Yellow River Valley flood and drought disaster：spatial－temporal distribution prediction and early－warning

By means of analysing the historical data of flood-drought grade series in the past 2000 years(A.D.0-1900),especially in the last 5000 years (1470-1900) , this paper revealed the spatial-temporaldistribution features of severe flood and drought in Yellow River Valley. Statistical methods of varianceanalysis, probability transition and the principles of scale correspondence were employed tocomprehensively predicate 90's tendency of severe flood and drought in the Yellow River Valley. In addi-tion, this paper pointed out the possible breaching dikes, sectors and the flooding ranges by future's se-vere flood, meanwhile estimating the associated economic losses and impact to environment.

A FINE HARVEST IN THE STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVOLUTION & WATER-AND-SOIL MOVEMENT IN THE YELLOW RIVER VALLEY

ThiS work was one of the key State-funded projects for natural sciences during the period from 1988-1992 under the joint sponsorship of the CAS,the State Planning Commission,the Institute of Geography and the Yellow River Harnessing Committee under the Ministry of Water Conservancy.The project involves some 140 scientists from 19 research units,such as institutes and universities.Its purpose is to make clear the vicissitudes of environmental evolution and water-and-soil changes in the Yel-

Fluvial diversity in relation to valley setting in the source region of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers

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.

The spatial pattern of farming and factors influencing it during the Peiligang culture period in the middle Yellow River valley, China

The Peiligang culture(ca.7000–5000 cal BC)is the earliest Neolithic culture in the middle Yellow River valley and represents the emergence of cereal farming in the region[1].It has long been considered representative of millet farming[2],which requires a dry field,a certain amount of rainfall,and minimal crop management,but new records reveal that mixed farming of millet and rice(Oryza sp.)took place during this period[3].Therefore,it is possible