might expect, the characteristics of slopes greatly impact how water moves through the landscape. As rain falls, the water moves downhill due to the force of gravity. As it does, it will pick up particles of soil and carry them away to lower ground. A steeper slope will cause the water to accelerate (pick up speed) faster than a shallower slope; this faster moving water has more erosive power than slower moving water so it can more effectively move soil particles. The slope steepness factor, abbreviated with the letter "S", is the impact of slope steepness on soil erosion.

The distance that water can travel downhill before entering a channel or depositing its sediment in a low spot also influences the amount of erosion that occurs. As the water travels downhill, it picks up speed; the longer it flows, the faster it goes. Additionally, as the water flows over the land during a rainstorm it accumulates more and more water on the way downhill. This larger volume of water has more erosive power than a smaller amount. Both of these effects are accounted for in the slope length factor, abbreviated with the letter "L". Typically, both L and S are considered together as the "LS Factor."

Resources

These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »