Gully evolution dataset rolling landscape over seven decades in SW Europe

[Description of methods used for collection/generation of data] The original data sources come from the databases of the National Plan for Aerial Orthophotography of the National Geographic Institute of Spain (PNOA-IGN) and the Andalusian Environmental Information Network of the Regional Government of Andalusia (REDIAM), as well as from the Climate Subsystem download center of the Regional Government of Andalusia.

[Methods for processing the data] Gully System Analysis: Historical orthophotos from the National Geographic Institute of Spain dating from 1956 to 2022 were used to reconstruct the evolution of nine gully systems. GIS techniques helped map gully surfaces, and DEMs were employed to estimate gully volumes in 2013 and 2019. For other years, volumes were calculated using gully cross-sections and widths relationships from availables DEMs. Land Use Analysis: The land use in the gully basins was evaluated using maps from the Andalusian Environmental Information Network and older cartographic sources. The categories analyzed included herbaceous crops, woody crops, bare soil, and gullies. Peak Flow Discharges: Flow rates were estimated using a modified rational method, considering uniform rainfall across the basin.

The dataset includes the following information: measurements of the cross-sections of the gullies analyzed in two time periods (2013 and 2019), obtained through geographic analysis in a GIS environment (QGIS); results from the digitization of the surface area of the gullies (ha) analyzed from aerial orthophotos in a GIS environment from 1956 to 2022; volumes (m³) derived from the gully perimeters and the relationships between the cross-sections and the widths of the gullies; erosion rates (tn/ha/yr) based on the gully volumes in different time periods; distribution of land uses (m²) in the respective gully catchment areas; and rainfall intensities derived from the maximum daily precipitation recorded in each analyzed period, in relation to the time of concentration to the outlet point of the different gullies analyzed (mm/h).

This work has been possible thanks to the contribution of the Postdoctoral fellowship (POSTDOC_21_00342) from the Andalusian Plan for Research, Development and Innovation (PAIDI 2020) and the project TUdi (GA 101000224) from European Union's Horizon 2020 research program.

File List: Gully evolution dataset rolling landscape over seven decades in SW Europe.

Peer reviewed