Assessment of IRIFR model capability in simulation of soil loss in different wind geomorphology landforms using wind erosion meter

Measuring intensity of wind erosion in arid and semi-arid regions is vital for determining the appropriate strategies to control or reduce its effects. There are various methods and models for estimating wind erosion intensity. In this study, potential of an empirical model named, IRIFR (Iran,s Research Institute of Forest and Rangelands), for the estimating of wind erosion intensity in different wind geomorphology landforms in Rafsanjan plain was evaluated by comparing the measured data obtained from the wind erosion meter as a physical – insitu method. Results of both methods showed that 13 and 37% of the study area are classified as high and very high, respectively. Furthemore, wind erosion simulated using the model was highest in sand dune, and orchard landforms had the lowest values. Soil loss in sand dune landform was estimated more than 8000 tons km-2 year-1. Obtained statistical criterion values such as absolute error percentage (AEP=0.37), coefficient of determination (R2=0.85), and particularly the model efficiency factor (MEF=0.97), indicated that despite the differences in measured amounts of soil loss using wind erosion meter and the IRIFR model in some studied geomorphology landforms, the model had a suitable estimation of the wind erosion intensity in the study area. However, the IRIFR model is faced with error in estimating of wind erosion intensity in landforms with high wind erosion risk (class V) and needs to be revised.