Spatiotemporal patterns and driving factors of soil protection in the wind-water erosion area of Chinese Loess Plateau

As one of typical areas in the world,northern Chinese Loess Plateau experiences serious wind-water erosion,which leads to widespread land degradation.During the past decades,an ecological engineering was implemented to reduce soil erosion and improve soil protection in this area.Thus,it is necessary to recognize the basic characteristics of soil protection for sustainable prevention and wind-water erosion control in the later stage.In this study,national wind erosion survey model and revised universal soil loss equation were used to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution and driving forces of soil protection in the wind-water erosion area of Chinese Loess Plateau during 2000–2020.Results revealed that:(1)during 2000–2020,total amount of soil protection reached up to 15.47×10^(8) t,which was realized mainly through water and soil conservation,accounting for 63.20%of the total;(2)soil protection was improved,with increases in both soil protection amount and soil retention rate.The amounts of wind erosion reduction showed a decrease trend,whereas the retention rate of wind erosion reduction showed an increase trend.Both water erosion reduction amount and retention rate showed increasing trends;and(3)the combined effects of climate change and human activities were responsible for the improvement of soil protection in the wind-water erosion area of Chinese Loess Plateau.The findings revealed the spatiotemporal patterns and driving forces of soil protection,and proposed strategies for future soil protection planning in Chinese Loess Plateau,which might provide valuable references for soil erosion control in other wind-water erosion areas of the world.

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.

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.

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.

风-水冷却状态下钢轨横截面上各点相变规律的研究

通过测量风水双介质冷却钢轨横截面上不同点的温度变化曲线,参照本成分钢轨的连续冷却曲线,研究了强化钢轨的组织、性能及相变规律。结果表明,经风水冷却后,钢轨的组织和性能优良,各检测点的相变规律相似,所不同的是各点相变发生的时间及温度不同。

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.

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.

On the genesis of granite pits on top of the Shigujian Peak of the Dayangshan Mountain in Jinyun County,Zhejiang Province

On top of Shigujian Peak(1477 m a.s.l.) of the Dayangshan Mountain in Jinyun County, Zhejiang Province, large amounts of granite pits with diameters ranging from several dozens of centimeters to around one meter and depth from 10 cm to 45 cm are found on rock surface.These pits mainly appear on the NE and SE sides, and their drainage mouths are in the same direction.The identification results through micropolariscope and X-ray fluorescence spectrometer reveal that bedrock of pits is from middle to fine-grained moyite being apt to be weathered and modified.In Dayangshan region the annual mean temperature is 9.2℃ and annual precipitation is over 1700 mm.On the one hand, there always experiences a period of periglacial action with temperature oscillating near 0℃ for 4 months, i.e., from December to March next year.As a consequence, the freezing-thawing cycles may be remarkable to disintegrate the bedrock.On the other hand, the windward slope of Shigujian Peak meets typhoon of over force 10 on the Beaufort scale in summer, therefore, the blowing makes suspending sands or pebbles grind in swirling form.Based on field investigation and periglacial geomorphic theory, the pits on top of Shigujian Peak are attributed to freez-ing-thawing of periglacial action.Meanwhile, storm and strong wind accelerate the process.Observation shows that both the actions are still undergoing and variant directions of wind are the main cause for making different shapes of the pits.Because the top of Shigujian is 1500 m lower than the present snow line, some scholars considered that"glacial pothole"formed in the Quaternary is hard to work, even though in the Last Glacial Maximum(LGM).

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.