Uncertainty assessment of ephemeral gully identification,characteristics and topographic threshold when using aerial photographs in agricultural settings

Manual digitizing on aerial photographs is still commonly used for characterizing gully erosion over large areas. Even when automated detection procedures are implemented, manual digitizing is frequently being resorted to in order to constitute reference datasets used for training and validation. In both cases, manual digitizing entails some subjective decisions on behalf of the operator, which introduces uncertainty into the resulting datasets. To assess the magnitude of this uncertainty, 11 experienced operators were asked to digitize and classify ephemeral gullies (EGs) on cropland following a standardized methodology. The resulting 11 datasets were compared in terms of number, type and location of EGs. Furthermore, for EGs located on a well‐defined runoff flow concentration axis, the slope versus contributing area topographic thresholds required for initiating gully channels were assessed using four thresholding methods, and compared across the 11 datasets. The operators identified 259 different EGs. However, the number (52–139) and sum total length (8.9–23.7 km) of EGs varied widely across operators. Only 34% of the EGs were digitized by more than half of the operators, and 7% were identified by all. Identification of EGs located on a well‐defined flow concentration axis proved least subjective. The longer the EG and the more fields the EG crossed, the larger the number of operators that were able to identify it. EGs were also most easily identified when located in sugar beet fields as compared to other crops. EG classification and topographic threshold lines were also found to be strongly operator‐dependent. Quantile regression appeared to be one of the most robust thresholding methods. Operator subjectivity when digitizing EGs on orthophotographs introduces uncertainty that should be taken into account in future remote sensing‐based studies of EG erosion whenever they rely, in part or in full, on manual photograph interpretation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

安宁河断裂带勒帕沟泥石流发育特征及防治建议

2011年6月17日,勒帕沟发生近50年来最大的一次泥石流,经计算泥石流断面平均流速为2.03 m/s,峰值流量为200.11 m3/s,为大型泥石流,对帕勒村村民生命财产造成了巨大危害。勒帕沟上游岸坡前缘不稳定斜坡体及勒帕沟沟道内松散堆积的卵砾石为勒帕沟泥石流的主要物源。上游支沟中碎屑物块度较小,易被水流冲走,不会形成堰塞湖和溃决型泥石流。勒帕沟流域现今仍有再次暴发泥石流的可能,建议于流域中上游进行人工植树造林,在下游清理河道,进行监测预警,以实现泥石流综合防治。      

黄土高原丘陵沟壑区切沟侵蚀与地形关系分析——以纸坊沟流域为例

沟蚀是土壤侵蚀研究的主要内容之一,地形地貌是沟蚀的一个重要影响因子。本文以安塞纸坊沟流域作为研究区域,选择土地利用方式、土壤类型、坡度坡长因子、平面曲率、坡向和地形湿度指数6个因子,通过因子内切沟所占比重/整个研究区切沟所占比重计算各个因子的权重值,通过空间叠加分析土壤侵蚀敏感性,并通过重分类的方法把土壤侵蚀敏感性分为基本无侵蚀、轻度侵蚀、中度侵蚀、强度侵蚀、剧烈侵蚀5个等级,来研究切沟侵蚀与地形的关系。结果表明：切沟多发生在坡度坡长较大、地表湿度较高的林草地区域和更容易发生侵蚀的黄绵土区域,并且多分布在阴坡的凹面;对比分析切沟侵蚀和土壤侵蚀敏感性,切沟大多分布在中等侵蚀敏感性以上的区域,约占总切沟的90%;实验权重值对验证区冲沟的响应精度为82.43%（中度侵蚀及其以后阶段）,与实际值90.53%相差不大,说明此种方法对黄土丘陵沟壑区具有一定适用性,对黄土丘陵沟壑区水土保持工作有重要意义。     

陕北黄土丘陵沟壑区农户气候变化的适应行为及影响因素分析

从农户个体微观视角,研究农业的活动主体--农户的气候变化适应行为。选择陕北黄土丘陵沟壑区,采用问卷调查和半结构式访谈相结合的方法研究农户气候变化感知与适应行为,运用二元逻辑回归模型分析影响该地区农户适应行为的因素。结果表明：农户对气候变化趋势感知比较一致,认为近5 年夏季和冬季气温升高,降水减少,但与实际观测存在一定偏差。农户应对气候变化采取适应行为的比重并不高,只有57.8% 的农户表示采取了相应的措施来应对气候变化。农户适应行为受气候变化感知的影响,此外,家庭社会经济属性对农户采取适应行为的概率影响显著,而性别、年龄、文化程度等人口属性因素与农户采取适应行为的概率关系不大。     

基于RS和GIS的松辽平原黑土流失研究

基于RS和GIS技术,利用1986年TM数据和2001年ETM数据,对松辽平原黑土分布现状与动态变化进行监测研究,分析了黑土流失特点及其时空分布规律,并引入冲沟线密度概念量化黑土流失趋势。结果表明:松辽平原典型黑土面积54 989.92 km2,沿京哈铁路线呈弧形条带状展布;1986~2001年间,黑土区水土流失面积达3 765.21 km2,减少速度为251.01 km2/a,集中在河流两岸、较大建筑用地附近和与盐碱土接壤的地区;仅考虑冲沟的有效作用域,预计到2016年黑土面积平均会有1411.0 km2/a转变为冲沟,黑土流失状况不容乐观。     

黄土高原沟壑区干旱阳坡的地域分异特征

针对黄土高原沟壑区干旱阳坡这种典型的困难立地进行因地制宜的植被恢复建设。本文选取甘肃西峰、山西吉县、陕西安塞、宁夏固原为研究区,采用25 m分辨率的DEM为数据源,基于GIS提取相关地形信息研究其干旱阳坡的地域分异特征。结果表明：①不同类型沟壑区干旱阳坡面积比例占45%～54%,表现为高塬沟壑区＞过渡地带＞丘陵沟壑区。②不同类型沟壑区干旱阳坡面积比例随坡度的变化规律不同,高塬沟壑区呈左偏态分布,其他样区均基本呈近似正态分布,且丘五区和过渡地带呈双峰现象。③不同类型沟壑区梁峁坡面积比例关系为：高塬沟壑区>过渡地带>丘陵沟壑区;沟坡面积比例为：丘陵沟壑区>过渡地带>高塬沟壑区;川台地面积比例为：丘五区＞过渡地带＞丘二区＞高塬沟壑。④不同类型沟壑区各立地类型组所占的面积比例各不相同,除高塬沟壑区外基本呈阳向缓坡组＞阳向陡险坡组＞坡顶或沟底。研究成果可为黄土高原地区开展抗旱造林与植被重建提供理论依据。     

雍家沟泥石流活动特征与堵江

自2008年汶川地震以来,四川省绵竹市清平乡雍家沟已暴发过多场泥石流,造成了严重的堵断公路和堵塞河流事件,其中,2012年“8·18”暴发的泥石流规模最大,造成绵远河全部堵塞.通过分析2010年“8·13”与2012年“8· 18”两场泥石流的降雨过程发现,雍家沟暴发泥石流的前期累积雨量在增加,激发雨强在降低.2008年汶川地震导致雍家沟的主沟和支沟内堆积了大量的松散固体物质.野外调查发现,雍家沟多次暴发泥石流的活动路径并不一致,其中,2012年“8· 18”泥石流主要沿1号支沟活动,沟道的侵蚀宽度随着与主沟沟口距离的增加而变窄,沟道内剩余堆积体厚度随着距离的增加呈现先增后减的规律,且沟道内的物质粒径分布具有随机性.对雍家沟在不同暴雨频率下暴发泥石流可能引起的堵江情况进行了分析,结果表明,在暴雨频率大于20％的情况下暴发泥石流便可造成堵江事件,甚至可将主河全部堵塞.     

Modeling the morphology of gully cross sections in the Yuanmou Dry-hot Valley

Abstract

Characterizing gully cross sections (GCs) is essential for calculating the volume and erosion rate of the gully. However, little research has focused on modeling the morphology of GCs. This study investigated 456 GCs with a laser distance meter located at the mouth, middle, and head of 152 gullies in the Yuanmou Dry-hot Valley of China; mapped them with AutoCAD software; fitted them with 2nd–6th degree polynomial functions, and discussed the correlation between the coefficients and the morphology of GCs. The results showed that: (1) using a 2nd-degree polynomial function (y = ax² + bx + c) to describe the morphology of GCs produced a better result than other polynomial functions; (2) the coefficient a of 2nd-degree polynomial function was correlated with depth (r = ?0.226, p < 0.01), gradient (r = 0.545, p < 0.01), and activities; and (3) the symmetry axis (?b/2a) of 2nd-degree polynomial function increased with gully change from left-deflection to right-skewed, and the absolute value showed the asymmetrical degree (r = 0.216, p < 0.01). This study will not only help to understand the morphology and evolution of gullies, but will also provide a scientific basis for prevention of gully erosion.     

Theoretical constraints to gully erosion research: time for a re‐evaluation of concepts and assumptions?

Gullies are conceptualized in the literature as essentially fluvial forms with dimensional boundaries arbitrarily defined between rills and river channels. This notion is incompatible with the existing variability of form and process, as mass movements frequently exert a fundamental control on gully initiation and expansion, to the point of features outgrowing their original contributing area. The inability of a conceptual framework to incorporate existing observations inevitably constrains methodologies and research results. In this commentary, several examples of published results are contrasted with the prevailing assumption of an essentially fluvial nature, with the purpose of encouraging discussion on the need for a revised conceptual framework in gully erosion research. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

崩岗侵蚀地貌的演变过程及阶段划分

崩岗是中国南方一种常见的土壤侵蚀类型,也是一种严重的水土流失方式,多分布于低山丘陵区的花岗岩风化壳之上.崩岗的形成和发展是2个不同的阶段,并始终受到水力和重力的作用.2种外力对比关系的不同使崩岗的演变过程具有明显的阶段性.通过选取适当的指标体现这种规律性,可以对崩岗的发展阶段进一步划分,对崩岗的治理控制具有重要的意义.