Avalanches and landslides,induced by the Wenchuan Earthquake on May 12,2008,resulted in a lot of disaggregated,solid material on slopes that could be readily mobilized as source material for debris flows.Rainstorms tr...Avalanches and landslides,induced by the Wenchuan Earthquake on May 12,2008,resulted in a lot of disaggregated,solid material on slopes that could be readily mobilized as source material for debris flows.Rainstorms triggered numerous slope debris flows with great damage to highways and rivers over the subsequent two years.Slope debris flows(as opposed to channelized debris flows) are defined as phenomena in which high-concentration mixtures of debris and water flow down slopes for short distances to highways and river banks.Based on field investigations and measurements of 19 slope debris flows,their main characteristics and potential mitigation strategies were studied.High rainfall intensity is the main triggering factor.Critical rainfall intensities for simultaneous occurrence of single,several and numerous slope debris flow events were 20 mm/day,30mm/day,and 90 mm/day,respectively.Field investigations also revealed that slope debris flows consist of high concentrations of cobbles,boulders and gravel.They are two-phase debris flows.The liquid phase plays the role of lubrication instead of transporting medium.Solid particles collide with each other and consume a lot of energy.The velocities of slope debris flows are very low,and their transport distances are only several tens of meters.Slope debris flows may be controlled by construction of drainage systems and by reforestation.展开更多
This study presents findings of the first systematic analysis of aquatic biotic assemblages in the source region of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. It provides an initial basis with which to select representative organ...This study presents findings of the first systematic analysis of aquatic biotic assemblages in the source region of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. It provides an initial basis with which to select representative organisms as indicators to assess the aquatic ecological status of rivers in this region. Macroinvertebrates are considered to be good indicators of long-term environmental changes due to their restricted range and persistence over time. Field investigations of macroinvertebrates were conducted in August 2009 in the source region of the Yellow River, and in July 2010 in the source region of the Yangtze River. Altogether 68 taxa of macroinvertebrates belonging to 29 families and 59 genera were identified. Among them were 8 annelids, 5 mollusks, 54 arthropods and 1 other animal. In the source region of the Yellow River, taxa number, density and biomass of macroinvertebrates were 50, 329 individuals m2 and 0.3966 g dry weight m2, respectively. Equivalent figures for the source region of the Yangtze River were 29, 59 individuals m2 and 0.0307 g dry weight m-2. The lower benthic animal resources in the source region of the Yangtze River are ascribed to higher altitude, higher sediment concentration and wetland degradation. Preliminary findings of this exploratory study indicate that hydroelectric power stations had a weak impact on benthic dwellers but wetland degradation caused by a series of human activities had a catastrophic impact on survival of macroinvertebrates. Ecological protection measures such as conservative grazing and vegetation management are required to minimize grassland degradation and desertification, and reduce soil erosion rate and river sediment discharge.展开更多
The spatial distribution of valley setting （laterally-unconfined, partly-confined, or confined） and fluvial morphology in the source region of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers is contrasted and analyzed. The source reg...The spatial distribution of valley setting （laterally-unconfined, partly-confined, or confined） and fluvial morphology in the source region of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers is contrasted and analyzed. The source region of the Yangtze River is divided into 3 broad sections （I, II and III） based on valley setting and channel gradient, with the upstream and downstream sections being characterized by confined （some reaches partly-confined） valleys while the middle section is characterized with wide and shallow, laterally-unconfined valleys. Gorges are prominent in sections I and III, while braided channel patterns dominate section II. By contrast, the source region of the Yellow River is divided into 5 broad sections （sections I-V） based on valley characteristics and channel gradient. Sections I, II and IV are alluvial reaches with mainly laterally-unconfined （some short reaches partly-confined） valleys. Sections III and V are mainly confined or partly-confined. Greater morphological diversity is evident in the source region of the Yellow River relative to the upper Yangtze River. This includes braided, anabranching, anastomosing, meandering and straight alluvial patterns, with gorges in confined reaches. The macro-relief （elevation, gradient, aspect, valley alignment and confinement） of the region, linked directly to tectonic movement of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, tied to climatic, hydrologic and biotic considerations, are primary controls upon the patterns of river diversity in the region.展开更多
The 270 km long section of the Upper Yellow River at the First Great Bend is comprised of single channel and multiple channel systems that alternate among anastomosing, anabranching, meandering and braided reaches. Th...The 270 km long section of the Upper Yellow River at the First Great Bend is comprised of single channel and multiple channel systems that alternate among anastomosing, anabranching, meandering and braided reaches. The sequence of downstream pattern changes is characterized as： anastomosing-anabranching, anabranching-meandering, meandering-braided and braided-meandering. Remote sensing images, DEM data and field investigations are used to assess ahd interpret controls on these reach transitions. Channel slope and bed sediment size are key determinants of transitions in channel planform. Anas- tomosing reaches have a relatively high bed slope （0.86‰） and coarser sediment bed material （d50 = 3.5 mm）. In contrast, meandering reaches have a low slope （0.30‰） and fine sediment bed material （d50 = 0.036 mm）. The transition from a meandering to braided pattern is characterized by an increase in channel width-depth ratio, indicating the important role of bank strength （i.e. cohesive versus non-cohesive versus channel boundaries）. Interestingly, the braided-meandering and meandering-braided transitions are coincident with variable flow inputs from tributary rivers （Baihe and Heihe rivers respectively）. Theoretical analysis of the meandering-braided transition highlights the key control of channel width-depth ratio as a determinant of channel planform.展开更多
The fluvial process of the Yalu Tsangpo River occurs concurrently with the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.Therefore,the river exhibits unique features in morphology and sediment deposition.Field investigations we...The fluvial process of the Yalu Tsangpo River occurs concurrently with the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.Therefore,the river exhibits unique features in morphology and sediment deposition.Field investigations were performed from 2009–2011and the depth of the interface between the sediment deposits and bed rock was detected with an electromagnetic imaging system(EH4)at 29 cross sections.Sediment deposits were sampled along the Yalu Tsangpo valley from Xietongmen to the Yalu Tsangpo Canyon.The results show that a huge amount of sediment has been deposited in four wide valley sections because the uplift rate in these sections was lower than that in the downstream gorge sections over the past million years.About 518 billion m3of gravel and sand have been stored in the high mountain river valleys,which has changed the V-shaped mountain river valley into a U-shaped wide river valley in the four sections.In the sections with high uplift rates the river bed is incised and has formed gorges and the Yalu Tsangpo Canyon.展开更多
基金supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2008CB425803)the State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering at Tsinghua University (50823005,2009-ZY-2)
文摘Avalanches and landslides,induced by the Wenchuan Earthquake on May 12,2008,resulted in a lot of disaggregated,solid material on slopes that could be readily mobilized as source material for debris flows.Rainstorms triggered numerous slope debris flows with great damage to highways and rivers over the subsequent two years.Slope debris flows(as opposed to channelized debris flows) are defined as phenomena in which high-concentration mixtures of debris and water flow down slopes for short distances to highways and river banks.Based on field investigations and measurements of 19 slope debris flows,their main characteristics and potential mitigation strategies were studied.High rainfall intensity is the main triggering factor.Critical rainfall intensities for simultaneous occurrence of single,several and numerous slope debris flow events were 20 mm/day,30mm/day,and 90 mm/day,respectively.Field investigations also revealed that slope debris flows consist of high concentrations of cobbles,boulders and gravel.They are two-phase debris flows.The liquid phase plays the role of lubrication instead of transporting medium.Solid particles collide with each other and consume a lot of energy.The velocities of slope debris flows are very low,and their transport distances are only several tens of meters.Slope debris flows may be controlled by construction of drainage systems and by reforestation.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.51209010 No.41001008+2 种基金 International Science ＆ Technology Cooperation Program of China, No.2011DFA20820 2011DFG93160 Fund from Tsinghua University, No.20121080027
文摘This study presents findings of the first systematic analysis of aquatic biotic assemblages in the source region of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. It provides an initial basis with which to select representative organisms as indicators to assess the aquatic ecological status of rivers in this region. Macroinvertebrates are considered to be good indicators of long-term environmental changes due to their restricted range and persistence over time. Field investigations of macroinvertebrates were conducted in August 2009 in the source region of the Yellow River, and in July 2010 in the source region of the Yangtze River. Altogether 68 taxa of macroinvertebrates belonging to 29 families and 59 genera were identified. Among them were 8 annelids, 5 mollusks, 54 arthropods and 1 other animal. In the source region of the Yellow River, taxa number, density and biomass of macroinvertebrates were 50, 329 individuals m2 and 0.3966 g dry weight m2, respectively. Equivalent figures for the source region of the Yangtze River were 29, 59 individuals m2 and 0.0307 g dry weight m-2. The lower benthic animal resources in the source region of the Yangtze River are ascribed to higher altitude, higher sediment concentration and wetland degradation. Preliminary findings of this exploratory study indicate that hydroelectric power stations had a weak impact on benthic dwellers but wetland degradation caused by a series of human activities had a catastrophic impact on survival of macroinvertebrates. Ecological protection measures such as conservative grazing and vegetation management are required to minimize grassland degradation and desertification, and reduce soil erosion rate and river sediment discharge.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41001008 No.51209010+1 种基金 International Science ＆ Technology Cooperation Program of China, No.2011DFA20820 No.2011DFG93160Acknowledgements Gary Brierley gratefully acknowledges support from a Visiting Professorship awarded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
文摘The spatial distribution of valley setting （laterally-unconfined, partly-confined, or confined） and fluvial morphology in the source region of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers is contrasted and analyzed. The source region of the Yangtze River is divided into 3 broad sections （I, II and III） based on valley setting and channel gradient, with the upstream and downstream sections being characterized by confined （some reaches partly-confined） valleys while the middle section is characterized with wide and shallow, laterally-unconfined valleys. Gorges are prominent in sections I and III, while braided channel patterns dominate section II. By contrast, the source region of the Yellow River is divided into 5 broad sections （sections I-V） based on valley characteristics and channel gradient. Sections I, II and IV are alluvial reaches with mainly laterally-unconfined （some short reaches partly-confined） valleys. Sections III and V are mainly confined or partly-confined. Greater morphological diversity is evident in the source region of the Yellow River relative to the upper Yangtze River. This includes braided, anabranching, anastomosing, meandering and straight alluvial patterns, with gorges in confined reaches. The macro-relief （elevation, gradient, aspect, valley alignment and confinement） of the region, linked directly to tectonic movement of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, tied to climatic, hydrologic and biotic considerations, are primary controls upon the patterns of river diversity in the region.
基金International Science ＆ Technology Cooperation Program of China, No.2011DFA20820 No.2011DFG93160+1 种基金 Tsinghua University, No.20121080027 National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.51209010 Acknowledgments We would like to thank Professor Huang Heqing for his helpful guidance in finalizing the paper.
文摘The 270 km long section of the Upper Yellow River at the First Great Bend is comprised of single channel and multiple channel systems that alternate among anastomosing, anabranching, meandering and braided reaches. The sequence of downstream pattern changes is characterized as： anastomosing-anabranching, anabranching-meandering, meandering-braided and braided-meandering. Remote sensing images, DEM data and field investigations are used to assess ahd interpret controls on these reach transitions. Channel slope and bed sediment size are key determinants of transitions in channel planform. Anas- tomosing reaches have a relatively high bed slope （0.86‰） and coarser sediment bed material （d50 = 3.5 mm）. In contrast, meandering reaches have a low slope （0.30‰） and fine sediment bed material （d50 = 0.036 mm）. The transition from a meandering to braided pattern is characterized by an increase in channel width-depth ratio, indicating the important role of bank strength （i.e. cohesive versus non-cohesive versus channel boundaries）. Interestingly, the braided-meandering and meandering-braided transitions are coincident with variable flow inputs from tributary rivers （Baihe and Heihe rivers respectively）. Theoretical analysis of the meandering-braided transition highlights the key control of channel width-depth ratio as a determinant of channel planform.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41071001,41001008)the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(Grant No.2011DFA20820)
文摘The fluvial process of the Yalu Tsangpo River occurs concurrently with the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.Therefore,the river exhibits unique features in morphology and sediment deposition.Field investigations were performed from 2009–2011and the depth of the interface between the sediment deposits and bed rock was detected with an electromagnetic imaging system(EH4)at 29 cross sections.Sediment deposits were sampled along the Yalu Tsangpo valley from Xietongmen to the Yalu Tsangpo Canyon.The results show that a huge amount of sediment has been deposited in four wide valley sections because the uplift rate in these sections was lower than that in the downstream gorge sections over the past million years.About 518 billion m3of gravel and sand have been stored in the high mountain river valleys,which has changed the V-shaped mountain river valley into a U-shaped wide river valley in the four sections.In the sections with high uplift rates the river bed is incised and has formed gorges and the Yalu Tsangpo Canyon.
