The rainfall erosion potential for individual storms was evaluated for Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The erosion potential of a rainstorm is the product of the rainfall energy and the maximum 30-minute intensity of the storm. Over a 22-year period the average annual erosion index computed was 6,738 MJ.mm/.ha.h.year (values ranged from 3,444 to 13,830). Monthly and seasonal distributions of the erosion index were established. The data showed that 62% of the annual erosion potential occurs during the period from December to February. The frequency distribution of the total annual and maximum annual individual storm erosion index was skewed, but the logarithms of the data appeared to be normally distributed. Expected average monthly and annual values of erosion potential may be readily estimated from local rainfall amount records by the equation EI = 68,730 (p²/P)0,841. A high correlation was found between actual and estimated EI values.
rainfall; rainfall coefficient; universal soil loss equation; USLE