Paraglacial Modification of Glacigenic Sediment

The sedimentological characteristics of in situ and paraglacially reworked till are compared at recently deglaciated sites in Norway. Glacigenic deposits reworked by debris flows are shown to retain many of the characteristics of the parent sediments, and cannot readily be distinguished from in situ till in terms of fabric strength or type, clast imbrication, shape, angularity or texture, matrix granulometry or packing. Paraglacially re-worked sediments appear to differ from in situ tills only in terms of preferred clast orientation (down flow rather than downvalley) and their structural and lithofacies characteristics. These criteria are employed to differentiate paraglacial sediments from unre-worked tills exposed in valley-side sections. The stratigraphic relations between these indicate glacial reworking of earlier paraglacial sediments as well as paraglacial remobilisation of glacigenic deposits, indicating cyclic alternation of glacial and paraglacial sediment transport.     

Medium-term evolution of a gully developed in a loess-derived soil

Field surveys in the Belgian loess belt revealed the presence in many forested areas of large, permanent gully systems, most of which are currently inactive. In cultivated areas, such gullies can only be observed in cross-sectional soil profiles through hollows, as virtually all such large gullies are currently infilled with colluvium. Little is known about the spatial distribution, initiation and temporal evolution of these large, permanent gully systems on loess-derived soils. Therefore, the medium-term evolution of a gully initiated in a cultivated area on loess-derived soils southwest of Leuven (Belgium) in May–June 1986, was studied over 13 years. Two intense rainfall events created this (ephemeral) gully, which was not erased by subsequent tillage. Between June 1986 and the December 1999, eight field surveys were conducted to measure gully dimensions. During two surveys, topographic indices (e.g., slope and drainage area) were also measured. Daily rainfall for the measuring period were obtained from a rainfall station located some 10 km southwest of the gully. Analysis of rainfall data showed that no extreme rainfall event was required to initiate such large (permanent) gullies, as observed in forested areas and through cross-sectional profiles in cultivated fields in the Belgian loess belt. Return periods of the event that caused the gully varied between <1 year and 25 years, depending on the assumptions used for defining event rain intensity. Once established, length, surface area and volume of the studied gully evolved with time, cumulative rainfall or cumulative runoff, following a negative exponential relation. This accords with observations reported for gullies in Australia and the USA. This study shows that a degressive increase of gully extension, can be largely explained by the evolution of a “slope–drainage area” factor (S×A, which is proportional to stream power) with time. While gully length and gully surface area asymptotically evolve towards a final value, gully volume decreased at a given point in time. From this, it is inferred that sediment deposition will potentially infill the gully to such an extent that the farmer can drive across it. From this moment on, the combined effect of water and tillage erosion in the gully drainage area, will lead towards rapid infilling. This expected evolution of a gully in cultivated fields accords with observations of large infilled gully systems in cultivated areas in eastern Belgium. The permanent gullies observed under forest are attributed to the fact that after severe gully erosion, this area was reforested or abandoned. Therefore, the sediment source was cut off and the gully was not filled in by sediment deposition.     

Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Gully Erosion in the Zone of Intensive Agriculture in the European Part of Russia

Using the method of mapping by high resolution satellite imagery mapping, a study was made of the key areas which are located in the southern part of the forest, forest-steppe and steppe zones of Tatarstan and of Orenburg, Saratov and Voronezh oblasts. Two key indicators were determined: the gully length density and gully head density within the basins; results of the investigation were used in compiling respective maps in vector format. It is established that the density of the gully length in the basins varies over the range from 0 to 0.5 km/km² (from the absence of gullies to strong gully erosion), and the density of gully heads from 0 to 3 units/km². The slope type of gullies is dominant in all basins (about 80%), while the coastal and bottom types have approximately the same proportion (14 and 10%, respectively). Using methods of mathematical statistics we determined a high directly proportional dependence of the indicators of the contemporary gully network on the level of ploughness of the basins and the mean annual precipitation amount, and an indirectly proportional dependence on the level of sodding. An abrupt reduction in gullying indicators was determined. It was found that among the chief reasons behind an abrupt reduction in the gullies to date is a decrease of the rate of agricultural development, with an additional factor, namely, a dramatic decrease in surface runoff down the arable slopes during spring snowmelt caused by climate warming. It is concluded that that a significant part of the gully forms in the study area is currently inactive and massively passes into the balka stage.     

Characteristics, controlling factors and importance of deep gullies under cropland on loess-derived soils

Several studies describe the formation and importance of shallow ephemeral gullies under cropland (depth<0.8 m). Some of these gullies may develop into channels with a depth of more than 0.8 m (up to 4 m). Despite their spectacular nature, these deep gullies have not yet been studied in detail. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to analyze the characteristics and the controlling factors of these deep gullies, as well as their importance in terms of sediment production.Comparison of a dataset with 28 deep gullies, formed in the period 1985–2003 and 123 shallow ephemeral gullies formed in the period 1994–1999 in central Belgium indicates that the deep gullies have clearly different morphological characteristics compared to shallow ephemeral gullies. Several factors were analyzed to understand the formation of deep gullies. Plotting runoff contributing area versus slope of the soil surface at the gully head indicates that the topographical threshold for deep gully formation is significantly larger compared to ephemeral gully formation. Deep gullies form on short, steep valley sides and their position is strongly affected by the presence of linear landscape elements. All deep gullies incised on landscape positions with a very erodible soil horizon at shallow depth. Analysis of causative rainfall showed no significant differences in incision thresholds between rills and shallow ephemeral gullies on the one hand and deep gullies on the other hand.The relation between area-specific sediment yield in central Belgium and drainage area, indicates that the development of deep gullies contributes significantly to the sediment output of small rural catchments and causes peaks in the mean area-specific sediment yield that are up to a factor of three higher compared with catchments where shallow ephemeral gullying occurs.     

典型黑土区小流域浅沟侵蚀季节差异分析

通过2005年对黑龙江鹤山农场两个小流域进行定位观测,研究了典型黑土区浅沟侵蚀特征及其季节差异,并对作物类型和耕作措施对浅沟侵蚀的影响进行了分析。结果表明,两流域年浅沟侵蚀量达285.9 m³ km^-2和290.8 m³ km^-2,仅浅沟侵蚀量就超过了黑土区的土壤允许侵蚀量。浅沟侵蚀量呈现出沿坡面波动的变化,沿坡面向下存在浅沟侵蚀的强弱交替带。春夏浅沟侵蚀在侵蚀强度、浅沟形态及主要影响因素3个方面存在差异,春季浅沟侵蚀受融雪、冻融影响显著,侵蚀较夏季严重;与春季相比,夏季浅沟长度变短、宽度变大、深度变浅,浅沟体积与长度的相关性较春季差,这与夏季暴雨历时短、雨强大以及植被盖度大有关。耕作措施和作物类型影响浅沟侵蚀深度和浅沟分布,尤其在夏季比较明显。     

Development of gullies and sediment production in the black soil region of northeastern China

Gully erosion is an important environmental hazard in the black soil region of northeastern China. It is a primary sediment source in the region which needs appropriate soil conservation practices. Gully incision in rolling hills typical of this region was monitored using real-time kinematic GPS to assess the rates of gully development and the resultant sediment production. From 2002 to 2005, gully heads in the study area retreated between 15.4 and 33.5 m, giving an average retreat rate of 8.4 m yr^− 1. Field measurements showed that total sediment production due to gully erosion during the three years ranged between 257 and 1854 m³ yr^− 1, which is equivalent to 326 to 2355 t yr^− 1, with gully-head retreat accounting for 0 to 21.7% (4.4% in average). The sediment delivery ratio was especially high during the summer rainy season (56% in average). Sediment production by ephemeral gullies and permanent gullies was 1.5 times greater than that from surface erosion. Gully heads retreated faster in the spring freeze–thaw period than in the summer. The stage of gully development could be identified based on short-term changes in the gully erosion rate.     

沟道流域坡面与沟谷侵蚀演化关系——以晋西王家沟小流域为例

以往坡、沟侵蚀关系研究主要限于水沙关系的探讨 ,有关原型尺度小流域坡、沟地貌侵蚀演化关系的定量研究甚少 ,尤其是坡、沟地貌特征对流域切割程度的综合影响与交互作用的定量研究尚属空白。本文在 3S技术支持下 ,根据晋西王家沟小流域 196 7年 1∶5 0 0 0正摄影像图 (DOM )、高程数字化模型 (DEM )和同期、同比例尺地形图 ,利用正交多项式回归分析方法 ,定量分析了坡、沟地貌特征对流域切割程度的影响与交互作用。研究表明 ,沟谷地在流域地貌演化及地表切割程度中起主导作用 ,在沟间地面积相同时 ,沟谷地面积约为0 1km2 是影响流域切割裂度侵蚀演化强度最大的区域 ,流域面积愈小影响流域地表破碎的程度最大。其沟道流域坡、沟地貌演化机制可用坡、沟水流动能的地貌指标的综合影响与交互作用来解释     

Spatial distribution and morphologic characteristics of gullies in the Black Soil Region of Northeast China: Hebei watershed

Gully erosion in the Black Soil Region of China has posed a threat to food security. This study aimed to determine the spatial distribution and morphologic characteristics of gullies in the region and their topographic thresholds. A 28 km² watershed was surveyed and 117 gullies measured. The results showed that: (1) Gullies were distributed equally on both hillslope and valley floor positions, with a total gully density of .66 km/km². (2) The mean depth, width, and cross-sectional area of gullies were .74 m, 2.39 m, and 2.43 m², respectively. These characteristics varied among gullies according to their topographic positions and slope gradients. Individual gully volume (V) was well predicted from gully length (L) by V = 2.08L^0.96 (r² = .66). Total gully volume (V) of each sub-watershed was predicted from mean slope gradient (S) and drainage area (A) as V = 275800S ? 8600A (r² = .73). (3) Gully erosion was more serious in steeper sub-watersheds and steeper hillslope positions. Gullies were wider in regions with relatively larger drainage areas, except for those developed in the main valley. The topographic threshold for gully initiation was S = .10A^?0.34, which indicated gully erosion was dominated by surface runoff. (4) Human activities, such as road construction, played a significant role in gully erosion.     

克拜东部黑土区侵蚀沟遥感分类与空间格局分析

近百年来,东北黑土区侵蚀沟的大量发育带来了一系列严重的社会经济问题,弄清侵蚀沟的类型、数量及分布情况是进行水土流失治理和生态环境建设的前提条件。以黑龙江省克拜东部黑土区作为典型研究区,采用2005年SPOT-5高分辨率卫星影象,结合野外调查,根据侵蚀沟的活跃程度,将黑土区的侵蚀沟分为活跃性、半活跃性和稳定性三种类型,阐述了不同类型侵蚀沟的影象特征和遥感分类方法,为利用遥感手段在区域尺度上对侵蚀沟进行快速调查提供了一种新途径。在对侵蚀沟进行信息提取和空间插值后,形成研究区不同类型侵蚀沟密度图,探讨了克拜东部黑土区侵蚀沟分布的空间格局特征及其影响因素,认为地貌发育过程中的“分水岭迁移”现象是造成该地区侵蚀沟密度东西差异的重要原因。     

东北低山丘陵典型区侵蚀沟分布特征及其地形影响研究

东北低山丘陵区是重要的粮食主产区和商品粮基地,高强度的农业垦殖造成了严重的水土流失,侵蚀沟危害日益加剧。选择东辽河上游106.5 km²的区域为研究区,基于分辨率2 m的遥感影像,在GIS人工预判读侵蚀沟的基础上,野外实地验证并测量了研究区内长度≥50 m、且深度≥0.5 m的侵蚀沟的几何参数与经纬度;基于DEM获取了侵蚀沟所在坡面的坡度、坡向和高程等空间信息;分析了研究区侵蚀沟的基本特征与时空演化趋势,探讨了坡度和坡向对侵蚀沟发育的影响。结果表明：① 目前研究区已形成侵蚀沟322条,分布密度为3.0条/km²,沟壑密度为0.8 km/km²,割裂度为1.4%,侵蚀沟发展速度快,沟蚀强度已达强烈程度,应引起足够重视。② 侵蚀沟主要分布在6°~9°的坡耕地上,坡度对沟蚀的影响明显,坡耕地高强度垦殖是沟蚀加剧的主要驱动力;③ 阳坡（S、E）上侵蚀沟分布相对较多,而阴坡（N）上侵蚀沟分布最少,坡向对沟蚀也有一定影响。研究成果为认识东北低山丘陵区侵蚀沟发生与演化提供了科学数据。     

A sediment budget for a grazed semi-arid catchment in the Burdekin basin, Australia

In catchments adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area in Queensland, Australia, there is a growing concern that sediments and nutrients being exported from the land are having a detrimental effect on coral reef communities. There is a need to determine the processes and rates of erosion from the major land use types, so that management intervention can be initiated to reduce sediment yields where required. This paper presents a sediment budget for Weany Creek, a 13.5 km² grazed semi-arid sub-catchment of the Burdekin River catchment, Australia. A range of field methods was used to measure erosion from hillslopes, gullies and stream banks, as well as identify the amount of sediment being deposited and remobilised on the bed of gullies and the stream network. The data suggests that at least during drought conditions, the primary erosion source in this catchment is gully erosion. However, the largest source of sediment in the budget is actually associated with the remobilisation of in-channel sediment stores. Overall, the sediment budget is comprised of  81% coarse material and 19% fine sediment and an agreement between the fine sediment yield estimated in the sediment budget and the yield measured at the catchment outlet is within 10%. The total sediment yield estimated for this catchment is  4205 t yr^− 1 and is much lower than expected for a catchment of this size. This may reflect the drought conditions during the measurement period; however, there is also the possibility that the primary erosion sources have been exhausted, and the rates of sediment loss may be much lower now than they may have been in the past. Nonetheless, the results show that stored sediment, which may have been deposited in the channel many decades ago, is an important contributor to end of catchment sediment yields and warrants further investigation.     

The application of an expert knowledge‐driven approach for assessing gully erosion susceptibility in the subtropical Nigerian savannah

This study assessed gully erosion susceptibility in Southern Gombe State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to: (1) prepare gully inventory of Southern Gombe State, (2) apply the Analytical Hierarchy Process to assess the contribution of gully erosion predisposing factors, and (3) produce a gully erosion susceptibility map of Southern Gombe State. Based on geomorphological study involving interpretation of Google Earth images and field surveys, 127 gullies were identified and 13 gully erosion predisposing factors assumed to influence gully erosion susceptibility were selected. Identified gullies were randomly split into training (89 or 70 per cent) and validation (38 or 30 per cent) datasets. The contribution of each gully erosion predisposing factor was obtained using the Analytical Hierarchy Process. The results indicated that slope (0.130), stream density (0.121), and distance from stream (0.121) play crucial roles in gully erosion susceptibility. By overlaying the gully erosion susceptibility factor maps, a gully erosion susceptibility map was created. A natural break method was then used to classify gully erosion areas into relatively safe (6.04 km²), less susceptible (3332.46 km²), moderately susceptible (1811.49 km²), highly susceptible (1146.35 km²), and extremely susceptible (1726.77 km²) categories. Field verification confirmed that the map accurately classified 92.11 per cent of the validation datasets, signifying the Analytical Hierarchy Process as a reliable method for gully erosion susceptibility assessment. The created gully erosion susceptibility map can assist land planners to identify critical gully erosion areas where prevention and mitigation actions should be implemented.     

无定河流域不同地貌区水沙过程对比

为了查明人为影响程度较低时期无定河流域内不同地貌区的水沙过程及其变化规律,选取1970年以前一段时期该流域内风沙区和黄土丘陵沟壑区河流的有关水文站的水文泥沙实测数据进行对比分析。结果表明,风沙区河流的流量变率较黄土丘陵沟壑区的小;风沙区河流的含沙量远小于黄土丘陵沟壑区河流的含沙量。黄土丘陵沟壑区河流具有极高的输沙率,而风沙区河流的输沙率微不足道。风沙区和黄土丘陵沟壑区河流的产流模数基本相近,但产沙模数非常悬殊,前者的产沙模数很小,为118.58~725.38t /km² · a,而后者的达到1879.36~25112.15t /km² · a。显然,无定河流域黄土丘陵沟壑区的河流是侵蚀产沙的主要来源区,因而是水土保持工作的重点区域。     

The value of a physically based model versus an empirical approach in the prediction of ephemeral gully erosion for loess-derived soils

A data set on soil losses and controlling factors for 58 ephemeral gullies has been collected in the Belgian loess belt from March 1997 to March 1999. Of the observed ephemeral gullies, 32 developed at the end of winter or in early spring (winter gullies) and 26 ephemeral gullies developed during summer (summer gullies). The assessed data have been used to test the physically based Ephemeral Gully Erosion Model (EGEM) and to compare its performance with the value of simple topographical and morphological indices in the prediction of ephemeral gully erosion.Analysis shows that EGEM is not capable of predicting ephemeral gully cross-sections well. Although conditions for input parameter assessment were ideal, some parameters such as channel erodibility, critical flow shear stress and local rainfall depth showed great uncertainty. Rather than revealing EGEM's inability of predicting ephemeral gully erosion, this analysis stresses the problematic nature of physically based models, since they often require input parameters that are not available or can hardly be obtained.With respect to the value of simple topographical and morphological indices in predicting ephemeral gully erosion, this study shows that for winter gullies and summer gullies, respectively, over 80% and about 75% of the variation in ephemeral gully volume can be explained when ephemeral gully length is known. Moreover, when previously collected data for ephemeral gullies in two Mediterranean study areas and the data for summer gullies formed in the Belgian loess belt are pooled, it appears that one single length (L)–volume (V) relation exists (V=0.048 L^1.29; R²=0.91). These findings imply that predicting ephemeral gully length is a valuable alternative for the prediction of ephemeral gully volume. A simple procedure to predict ephemeral gully length based on topographical thresholds is presented here. Secondly, the empirical length–volume relation can also be used to convert ephemeral gully length data extracted from aerial photos into ephemeral gully volumes.     

风力侵蚀对无定河流域产沙作用定量分析

本文利用无定河的水文泥沙观测日值资料和该流域内及周围气象站气象观测月值资料,通过流域的水沙关系与各年风蚀气候因子,估计了风力作用对无定河流域产沙的贡献量。结果揭示出:在风沙区,由于水力的搬运作用仍然决定了流域输沙量的大小,所以风力作用产生的输沙模数很小,在总输沙量中只占约1/4;风力作用增加输沙量比例最大的地区是穿过风沙区和丘陵沟壑区交界区,既有活跃的风沙活动又有强烈的黄土水蚀,风力和水力形成强耦合侵蚀搬运作用的干流上游,占输沙量的1/3以上;位于靠近风沙区并有片沙分布的黄土丘陵沟壑区的流域,风蚀产沙占流域输沙量的比例约为1/10;在黄土丘陵沟壑区,相对强烈的水力侵蚀,风力作用对产沙影响较小。整个无定河流域风力作用产生的输沙量包括入河风沙、降尘以及风力与水力的耦合侵蚀搬运作用可能增加的泥沙,接近流域总输沙量的1/6。     

黑土耕作区侵蚀沟治理紧迫度空间分布特征

综合把握侵蚀沟发育状态及其治理紧迫程度可为有效判断区域侵蚀沟防控方向与治理重点提供重要参考.论文结合侵蚀沟形态数据,构建区域侵蚀沟治理紧迫度评价指标体系,从乡镇与网格尺度揭示区域侵蚀沟侵蚀程度及其空间分布规律.结果表明:①从数量特征看,海伦黑土耕作区侵蚀沟分布呈非均衡状态,沟道长度以微/小型(≤500 m)为主,沟道面...     

中尼公路雪害及防灾对策

本文在大量野外实地调查基础上，通过对中尼公路沿线吹雪、积雪和雪崩成因背景的分析，揭示了中尼公路雪灾的分布规律和形成机制，并提出各类雪灾的防治对策。对康山桥特大雪崩灾害进行了深入研究，提出了可供实施的整治方案及进一步工作的建议，对中尼公路整治必建工程具有重要的指导意义。     

Lateglacial and Holocene talus slope development and rockwall retreat on Mynydd Du, UK

Modification of Lateglacial and Holocene talus sheets by debris flows and gully incision on Mynydd Du, Wales, has resulted in a convergence of upper slope form characterised by an upper rectilinear slope gradient of 36°±3° and a range of concavities of c. 0.1–0.2. In most cases, gully incision and accumulation of debris cones have led to an increase in slope concavity. Evidence for talus erosion, reworking and redeposition on the upper slope emphasises secondary reworking processes, as well as primary talus accumulation on the upper slope, and permits construction of a model of talus development at Mynydd Du. On the basis of talus volume, calculation of the first rockwall retreat data set for southern Britain suggests that c. 7.1 m (84%) of overall rockwall retreat (8.5 m) took place during the Lateglacial, and only c. 1.4 m (16%) occurred during the Holocene. These figures imply that Lateglacial retreat rates ranged from 1.01 to 2.44 m ka⁻¹, with an overall mean rate of 1.23 m ka⁻¹. In contrast, Holocene rockwall retreat rates range from 0.10 to 0.17 m ka⁻¹, with a mean rate of 0.12 m ka⁻¹. Approximately 27% of cliff retreat is attributed to microgelivation. While similar to Holocene and present-day alpine environments, these Lateglacial retreat rates are one order of magnitude higher than most equivalent values for arctic sites. This reflects both ‘alpine-style’ diurnal freeze–thaw activity on Mynydd Du during the Younger Dryas and paraglacial rock-mass instability following deglaciation. Assuming an exponential decline in rockwall sediment release, it is estimated that approximately half the talus had accumulated within c. 1 ka of deglaciation. At one site, paraglacial talus accumulation appears to have contributed significantly to the glacial sediment transport system of a subsequent ice advance. Present-day rates of rockwall retreat and talus accumulation by rockfall are estimated to be 0.014 and 0.022 mm yr⁻¹ (m ka⁻¹), respectively, similar to values for other British sites and markedly lower than Holocene rates of cliff recession due to microgelivation. By implication, the geomorphic significance of microgelivation may have been greatly underestimated in studies of inland rock-slope evolution in temperate, mid-latitude environments.     

坡耕地增长对沟谷发育的影响——以四川西昌大箐梁子为例

为了研究近50 a来土壤加速侵蚀的状况和原因,收集了四川西昌大箐梁子1957年、1979年、2000年航空影像,应用立体像对获取高程信息生成DEM,并利用DEM纠正航片获取正射影像。同时,利用三期正射影像获取土地利用变化和沟谷变化信息,通过野外调查与验证,分析了沟谷形成、发育特点及与坡耕地增长的密切关系。研究表明,西昌大箐梁子沟谷发育,到1957年已形成部分稳定或半稳定冲沟,1970年代后期,大量草地被开垦为耕地,且多为坡耕地,土壤抗蚀能力降低,土壤侵蚀由此加剧,沟蚀增强,人为加速了沟谷侵蚀的发育。     

Measuring erosion rates on exposed limestone residuum using erosion pins: a 10-year record

Abstract

Erosion rates in residual limestone soils in a humid climate were measured for 10 years at one site, and for 4 years at another site, using erosion pins. Erosion pins were placed in gully floors and on convex divides between adjacent gullies, on abandoned land where vegetation had been removed. We measured an average erosion rate of 20 mm yr^?1 over 10 years at one site and only 5 mm yr^?1 over 4 years at another site where chert gravel was common on the surface. The 10-year average erosion rate of divides (26 mm yr^?1) was significantly greater than the average erosion rate of gullies (14 mm yr^?1), suggesting control by different processes, some of which may be seasonal. In winter, it was observed that frost action produced a thin layer of loose soil on the surface of divides. In summer, a hardpan developed on divides, as the soil loosened by winter frosts was transported to gullies, likely by rainsplash or dry ravel. The diffusive processes of frost action, rainsplash, and dry ravel appear to shape the convex divides in this study. Down-cutting of gullies requires channelized flow produced by intense rainfall, which is more common in summer for this location.