Abstract:Radar rainfall measurement with high spatio-temporal resolutions are useful in monitoring the small and middle scale rainfall systems and estimating the precipitation intensity distribution. Research on the application of radar precipitation data in the soil erosion has been conducted all throughout the world during the past decades. This study reviewed references on the approaches for obtaining the rainfall intensity from the radar reflectivity factor, compared the conversion relationships (Z=aIb) between radar reflectivity factor (Z) and precipitation intensity (I) in different regions of China, and summarized the progress of applying radar precipitation field data in the monitoring and assessment of soil erosion based on the empirical and physical models. Results indicated that a significant negative correlation were found between a and b, and the ranges of a and b varied from 10 to 400 and 1.2 to 3.8, respectively. Southwest China was characterized with the largest a. East China and North China had the greater b than the other regions. Compared with stratiform and convective-stratiform mixed precipitation, cumulus convective precipitation had the greater a and lower b. Various studies have showed that the real-time, high spatiotemporal resolution of radar data can increase the efficiency and accuracy of soil erosion monitoring and assessment. Finally, the application of radar rainfall data in soil erosion models was prospected.