Validation of the EROSION-3D Model through Measured Bathymetric Sediments

The testing of a model performance is important and is also a challenging part of scientific work. In this paper, the results of the physically-based EROSION-3D (Jurgen Schmidt, Berlin, Germany) model were compared with trapped sediments in a small reservoir. The model was applied to simulate runoff-erosion processes in the Svacenicky Creek catchment in the western part of the Slovak Republic. The model is sufficient to identify the areas vulnerable to erosion and deposition within the catchment. The volume of sediments was measured by a bathymetric field survey during three terrain journeys (in 2015, 2016, and 2017). The results of the model point to an underestimation of the actual processes by 30% to 80%. The initial soil moisture played an important role, and the results also revealed that rainfall events are able to erode and contribute to a significant part of sediments.