[Objective] Analyzing the spatio-temporal variations of rainfall and rainfall erosivity of the Yihe Basin

to provide some references for soil and water loss control and land use planning.[Methods] A monthly rainfall erosivity model was adopted to calculate the rainfall erosivity by using daily precipitation data that were collected from 12 weather stations of Yihe Basin and its surrounding regions during 1961-2010. The spatio-temporal variations of rainfall and rainfall erosivity were analyzed by Mann-Kendall nonparametric tests and disjunctive Kriging space interpolation method.[Results] The spatial distributions of rainfall and rainfall erosivity in Yihe Basin showed a decreasing trends from the southwest part to the north part. The yearly averaged rainfall and rainfall erosivity were 789.41 mm and 2 626.09(MJ·mm)/(hm2·h·a). Both of them were observed changed abruptly in 1965. The monthly rainfall and rainfall erosivity in Yihe Basin were mainly distributed in summer(June to August)

accounting for 63.02% and 71.22% of the corresponding annual values respectively

and their maximum value were all found in July. The decrease proportion of rainfall in Autumn contributed mostly to the yearly decreasing trend of rainfall. The rainfall erosivity in summer had the greatest contribution.[Conclusion] The spatial distribution of rainfall and rainfall erosivity was similar in Yihe Basin. The monthly rainfall was different from the monthly rainfall erosivity.