Interactions between wind and water erosion change sediment yield and particle distribution under simulated conditions

Wind and water erosion are among the most important causes of soil loss, and understanding their interactions is important for estimating soil quality and environmental impacts in regions where both types of erosion occur. We used a wind tunnel and simulated rainfall to study sediment yield, particle-size distribution and the fractal dimension of the sediment particles under wind and water erosion. The experiment was conducted with wind ero- sion firstly and water erosion thereafter, under three wind speeds （0, 11 and 14 m/s） and three rainfall intensities （60, 80 and 100 ram/h）. The results showed that the sediment yield was positively correlated with wind speed and rain- fall intensity （P〈0.01）. Wind erosion exacerbated water erosion and increased sediment yield by 7.25%-38.97% relative to the absence of wind erosion. Wind erosion changed the sediment particle distribution by influencing the micro-topography of the sloping land surface. The clay, silt and sand contents of eroded sediment were also posi- tively correlated with wind speed and rainfall intensity （P〈0.01）. Wind erosion increased clay and silt contents by 0.35%-19.60% and 5.80%-21.10%, respectively, and decreased sand content by 2.40%-8.33%, relative to the absence of wind erosion. The effect of wind erosion on sediment particles became weaker with increasing rainfall intensities, which was consistent with the variation in sediment yield. However, particle-size distribution was not closely correlated with sediment yield （P〉0.05）. The fractal dimension of the sediment particles was significantly different under different intensities of water erosion （P〈0.05）, but no significant difference was found under wind and water erosion. The findings reported in this study implicated that both water and wind erosion should be controlled to reduce their intensifying effects, and the controlling of wind erosion could significantly reduce water erosion in this wind-water erosion crisscross region.

An experimental study on the influences of water erosion on wind erosion in arid and semi-arid regions

Complex erosion by wind and water causes serious harm in arid and semi-arid regions. The interaction mechanisms between water erosion and wind erosion is the key to further our understanding of the complex erosion. Therefore, in-depth understandings of the influences of water erosion on wind erosion is needed. This research used a wind tunnel and two rainfall simulators to investigate the influences of water erosion on succeeding wind erosion. The wind erosion measurements before and after water erosion were run on semi-fixed aeolian sandy soil configured with three slopes(5°, 10° and 15°), six wind speeds(0, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 20 m/s), and five rainfall intensities(0, 30, 45, 60 and 75 mm/h). Results showed that water erosion generally restrained the succeeding wind erosion. At a same slope, the restraining effects decreased as rainfall intensity increased, which decreased from 70.63% to 50.20% with rainfall intensity increased from 30 to 75 mm/h. Rills shaped by water erosion could weaken the restraining effects at wind speed exceeding 15 m/s mainly by cutting through the fine grain layer, exposing the sand layer prone to wind erosion to airflow. In addition, the restraining effects varied greatly among different soil types. The restraining effects of rainfall on the succeeding wind erosion depend on the formation of a coarsening layer with a crust and a compact fine grain layer after rainfall. The findings can deepen the understanding of the complex erosion and provide scientific basis for regional soil and water conservation in arid and semi-arid regions.

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.

Weathering of Pisha-Sandstones in the Wind-Water Erosion Crisscross Region on the Loess Plateau

Two types of pisha-sandstones of purple sandstones and gray sandstones,widely distributing in the wind-water erosion crisscross region of China,were selected and used in laboratory experiments for a better understanding of the drying-wetting-freezing weathering process resulting from the apportionment of water or salt solution to rock samples.Weathering experiments were carried out under the conditions of environment control(including temperature,moisture and salt solution).All rock samples were frequently subjected to 140 drying-wetting-freezing cycles.The influences of weathering process were evaluated.It was found that the different treatments of moisture and salt solution applications could affect the nature of the weathering products resulting from drying-wetting-freezing.It was also observed that salt solution could effectively alleviate the weathering of pisha-sandstones.Although not all the observations could be explained,it was apparent that simulated environmental factors had both direct and indirect effects on the weathering of rocks.

Influence of Vegetation on Runoff and Sediment in Wind-water Erosion Crisscross Region in the Upper Yellow River of China

All characteristics of vegetation,runoff and sediment from 1960 to 2010 in the Xiliu Gully Watershed,which is a representative watershed in wind-water erosion crisscross region in the upper reaches of the Yellow River of China,have been analyzed in this study.Based on the remote sensing image data,and used multi-spectral interpretation method,the characteristics of vegetation variation in the Xiliu Gully Watershed have been analyzed.And the rules of precipitation,runoff and sediment's changes have been illuminated by using mathematical statistics method.What′s more,the influence mechanism of vegetation on runoff and sediment has been discussed by using the data obtained from artificial rainfall simulation test.The results showed that the main vegetation type was given priority to low coverage,and the area of the low vegetation coverage type was reducing year by year.On the country,the area of the high vegetation coverage type was gradually increasing.In a word,vegetation conditions had got better improved since 2000 when the watershed management project started.The average annual precipitation of the river basin also got slightly increase in 2000–2010.The average annual runoff reduced by 37.5%,and the average annual sediment reduced by 73.9% in the same period.The results of artificial rainfall simulation tests showed that the improvement of vegetation coverage could increase not only soil infiltration but also vegetation evapotranspiration,and then made the rainfall-induced runoff production decrease.Vegetation root system could increases the resistance ability of soil to erosion,and vegetation aboveground part could reduce raindrop kinetic energy and splash soil erosion.Therefore,with the increase of vegetation coverage,the rainfall-induced sediment could decrease.

Relationship Between Watershed Landscape Pattern Change and Runoff-Sediment in Wind-Water Erosion Crisscross Region

This paper selected the typical wind-water erosion crisscross region Xiliugou watershed for research to reveal the impact of the landscape pattern change of the underlying surface in wind-water erosion crisscross region where soil erosion is most serious on rainfall and runoff as well as erosion and sediment.Based on the Landsat TM image data and measured data of runoff-sediment in that watershed,the paper analyzed the characteristics of watershed landscape pattern change and runoff-sediment and explored the relationship between landscape index and runoff-sediment yield by means of GIS and Fragstats.The results were included as follows.(1)Grassland was the dominant landscape.In terms of the number of patches and area change rate,from 1985 to 2010,cultivated land,forest land and construction land were most stable,followed by unused land.Unused land,grassland and cultivated land experienced the most dramatic conversion and maximally affected by human activities.(2)The inter-annual difference between annual runoff and annual sediment load was significant.Compared with the annual sediment load,the trend of decreasing runoff was more obvious.The correlation coefficient of runoff-sediment was 0.67,representing a significant correlation.(3)There was a significant correlation between the landscape index and runoff-sediment.The runoff was negatively correlated with the largest patch index,patch cohesion index,aggregation index and contagion index,but positively correlated with landscape morphology index and landscape division index.And the sediment was negatively correlated with the contagion index,aggregation index and plaque cohesion index,but positively correlated with other landscape indexes.The results indicate that with the increase of the largest patch index,patch cohesion index and aggregation index,the rainfall infiltration capacity increase obviously and the soil erosion reduce significantly.Therefore,increasing the largest patch index,patch cohesion and aggregation index of the watershed landscape can enhance the function of water storage and soil conservation as well as ecological optimization in the windwater erosion crisscross region.The results can provide theoretical support for the ecological environment construction and comprehensive utilization of water and soil resources.

Review and prospect of soil compound erosion

Soil erosion is one of the most serious environmental issues constraining the sustainable development of human society and economies.Soil compound erosion is the result of the alternation or interaction between two or more erosion forces.In recent years,fluctuations and extreme changes in climatic factors(air temperature,precipitation,wind speed,etc.)have led to an increase in the intensity and extent of compound erosion,which is increasingly considered in soil erosion research.First,depending on the involvement of gravity,compound erosion process can be divided into compound erosion with and without gravity.We systematically summarized the research on the mechanisms and processes of alternating or interacting soil erosion forces(wind,water,and freeze-thaw)considering different combinations,combed the characteristics of compound erosion in three typical regions,namely,high-elevation areas,high-latitude areas,and dry and wet transition regions,and reviewed soil compound erosion research methods,such as station observations,simulation experiments,prediction models,and artificial neural networks.The soil erosion model of wind,water,and freeze-thaw interaction is the most significant method for quantifying and predicting compound erosion.Furthermore,it is proposed that there are several issues such as unclear internal mechanisms,lack of comprehensive prediction models,and insufficient scale conversion methods in soil compound erosion research.It is also suggested that future soil compound erosion mechanism research should prioritize the coupling of compound erosion forces and climate change.

An experimental study on the influences of wind erosion on water erosion

In semi-arid regions, complex erosion resulted from a combination of wind and water actions has led to a massive soil loss and a comprehensive understanding of its mechanism is the first step toward prevention of the erosion. However, the mutual influences between wind erosion and water erosion have not been fully understood. This research used a wind tunnel and two rainfall simulators and simulated two rounds of alternations between wind erosion and water erosion（i.e., 1^（st） wind erosion–1^（st） water erosion and 2^（nd） wind erosion–2^（nd） water erosion） on three slopes（5°, 10°, and 15°） with six wind speeds（0, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 20 m/s） and five rainfall intensities（0, 30, 45, 60, and 75 mm/h）. The objective was to analyze the influences of wind erosion on succeeding water erosion. Results showed that the effects of wind erosion on water erosion were not the same in the two rounds of tests. In the 1^（st） round of tests, wind erosion first restrained and then intensified water erosion mostly because the blocking effect of wind-sculpted micro-topography on surface flow was weakened with the increase in slope. In the 2^（nd） round of tests, wind erosion intensified water erosion on beds with no rills at gentle slopes and low rainfall intensities or with large-size rills at steep slopes and high rainfall intensities. Wind erosion restrained water erosion on beds with small rills at moderate slopes and moderate rainfall intensities. The effects were mainly related to the fine grain layer, rills and slope of the original bed in the 2^（nd） round of tests. The findings can deepen our understanding of complex erosion resulted from a combination of wind and water actions and provide scientific references to regional soil and water conservation.

清水冲刷下顺直河道交错边滩演变过程试验研究

为进一步认识清水冲刷下顺直河道交错边滩的演变过程,基于长江中游典型边滩形态参数,采用概化水槽试验对不同流量条件下的交错边滩纵向、横向和平面冲淤变化进行了研究。结果表明:试验工况下,纵向上,沿程呈冲刷态势,流量越大,冲深越大(流量为215 L/s的深泓平均冲深约是流量为46.71 L/s的2.1倍),且大流量下深泓纵向比降变缓;横向上,边滩侧以冲刷为主,冲刷最大的位置在滩边附近,其它部位则呈冲刷—淤积—冲刷的变化规律(如流量为215 L/s时,2#断面边滩以外部分(0,2]h平均冲深约3.5 cm、(2,12]h平均淤高约0.5 cm、(12,21]h平均冲深约0.7 cm);平面上,边滩整体下移,变得细长,淤积主要发生在边滩下游1m范围内。此外,上游异岸边滩的存在初期会促使下游边滩淤积,而后加深下游边滩的冲刷,且对边滩坡脚影响最大。

The wind-water two-phase erosion and sediment-producing processes in the middle Yellow River basin, China

Based on data from the middle Yellow River basin, a wind-water two-phase mechanism for erosion and sediment-producing processes has been found. By using this mechanism, the extremely strong erosion and sediment yield in the study area can be better explained. The operation of wind and water forces is different in different seasons within a year. During winter and spring, strong wind blows large quantities of eolian sand to gullies and river channels, which are temporally stored there. During the next summer, rainstorms cause runoff that contains much fine loessic material and acts as a powerful force to carry the previously prepared coarse material. As a result, hyperconcentrated flows occur, resulting in high-intensity erosion and sediment yield.

Spatial distribution of surface rock fragment on hillslopes in a small catchment in wind-water erosion crisscross region of the Loess Plateau

The cover and size distributions of surface rock fragment in hillslopes were investigated by using digital photographing and treating technique in a small catchment in wind-water erosion crisscross region of the Loess Plateau. The results indicated that the maximal cover of rock fragment was pre-sented at mid-position in steep hillslope. Rock fragment presented a general decreasing-trend along the hillslope in gentle hillslope. Rock fragment cover was positively related to gradient, rock fragment size decreased generally along the hillslope, and the size reduced with the gradient. The mean size of rock fragment was at a range of 6―20 mm in the steep hillslope, rock fragment size > 50 mm was rarely presented. The covers of rock fragment at different positions were markedly related to the quantities of rock fragment < 40 mm. The area of rock fragment of 2―50 mm accounted for 60% or more of the total area, dominating the distribution of rock fragment in the hillslopes.

冻融作用对黑土坡面融雪、风力和降雨侵蚀的影响研究

[目的]研究冻融作用对东北黑土区坡面土壤侵蚀的影响,可加深对黑土坡面侵蚀过程机理的认识,并为区域侵蚀治理提供重要科学依据。[方法]以东北黑土区单一侵蚀营力驱动的融雪、风力和降雨侵蚀为对照,通过设计冻融-融雪、冻融-风力、冻融-降雨双侵蚀营力叠加的模拟试验,分析冻融作用对坡面融雪、风力和降雨侵蚀的影响。试验处理包括1次冻融作用、2个融雪径流量(1,2 L/min)、1个风速(12 m/s),1个降雨强度(100 mm/h)和1个坡度(3°)。[结果](1)冻融作用显著增加坡面融雪、风力和降雨侵蚀量(p<0.05)。与无冻融作用相比,1次冻融作用使坡面融雪侵蚀在1,2 L/min融雪径流下分别增加2042.9%和777.9%,使风蚀量和降雨侵蚀量分别增加118.0%和74.9%。(2)冻融作用对坡面水蚀(融雪和降雨侵蚀)过程的影响大于对径流过程的影响,且加剧坡面侵蚀过程,使坡面侵蚀活跃期历时增长和侵蚀强度增加;冻融作用也使风力侵蚀的输沙高度增加30%,各高度风蚀输沙量均增加50%以上。(3)冻融作用降低土壤抗侵蚀能力,其使表层土壤密度、土壤抗剪强度、土壤硬度分别显著减小2.5%,22.6%,15.0%。同时,冻融作用使水蚀过程中的坡面水流流速平均增加13.6%~25.0%,水流剪切力平均增加2.3%~81.9%,而阻力系数减小1.6%~20.6%,进而加剧坡面侵蚀过程。[结论]冻融作用改变侵蚀动力与阻力关系,加剧坡面融雪、风力和降雨侵蚀过程。

新型改性水玻璃固沙剂制备与研究

为了解决市场上现有化学固沙剂存在的抗水性相对较差、固沙效果不理想等问题,通过在水玻璃中加入一些有机和无机改性材料,制备了一种具有高强度、耐久性和稳定性的新型复合固沙剂,研究了水玻璃浓度、不同改性剂添加量对其性能的影响。结果表明:1)按照水玻璃模数为3.0,改性剂四硼酸钠、碳酸锂、山梨醇、聚丙烯酰胺的添加量(占水玻璃质量的百分比)分别为1.5%、2.5%、0.2%、0.3%,助黏剂羧甲基纤维素钠的添加量为0.3%配置的新型改性水玻璃固沙剂,对沙土固化层的强度可达14.1 MPa;2)新型改性水玻璃固沙剂稳定性和耐久性优良,经70℃高温和-20℃低温7 d老化后,无侧限抗压强度损失率分别为11.8%和19.5%,在700℃高温条件下质量损失率仅为8.6%;3)新型改性水玻璃固沙剂的固沙效果良好,固结层在风速≤20 m/s的净风条件下表现为无风蚀或轻微风蚀,在含沙气流冲击下风蚀量较净风条件下略有增加。

1970—2020年黄土高原水蚀风蚀交错区极端降水时空变化研究及驱动因素分析

黄土高原水蚀风蚀交错区作为中国北方典型的生态脆弱区,因其独特地形和气候条件,极端降雨事件对其环境和生态系统的影响更加突出。选取水蚀风蚀交错区28个气象站点,结合RClimDex模型计算11个极端降水指数,采用线性相关分析法、Mann-Kendall趋势检验法和小波交叉法,分析了1970—2020年黄土高原水蚀风蚀交错区极端降水事件时空分布特征,探讨了极端降水事件的驱动因素。结果表明:(1)1970—2020年水蚀风蚀交错区持续干燥日数(CDD)呈下降趋势,其余10个指数呈上升趋势,反映出近50a研究区极端降水事件的频率、量级和强度不断增加。交错区年降水量增加和极端降水事件增加具有密切关系,且极端降水事件增加主要是由中雨日数(R10)和大雨日数(R20)引起。(2)1970—2020年极端降水事件在全区整体为增加趋势,交错区中部和西南部极端降水事件显著发生,陕西段极端降水量和强度呈显著增加趋势且极端化程度更显著。(3)湿日总降水量(PRCPTOT)、暴雨日数(R25)、5d最大降水量(R5d)3个极端降水指数,与影响因子厄尔尼诺-南方涛动(ENSO)、东亚夏季风(EASM)和太阳黑子(SN)具有不同的功率,与SN的交叉小波变换功率最大,说明影响因子中SN和极端降水指数的相关性最高,SN对极端降水事件的影响最大。

黄土高原水蚀风蚀交错区不同生物结皮类型对土壤有机碳及其转化的影响

[目的]黄土高原水蚀风蚀交错区是典型的脆弱生态系统,该区域生物结皮广泛分布,生物结皮在土壤有机碳积累与转化发挥着关键作用,然而,生物结皮演替及微生物对土壤有机碳转化相关酶类的影响规律尚不明确。[方法]研究土壤有机碳-微生物-碳转化相关酶在生物结皮不同演替类型的变化规律,并运用SEM模型分析了三者之间的相互关系。[结果](1)生物结皮演替显著增加土壤有机碳含量和碳转化相关酶活性,且它们在结皮层(0-2 cm)中的含量均显著高于裸沙和2—5 cm土层(p<0.05);(2)结皮层细菌、真菌和放线菌数量在藓结皮中最高,其中放线菌、真菌数量在生物结皮演替呈显著增加趋势,结皮层中的细菌和真菌数量显著高于2—5 cm土层,但2—5 cm土层放线菌数量高于结皮层(藓结皮除外);(3)SEM模型表明,土壤有机碳、碳转化相关酶活性和微生物数量之间均呈现显著相关性。[结论]生物结皮的演替对土壤有机碳的积累为碳转化相关酶类和微生物提供丰富基质,促进微生物和酶活性提高,微生物对碳转化相关酶类起着重要的驱动作用,对维持生物结皮的碳平衡发挥着关键作用。

高港水利枢纽闸站混凝土力学劣化试验研究

为研究高港水利枢纽闸站混凝土材料力学劣化效应,基于工程环境设计了物化影响因素,并开展了三轴力学试验。研究成果显示,化学溶液侵蚀浓度不影响混凝土应变破坏特征,对承载应力水平影响更显著;化学溶液侵蚀时间会改变混凝土应力应变趋势,侵蚀时间超过25 h后,具有应变硬化特性,而低于25 h时呈应变软化特征,化学侵蚀劣化效应在侵蚀时间25 h后更为显著。围压增大,可约束化学侵蚀效应。干湿物理作用不改变混凝土应力应变趋势特征,但交替愈多承载愈弱,尤以交替超过12次更为明显,围压5 MPa下交替12~20次峰值应力为21.4~53.4 MPa,每梯次下平均下降36.7%,交替较低时,混凝土具有一定抗干湿劣化能力。本成果可为研究水工建筑混凝土材料的力学劣化效应提供参考。

盐冻交替作用下混凝土强度与细观孔结构关系

为了探究硫酸盐溶液侵蚀和冻融循环(盐冻)交替作用下混凝土宏观强度与细观孔隙结构参数的定量关系,本文开展了盐冻交替试验、力学性能测试和孔隙结构分析等。首先,设计了不同质量分数硫酸盐和冻融循环次数的交替试验;其次,研究了盐冻作用下混凝土抗压强度、抗拉强度、灰度直方图、孔径分布、孔隙率和分形维数演变规律;最后,建立了混凝土孔隙率和孔隙分形维数与强度的定量关系。研究结果表明:在盐冻作用下,混凝土宏观强度与细观孔结构演化规律密切相关,混凝土抗压强度和劈裂抗拉强度随着盐冻交替循环次数增加而逐渐减小。相较于质量分数为3%和6%的硫酸盐溶液,9%硫酸盐溶液冻融作用对混凝土侵蚀劣化更严重,盐冻循环8次时,抗压和劈裂抗拉强度分别减小45.5%和47.5%;随着盐冻循环次数增加,混凝土CT图像灰度和孔隙分形维数逐渐降低,孔隙率逐渐增大,盐冻循环8次时,灰度均值和孔隙分形维数相比初始状态分别降低了13.82%和6.06%,孔隙率增长到7.3%。盐冻交替作用下混凝土细观孔结构与宏观强度的演化模型关联性较好,R2均大于0.887。

黄土高原水蚀风蚀交错区固氮微生物群落多样性在生物结皮中的演变规律

生物土壤结皮在黄土高原的水土保持、养分补给等方面发挥着重要生态功能。固氮微生物是固氮过程的关键功能群,影响着土壤氮素平衡,然而黄土高原水蚀风蚀交错区严重的水土流失导致土壤养分大量损失,尤其是氮素。该区域生物结皮广泛发育,它们在干旱半干旱区土壤氮素积累过程中起着重要作用。但是该区域生物结皮不同发育阶段中的固氮潜力、固氮微生物群落多样性及其关键环境控制因子尚不清楚。以黄土高原水蚀风蚀交错区为研究区,三种生物结皮类型和裸地对照为研究对象,采用Illumina HiSeq平台对nifH基因扩增产物进行生物信息学分析,揭示了固氮潜力及微生物群落多样性的分布规律。结果表明,生物结皮演替显著影响固氮酶活性、nifH基因丰度和固氮微生物α-多样性,各值均在苔藓结皮最高,显著高于其它演替阶段,且生物结皮层高于结皮下层土壤。在固氮微生物群落组成上,裸地以变形菌门的红螺菌目、酸硫杆菌目和根瘤菌目为主;而在藻结皮、地衣结皮和藓结皮阶段,均表现为蓝藻门的念珠藻目占绝对优势,是固氮微生物的关键类群,其中Trichormus、念珠藻属是优势固氮物种;与藻结皮、地衣结皮相比,藓结皮中念珠藻目的相对丰度显著降低,而变形菌门的红螺菌目、酸硫杆菌目和根瘤菌目的丰度明显上升。除此之外,蓝杆藻属、鱼腥藻属、斯克尔曼氏菌属、瘤胃梭菌属在藻结皮、地衣结皮、藓结皮也占明显优势。念珠藻目以及Trichormus的丰度与固氮酶活性、nifH基因丰度呈显著正相关关系,而与红螺菌目、酸硫杆菌目、梭菌目、根瘤菌目呈显著负相关;Trichormus相关的物种在黄土高原生物结皮氮输入过程中可能发挥着关键作用。生物结皮演替通过改变土壤pH值、有机质、全氮、含水量等理化特征而影响了微生境,通过环境筛选和物种重排作用对固氮微生物群落进行综合调控,其中pH与土壤全氮(TN)发挥着关键作用。

黄土干旱区电网工程水土流失机理及其治理方法研究——以宁夏地区为例

选取干旱风沙区与黄土丘陵区为研究区域,基于风力侵蚀和水力侵蚀2种主要侵蚀模式,通过试验分析研究了电网工程水土流失的影响因子及其主要机理;采用土壤肥力提升技术及土壤保墒技术相结合的方式促进植被恢复,系统性提出了适用于宁夏地区的水土流失治理方法,为推进宁夏地区电网生态高质量发展提供了理论支撑。