A Spatiotemporal Dynamic Evaluation of Soil Erosion at a Monthly Scale and the Identification of Driving Factors in Hainan Island Based on the Chinese Soil Loss Equation Model

The damage caused by soil erosion to global ecosystems is undeniable. However, traditional research methods often do not consider the unique soil characteristics specific to China and rainfall intensity variability in different periods on vegetation, and relatively few research efforts have addressed the attribution analysis of soil erosion changes in tropical islands. Therefore, this study applied a modification of the Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE) to evaluate the monthly mean soil erosion modulus in Hainan Island over the past two decades, aiming to assess the potential soil erosion risk. The model demonstrated a relatively high R², with validation results for the three basins yielding R² values of 0.77, 0.64, and 0.78, respectively. The results indicated that the annual average soil erosion modulus was 92.76 t·hm⁻²·year⁻¹, and the monthly average soil erosion modulus was 7.73 t·hm⁻²·month⁻¹. The key months for soil erosion were May to October, which coincided with the rainy season, having an average erosion modulus of 8.11, 9.41, 14.49, 17.05, 18.33, and 15.36 t·hm⁻²·month⁻¹, respectively. September marked the most critical period for soil erosion. High-erosion-risk zones are predominantly distributed in the central and eastern sections of the study area, gradually extending into the southwest. The monthly average soil erosion modulus increased with rising elevation and slope. The monthly variation trend in rainfall erosivity factor had a greater impact on soil water erosion than vegetation cover and biological practice factor. The identification of dynamic factors is crucial in areas prone to soil erosion, as it provides a scientific underpinning for monitoring soil erosion and implementing comprehensive water erosion management in these regions.