Lyudmila Vyacheslavovna Kuksina

In the paper spatial and temporal variability of soil erosion for the periods of 1958–1988 and 1989–2018 is estimated
on the basis of RUSLE in Crimea. Erosion rates vary from very slight to very high in the region. Strongly eroded
areas are found in the mountainous regions in the Southern Crimea, mainly attributable to a combination of a high
rainfall erosivity (R-factor) and relatively steep slopes (LS-factor). Soil loss in 1958–1988 exceeded the values in
1989–2018 on approximately 13%, while the share of moderate, high and very high-eroded areas varied within the
range of less than 1%. € ese changes are associated with both the reduction of agricultural cultivated lands and the
variability of soil erosion factors. € e soil erosion formation is mainly connected with the factors of rainfall erosivity,
slope steepness as well as the cover-management factor in Crimea. Comparison of actual suspended sediment yield
in the gauges with the values of soil erosion demonstrated that most rivers area characterized by the accumulation
of eroded material when 10–50% of the washed products reach the gauges.