Methodological Framework for a Multi-Scale Study on Hydrological Processes and Soil Erosion in Subtropical Southeast China

This paper introduces and illustrates the concepts of geoecological process combinations and geographical or landscape dimensions by outlining the methodology of a Sino-German cooperative project in Southeast China and presents the first results of the modelling process for the catchment scale. The project equipped a catchment in subtropical Southeast China from plot scale to catchment scale in order to study the hydrological and soll erosion processes. Distinct spatial differences in principal water and soil material fluxes were quantified. Deep drainage peaks occurred in May, June and July and even in August and November. Measurements in erosion plots as well as sedimentary deposits revealed that there was soil erosion connected with overland flow. Consistent with the results from the regular catenary variations of soil colors, textural stratification and hydrograph analysis, there was also a clear indication of interflow from measured soil moisture data. The experimental set up has the potential to further deepen the understanding of small-scale processes involved in lateral water fluxes and soil erosion. The expected results and interpretations will lead to a further integration of the collected data. In the future, to understand matter transfer in and between landscape ecological units, agricultural influence on nutrient status and flux data will be incorporated.

Study of Spatial and Temporal Processes of Soil Erosion on Sloping Land Using Rare Earth Elements As Tracers

Rare earth elements (REE) were used to study the temporal and spatial processes of soil erosion from different depths and sections of a slope. Two simulated rainfall events were applied to a prepared plot with a slope of 22°. The total runoff and sediment yield were collected every minute during the rainfall events. During the first twenty minutes of the first rainfall event, the average rate of rill erosion and the accumulated sediment yield due to rill erosion was 0.5 and 0.3 times higher than for sheet erosion. During this time, most of the erosion occurred on the lower one third of the plot. After 20 min, rill erosion became the dominant process on the slope. The average acceleration in the rate of rill erosion, the rate of rill erosion and the accumulated sediment yield due to rill erosion were 42, 6 and 4 times higher than that of sheet erosion, respectively. During the first 35 minutes of the second rainfall event, the average acceleration in the rate of rill erosion was 6～9 times higher than that of sheet erosion. Afterwards, the slope became nearly stable with little change in either rill or sheet erosion rates. Initially, most of the rill erosion occurred in the lower third of the slope but later the preexisting rillhead in the middle section of the slope became reactivated and erosion in this section of the slope increased rapidly. These results indicate that REE tracer technology is a valuable tool for quantifying spatial and temporal changes in erosion from a soil slope.

Validation of GLASOD Map for Sediment Sources and Erosion Processes Identification in the Nyumba Ya Mungu Reservoir Catchment

The main objective of this paper is to report on the preliminary validation results of the Global Assessment of Soil Degradation (GLASOD) as a tool for mapping sediment sources in Tanzania. This study was carried out in a well studied catchment, the Nyumba Ya Mungu (NYM) reservoir catchment located in the upstream of Pangani River Sub-basin. Previous studies in the same catchment used quantitative approach that entailed comprehensive sediment sampling programme and numerical modelling to identify sediment sources and erosion processes. Although previous researchers’ findings were satisfactory, the methods used were demanding in terms of resources (time, funding, and personnel) and impractical to a large ungauged catchment. The quest to validate GLASOD map is evident as it was qualitatively developed through collating expert judgments of many soil scientists to produce a world map of human-induced soil degradation at a scale 1:10,000,000. In the current study sediment sources mapped from qualitative method (GLASOD) plus supplement field visit observations and quantitative approaches are compared and discussed in detail. Preliminary results suggest that the paired information on sediment sources, field based data versus GLASOD, for upper catchments or upland locations are more strongly correlated than lower reaches. The results of this study have further emphasized the fact that GLASOD map is satisfactory to depict large regional differences in soil degradation but it is not capable of explaining local degradation. Besides, GLASOD map does not capture erosion processes dynamics compared to comprehensive sediment sampling programme. Notwithstanding, GLASOD map might be a useful tool for sediment sources and erosion processes identification scoping studies in the study area. Based on this study, it is therefore recommended to complement the GLASOD map with field based data for detailed study initiatives.

Erosion processes in karst landscapes of the Russian plain northern taiga,based on digital elevation modeling

This paper considers the problems of the potential development of erosion processes in the natural landscapes of northern taiga in the Russian plain. It is considered that in forest ecosystems, erosion processes are slow and are weakly reflected in the terrain. However, the situation changes radically if the vegetation cover integrity is violated, which is inevitable with the modern methods of developing northern territories. Furthermore, global changes in average annual temperatures and the occurrence of karst processes may be the reason behind the development of erosion processes. The authors suggest a method for determining territories with a varying occurrence probability of erosional processes, based on digital elevation modelling. The territory of the Pinezhsky Nature Reserve(Arkhangelsk region) was chosen as the test plot. Direct field studies were previously used to detect exogenous geological processes in this territory. The authors were the first to suggest digital elevation modelling as a method that allows determining the potential danger of erosion in karst landscapes of the northern taiga. The geomorphometric studies resulted in the determination of areas with the greatest and lowest occurrence probability of erosion processes in the Pinezhsky Nature Reserve. It was established that the most significant erosion type was linear erosion, represented by incised river valleys and karst ravines. Sheet erosion is less significant and occurs as sinkholes, local declines, and chasms over the valleys of subterranean rivers.

Simulating the effect of wind erosion on aeolian desertification process of Horqin sandy land and its significance on material cycle:a wind tunnel study

Samples from the Horqin sandy land were exposed to a series of wind velocities,and sink particles were collected at the end of the diffusion section of a wind tunnel.Grain sizes of collected samples show great variation because of the granularity difference of the surface samples.The original samples show lower average content of SiO_(2) and higher average content of Al _(2)O_(3),Fe_(2)O_(3),MgO,CaO,Na_(2)O,and K_(2)O than collected samples.Compared with other dust source areas in China,the Horqin sandy land had higher content of Zr,Ba,SiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3) and K_(2)O.Compared with the average upper continental crust(UCC)composition,surface samples were rich in the content of Y,Zr,Nb,Ba,La,Nd.Geochemistry characteristics of fine grain components of the Horqin sandy land differ from those from other dust source regions,because fine-grained particles in the Horqin sandy land were mostly derived from various local deposits formed in its unique depositional environments influenced by several tectonic activities.

Interactive effects of wind speed,vegetation coverage and soil moisture in controlling wind erosion in a temperate desert steppe,Inner Mongolia of China

The rapid desertification of grasslands in Inner Mongolia of China poses a significant ecological threaten to northern China. The combined effects of anthropogenic disturbances （e.g., overgrazing） and biophysical processes （e.g., soil erosion） have led to vegetation degradation and the consequent acceleration of regional desertification. Thus, mitigating the accelerated wind erosion, a cause and effect of grassland desertification, is critical for the sustainable management of grasslands. Here, a combination of mobile wind tunnel experiments and wind erosion model was used to explore the effects of different levels of vegetation coverage, soil moisture and wind speed on wind erosion at different positions of a slope inside an enclosed desert steppe in the Xilamuren grassland of Inner Mongolia. The results indicated a significant spatial difference in wind erosion intensities depending on the vegetation coverage, with a strong decreasing trend from the top to the base of the slope. Increasing vegetation coverage resulted in a rapid decrease in wind erosion as explained by a power function correlation. Vegetation coverage was found to be a dominant control on wind erosion by increasing the surface roughness and by lowering the threshold wind velocity for erosion. The critical vegetation coverage required for effectively controlling wind erosion was found to be higher than 60%. Further, the wind erosion rates were negatively correlated with surface soil moisture and the mass flux in aeolian sand transport increased with increasing wind speed. We developed a mathematical model of wind erosion based on the results of an orthogonal array design. The results from the model simulation indicated that the standardized regression coefficients of the main effects of the three factors （vegetation coverage, soil moisture and wind speed） on the mass flux in aeolian sand transport were in the following order： wind speed〉vegetation coverage〉soil moisture. These three factors had different levels of interactive effects on the mass flux in aeolian sand transport. Our results will improve the understanding of the interactive effects of wind speed, vegetation coverage and soil moisture in controlling wind erosion in desert steppes, and will be helpful for the design of desertification control programs in future.

THE EROSIVE PROCESS IN ABRASIVE WATERJET CUTTING OF POLYMER MATRIX COMPOSITES

A study is carried out which analyzes the machinability of polymer matrix composites under an abrasive waterjet (AWJ) and the associated erosive process or mechanism. It shows that AWJ cutting can produce good quality kerf at high production rate if the cutting parameters are properly selected. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the cut surfaces reveals that the erosive process for the matrix material (resin) involves shearing and ploughing as well as intergranular cracking, while shearing is a dominant process for cutting the fibres in the upper cutting region but the fibers are mostly pulled out in the lower region.

Excellent mechanical properties and resistance to cavitation erosion for an ultra-low carbon Cr Mn N stainless steel through quenching and partitioning treatment

The retained austenite content(RAC),the mechanical properties,and the resistance to cavitation erosion(CE)of the00Cr13Mn8Mo N steel after quenching and partitioning(Q&P)processing were investigated.The results show that the Q&P process affected the RAC,which reached the maximum value after partitioning at 400°C for 10 min.The tensile strength of the steel slightly decreased with increasing partitioning temperature and time.However,the elongation and product of strength and elongation first increased and then decreased.The sample partitioned at 400°C for 10 min exhibited the optimal property:a strength-ductility of 23.8 GPa?%.The resistance to CE for the 00Cr13Mn8Mo N steel treated by the Q&P process was improved due to work hardening,spalling,and cavitation-induced martensitic transformation of the retained austenite.

Hillslope soil erosion and runoff model for natural rainfall events

By using the momentum theorem and waterbalance principle, basic equations of slope runoff were derived, soil erosion by raindrop splash and runoff were discussed and a model was established for decribing hillslope soil erosion processes. The numerical solution of the model was obtained by adopting the Preissmann format and considering the common solution-determining conditions, from which not only the runoff and soil erosion but also their processes can be described. The model was validated by ten groups of observation data of Soil Conservation Ecological Science and Technology Demonstration Park of Jiangxi Province. Comparisons show that the maximum relative error between simulation and experimental data is about 10.98% for total runoff and 15 % for total erosion, 5.2% for runoffprocess and 6.1% for erosion process, indicating that the model is conceptually realistic and reliable and offers a feasible approach for further studies on the soil erosion process.

A review of the research on complex erosion by wind and water

Complex erosion by wind and water, which is also called aeolian-fluvial interactions, is an important erosion process and landscape in arid and semiarid regions. The effectiveness of links between wind and water process, spatial environmental transitions and temporal environmental change are the three main driving forces determining the geomorphologic significance of aeolian-fluvial interactions. As a complex interrelating and intercoupling system, complex erosion by wind and water has spatial- temporal variation features. The process of complex erosion by wind and water can be divided into palaeoenvironmental process and contemporary process. Early work in drylands has often been attributed to one of two schools advocating either an ＇aeolianist＇ or a ＇fluvialist＇ perspective, so it was not until the 1930s that the research on complex erosion by wind and water had been conducted. There are two obstacles restricting the research of complex erosion by wind and water. Firstly, how to transform in different temporal and spatial scales is still unsettled; and secondly, the research methodology is still immature. In the future, the mechanism and control of erosion, the complex soil erodibility in wind and water erosion will be the focus of research on complex erosion by wind and water.

Landslides & Debris Flows Formation from Gravelly Soil Surface Erosion and Particle Losses in Jiangjia Ravine

Gravelly soils are made up of gravel, sand, silt and clay. They are widely used in engineering applications such as rock-fill dams with clay cores, which are the main researches at present. The strength and mechanical properties of the gravelly soils are affected by the content of coarse grain, fine particles, and their adhesive states. These Properties can be verified by laboratory unconsolidated undrained triaxial tests with grain size less than 5 mm and by large scale direct-shear tests with original grain content. Fine particles of the loose gravelly slopes are released under rainfalls, alternated the structures and mechanical properties, even affected the slope stability. There are a series of large scale direct-shear tests with different coarse grain contents to study the influence of fine particles releasing and migration, results showed the strength behavior of the gravelly soils were affected by the coarse grain content （5） and the inflection coarse grain contents. In order to study the erosion features of the gravelly soil slopes on rainfall conditions and the slopes stability alteration, we had carried out one sort of artificial rainfall local and model experiments, the runoff sediment contents were monitored during the experiments. Result showed that the shapes of the slopes surface transformed periodically, runoff sediment contents were divided into five phases according to the experiment phenomena, runoff sediment contents maintained downtrend during the rain time and the downtrend was obviouslyinterpreted by one descend belt no matter the rainfall intensity and the slope angels. Particle size analysis released the deposit on the slope surface lost almost all of the clay, most of the silt and sand after the experiments, this meant the fine particles releasing, migration and accumulation process on condition of rainfall resulted in the instability factor of the slopes even induced landslide or debris flow.

Uranium comminution age responds to erosion rate semiquantitatively

Here we present(^(234)U/^(238)U)data from river sediments collected on the Tibetan Plateau.The(^(234)U/^(238)U)ratios of a specific grain size fraction show good correlation with erosion rates,which were determined by in-situ–produced cosmogenic nuclides.This correlation has previously been observed in a wide range of geomorphic settings,suggesting that(^(234)U/^(238)U)ratios of fluvial sediments have great potential to quantify erosion rates.

Effect of laser shock processing on erosive resistance of 6061-T6 aluminum

Application of laser shock processing （LSP） on 6061-T6 aluminum was made in order to evaluate its response to the erosive wear by silica sand. Impact angles of 15° , 30° , 60° and 90° were tested, two particle speeds （37 and 58 m/s） and two LSP irradiation conditions were used. Erosion marks were characterized by 3D profilometry and SEM analysis was conducted to identify the erosion mechanisms for each tested angle. The results showed a maximum erosive wear at low impact angles （ductile type behavior）. Erosion strength and the erosion mechanisms were not affected by the application of LSP and they were attributed to the high strain rate of the erosion phenomena. A few differences encountered on the erosion plots were explained on the basis of the surface roughness left by the LSP process. The maximum mass loss and the maximum erosion penetration happened in different impact angles （15° and 30° , respectively）. Finally, a well-defined erosion mechanism transition was observed, from cutting action at low impact angle, to crater formation at 90° of incidence.

ANALYSIS OF COASTAL EROSION AND INUNDATION USING REMOTELY SENSED DATA

The southwest coast of Sri Lanka is well-developed and densely-populated area. The change in coastal environment directly influences people's production and living conditions. The author has pursued a study on the classification of coastal sections from Colombo to Tangalla and analyzed coastal erosion and protection, inundation of low-lying areas based on landsat images and airphotos. This paper deals with remote sensing approaches to coastal zone monitoring and puts forward suggestions which might be of important consulting value of planning, decision-making and management of coastal zones in Sri Lanka.

Assessing Danger Degree of Soil Erosion in Rikaze Prefecture,Tibet

Ten indicators were selected in the present paper concerns current status of soil erosion and its driving forces. Synthesized evaluation model on danger degree of soil erosion （DDSE） was built and estimation on DDSE in Rikaze was carried out by analytical hierarchy process （AHP）. This evaluation model selected indicators scientifically and reasonably, which are easy to be caught, and played well in application. Results showed that a light erosion danger degree exists in Nanmulin, Xietongmen and Angren; Dingri, Sajia, Saga, Zhongba; Nielamu, Gangba, Kangma and Rikaze County share a moderate danger degree, while other counties own severe erosion, especially Dingjie and Lazi County. Ecological environment in Rikaze is frangible. Therefore, eco-restoration needed in this and corresponding c region to guarantee are urgently a regional eco-environment healthy.

Lithic soils in the semi-arid region of Brazil:edaphic characterization and susceptibility to erosion

Soils(Leptosols or Epileptic Regosols)with lithic contact at a depth of 50 cm occupy almost 20%of the Brazilian semi-arid region.These lithic soils are susceptible to erosion due to faster saturation of water-holding capacity during rainfall,which accelerates the beginning of runoff.However,erosion traits of lithic soils in the semi-arid region of Brazil are less studied.The aim of this study was to characterize the soil and landscape attributes in areas with Neossolos Litólicos(Entisols)in the Caatinga biome to identify region of high susceptibility to erosion.Results showed that the soils were characterized by a sandy texture,soil structure with poor development and low content of organic carbon.These attributes increase susceptibility to erosion and reduce water storage capacity,especially in the states of Cearáand Sergipe.In these states,the content of rock fragments in the soil reaches 790 g/kg.High contents of silt and fine sand,high silt/clay ratio,predominance of Leptosols and strong rainfall erosivity were observed in Piauíand northwestern Ceará.A very high degree of water erosion was observed in the states of Pernambuco and Paraíba.Despite the low degree of erosion observed in the state of Bahia,it is highly susceptible to erosion due to the predominance of very shallow soils,rugged relief and high values of rainfall erosivity.Lower vulnerability was observed in the state of Alagoas because of its more smoothed relief,greater effective soil depth,thicker A horizon of soil and lower rainfall erosivity.In general,the characteristics that intensify the susceptibility to erosion in the Caatinga biome are those soil structures with poor development or without aggregation,low contents of organic carbon,high contents of silt and fine sand,high values of silt/clay ratio and rugged relief in some regions.This study collected information contributing to a better characterization of soils with lithic contact in the semi-arid region of Brazil.In addition,regions with a higher susceptibility to erosion were identified,revealing insights that could help develop strategies for environmental risk mitigation.

Ice flux of alpine glaciers controls erosion and landscape in the Nianbaoyeze Shan,northeastern Tibetan Plateau

The evolution of mountainous topography is the result of the interactions of climate,topography,and erosion.Glaciers are one of the most active erosional forces sculpting mountainous regions.However,our ability to understand this erosional force is limited by the controversy regarding the major factors controlling glacial erosion.We selected the Nianbaoyeze Shan,which is occupied by subcontinental glaciers(likely cold-based or polythermal glaciers)in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau,to study how erosion by alpine glaciers sculpts the landscape.We first applied a power law model(y=axb)fit to the cross-profiles of glacial valleys and analyzed the controlling factor of glacial erosion;we then identified the morphometric characteristics of the cirques to analyze the influencing factors,and investigated the development patterns of glacial valleys and cirques.Finally,we used hypsometry and the slopealtitude curves and reconstructed the palaeo-glacier surfaces and palaeo-Equilibrium Line Altitudes(ELAs)to determine if the glacial buzzsaw effect had impacted this glaciated region with subcontinental glaciers.Our findings show that ice flux is the main factor controlling glacial erosion.In this region,decreasing temperatures promote an increase in glacier mean size(i.e.,ice flux),which enhances the rate of glacial erosion.Cirque morphology is mainly influenced by aspect and the ELA.The development patterns of glacial valleys and cirques were dominated by a widening process.The ELAs of Marine Isotope Stage(MIS)-3 derived from the cirque floor altitudes or the Accumulation Area Ratio(AAR)and Area-Altitude Balance Ratio(AABR)coincide with the hypsometric maximum and the reduction in slopealtitude curves,which indicates that glacial buzzsaw has impacted this region.Furthermore,the glacial buzzsaw effect has profoundly influenced the mountain heights and topographic evolution in this subcontinental glaciated region.

Assessing and mapping soil erosion risk zone in Ratlam District, central India

Evaluation of physical and quantitative data of soil erosion is crucial to the sustainable development of the environment. The extreme form of land degradation through different forms of erosion is one of the major problems in the sub-tropical monsoon-dominated region. In India, tackling soil erosion is one of the major geo-environmental issues for its environment. Thus, identifying soil erosion risk zones and taking preventative actions are vital for crop production management. Soil erosion is induced by climate change, topographic conditions, soil texture, agricultural systems, and land management. In this research, the soil erosion risk zones of Ratlam District was determined by employing the Geographic Information System(GIS), Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation(RUSLE), Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP), and machine learning algorithms(Random Forest and Reduced Error Pruning(REP) tree). RUSLE measured the rainfall eosivity(R), soil erodibility(K), length of slope and steepness(LS), land cover and management(C), and support practices(P) factors. Kappa statistic was used to configure model reliability and it was found that Random Forest and AHP have higher reliability than other models. About 14.73%(715.94 km^(2)) of the study area has very low risk to soil erosion, with an average soil erosion rate of 0.00-7.00×10^(3)kg/(hm^(2)·a), while about 7.46%(362.52 km^(2)) of the study area has very high risk to soil erosion, with an average soil erosion rate of 30.00×10^(3)-48.00×10^(3)kg/(hm^(2)·a). Slope, elevation, stream density, Stream Power Index(SPI), rainfall, and land use and land cover(LULC) all affect soil erosion. The current study could help the government and non-government agencies to employ developmental projects and policies accordingly. However, the outcomes of the present research also could be used to prevent, monitor, and control soil erosion in the study area by employing restoration measures.

Spatial and temporal rupture process of the January 26, 2001, Gujarat, India, M_S=7.8 earthquake

The source parameters, such as moment tensor, focal mechanism, source time function (STF) and temporal-spatial rupture process, were obtained for the January 26, 2001, India, MS=7.8 earthquake by inverting waveform data of 27 GDSN stations with epicentral distances less than 90? Firstly, combining the moment tensor inversion, the spatial distribution of intensity, disaster and aftershocks and the orientation of the fault where the earthquake lies, the strike, dip and rake of the seismogenic fault were determined to be 92? 58?and 62? respectively. That is, this earthquake was a mainly thrust faulting with the strike of near west-east and the dipping direction to south. The seismic moment released was 3.51020 Nm, accordingly, the moment magnitude MW was calculated to be 7.6. And then, 27 P-STFs, 22 S-STFs and the averaged STFs of them were determined respectively using the technique of spectra division in frequency domain and the synthetic seismogram as Greens functions. The analysis of the STFs suggested that the earthquake was a continuous event with the duration time of 19 s, starting rapidly and ending slowly. Finally, the temporal-spatial distribution of the slip on the fault plane was imaged from the obtained P-STFs and S-STFs using an time domain inversion technique. The maximum slip amplitude on the fault plane was about 7 m. The maximum stress drop was 30 MPa, and the average one over the whole rupture area was 7 MPa. The rupture area was about 85 km long in the strike direction and about 60 km wide in the down-dip direction, which, equally, was 51 km deep in the depth direction. The rupture propagated 50 km eastwards and 35 km westwards. The main portion of the rupture area, which has the slip amplitude greater than 0.5 m, was of the shape of an ellipse, its major axis oriented in the slip direction of the fault, which indicated that the rupture propagation direction was in accordance with the fault slip direction. This phenomenon is popular for strike-slip faulting, but rather rare for thrust faulting. The eastern portion of the rupture area above the initiation point was larger than the western portion below the initiation point, which was indicative of the asymmetrical rupture. In other words, the rupturing was kind of unilateral from west to east and from down to up. From the snapshots of the slip-rate variation with time and space, the slip rate reached the largest at the 4th second, that was 0.2 m/s, and the rupture in this period occurred only around the initiation point. At the 6th second, the rupture around the initiation point nearly stopped, and started moving outwards. The velocity of the westward rupture was smaller than that of the eastward rupture. Such rupture behavior like a circle mostly stopped near the 15th second. After the 16th second, only some patches of rupture distributed in the outer region. From the snapshots of the slip variation with time and space, the rupture started at the initiation point and propagated outwards. The main rupture on the area with the slip amplitude greater than 5 m extended unilaterally from west to east and from down to up between the 6th and the 10th seconds, and the western segment extended a bit westwards and downwards between the 11th and the 13th seconds. The whole process lasted about 19 s. The rupture velocity over the whole rupture process was estimated to be 3.3 km/s.

Fluvial Processes in the Meandering Reach of the Lower Wei River During the Course of Degradation

This paper presents an analysis of the changes of the longitudinal and lateral profiles in the meander- ing reach of the Lower Wei River over the period from October 1973 to October 1976 during the course of degradation.Analysis results indicated that retrogressive erosion and subsequent downstream erosion occurred in the reach due to the lowering in the Tongguan elevation and the inflowing water carrying low sediment con- centrations.At the end of the degradation,the main channel widths of the majority ...