Simple linear, multiple linear and nonlinear correlations between rainfall, runoff and rainfall-runoff erosivity parameters were studied, as well as soil losses caused by erosive rainfall on a Haplargids. Data were obtained in the period from 1986 to 1990 at the Experimental Station in Sumé, which belongs to the Universidade Federal da Paraíba - UFPB, Paraíba State, Brazil. Individual rainfalls registered in 136 rain gauges were analyzed for the determination of rainfall, runoff and rainfall-runoff erosivity parameters. The runoff volume, single or combined with rainfall characteristics improved the estimated soil losses of individual rainfall significantly. The erosivity parameters for rainfall-runoff a(Vu α I30)b; a(Vu α I5)b; a(EIA)b and runoff a(Vu)b were best fit to estimate soil losses caused by individual storms. The rainfall erosivity parameters that included the product of rainfall volume at a maximum intensity for thirty minutes (VrI30) were the ones that correlated best with soil losses.
erosion; semiarid; models