Scale effects on sediment yield from badland areas in Mediterranean environments

This study investigates area-specific Sediment Yield (SY) in Mediterranean badland areas at different spatial scales using a SY-database compiled from scientific literature. Relationships between the plot and catchment characteristics and the corresponding SY-data are analyzed. Results indicate that in Mediterranean environments SY is larger than in other environments,especially in badlands where a high variability of SY is observed depending on the spatial scale. In intensively gullied badlands,a complex plot or drainage area (A) -SY relationship is observed: for A ranging between 10-5 and 10 ha,SY is very high (mean SY equals 475 t ha-1 yr-1),whereas for A greater than 10 ha,SY decreases with increasing A (mean SY less than 100 t ha-1 yr-1).