Relations between interrill erosion processes and sediment particle size distribution in a semiarid Mediterranean area of SE of Spain

Erosion and sediment characteristics were measured using simulated rainfall on two cultivated soils of contrasting lithology (Quaternary calcareous colluvium and Tertiary marls) in a semiarid Mediterranean area of SE Spain. Two rainfall intensities, high (56.0±2.4 mm h⁻¹) and medium (31.4±1.4 mm h⁻¹), were used in order to know the mechanisms involved in each selected condition. For each simulated event, runoff and sediment were sampled at 1-min intervals on a 1-m wide by 2-m long erosion plot. The erosion rate was calculated as the total amount of soil lost divided by the time period of the test. The duration of the test was that needed to reach steady state runoff, an average time of 24.5 min for Quaternary calcareous colluvium and 17.7 min for Tertiary marls. The size distribution of the transported sediment in the field (effective size distribution) was compared with equivalent measurements of the same samples after chemical and mechanical dispersion (ultimate size distribution) to investigate the detachment and transport mechanisms involved in sediment mobilisation. The results showed that the soil type determined the hydrological response, regardless of the rainfall intensity. The erosional response was, however, determined by the rainfall and soil surface characteristics.In Quaternary calcareous colluvial soils, the predominant erosion process depended on the rainfall intensity, with a prevailing detachment-limited condition in high-intensity events and prevailing transport-limited conditions in those events of medium intensity. These differences in the main erosion processes were reflected in the size of the transported material and in the change in sediment size within the storm. Thus, a time-dependent size distribution of the eroded material (decreasing coarse fractions and increasing fine fractions with runoff time) was observed for high-intensity events. In medium-intensity events, on the other hand, the time-independent size distribution of the eroded material indicated transport-limited erosion.Due to the rapid surface crusting on the Tertiary marl soil, no differences in the main erosion processes or in the sediment size distribution occurred for the different rainfall intensities tested. The erosion of marl soils was determined mainly by the limited quantity of available sediment.The effective size of material was a more sensitive parameter than the ultimate size of the sediment to study the way in which the sediment was transported.     

The role of supergene sulphuric acid during weathering in small river catchments in low mountain ranges of Central Europe: Implications for calculating the atmospheric CO2 budget

The geochemistry of dissolved and suspended loads in river catchments of two low mountain ranges in Central Europe allows comparison of pertinent chemical weathering rates. Distinct differences in lithology, i.e. granites prevailing in the Black Forest compared to Palaeozoic sediments in the Rhenish Massif, provide the possibility to examine the influence of lithology on weathering. Here we determine the origin of river water using the stable isotope ratio δ¹⁸O_H2O and we quantify the geogenic proportions of sulphate from stable isotope ratios δ³⁴S_SO4 and δ¹⁸O_SO4. Particularly in catchments with abundant pyrite, determination of the geogenic amount of sulphate is important, since oxidation of pyrite leads to acidity, which increases weathering. Our results show that spatially averaged silicate weathering rates are higher for the river catchments Acher and Gutach in the Black Forest (10–12 t/km²/yr) compared to the river catchments of the Möhne dam and the Aabach dam in the Rhenish Massif (2–6 t/km²/yr). Correspondingly, the CO₂ consumption by silicate weathering in the Black Forest (334–395 × 10³ mol/km²/yr) is more than twice as high as in the Rhenish Massif (28–151 × 10³ mol/km²/yr). These higher rates for watersheds of the Black Forest are likely due to steeper slopes leading to higher mechanical erosion with respective higher amounts of fresh unweathered rock particulates and due to the fact that the sediments in the Rhenish Massif have already passed through at least one erosion cycle. Carbonate weathering rates vary between 12 and 38 t/km²/yr in the catchments of the Rhenish Massif. The contribution of sulphuric acid to the silicate weathering is higher in the catchments of the Rhenish Massif (9–16%) than in the catchments of the Black Forest (5–7%) due to abundant pyrite in the sediments of the Rhenish Massif. Three times higher long-term erosion rates derived from cosmogenic nuclides compared to short-term erosion rates derived from river loads in Central Europe point to three times higher CO₂ consumption during the past 10³ to 10⁴ years.     

Research on the gully forming in the gully region of Yanhe River Basin and process of geological disasters

In recent years, the frequency of geological disasters gradually increases in the gully region of the Loess Plateaus centred with Yanhe River Basin. The research on the forming of the geological disasters in gully region and the disaster process will help us further understand the development of geological disasters and the disaster process. According to the detailed survey of geological disasters in Yan’an City, the river and gully erosion is the main natural predisposing factor that caused the geological disasters in the river gully region. In the forming of ditches and gullies, the surface water system changes the stress form of the original slope and reduces the strength combination of the slope in ways of water erosion and gravity erosion. Gully’s forming stage and stratigraphic contact form have some influence on the geological disasters and disaster process.     

喜马拉雅降水势能与剥蚀强度时空对应的定量研究

在活动造山带的研究中,剥蚀作用被认为与大气降水有着密切的关系,并且越来越 多的研究证据发现,气候因子在山脉的演化中承载了重要的影响力,降水被认为是活动造山 带剥蚀作用的动因。研究者用降水量和剥蚀强度的对应来阐释气候对山脉演化的制约。然而 也有学者提出反面例证来否定降水量与山脉剥蚀强度之间的耦合关系,进而否定气候因子在 活动造山带构造演化中的影响。由此而提出的科学问题是：降水究竟与剥蚀强度有没有关 联？降水怎样影响剥蚀强度,遵循怎样的机理？在详细分析活动造山带剥蚀作用过程和机理 的基础上,本文提出了降水势能的概念,在校验和整合TRMM 降水量数据与Etopo1 数字地貌 数据体之后,计算了喜马拉雅造山带的降水势能空间分布。同时,收集整理了喜马拉雅造山 带内已公开发表的磷灰石裂变径迹（AFT）年龄数据,以此为数据库获取了喜马拉雅剥蚀强度 时空分布格局。通过这两个数据体的定量分析,研究发现,喜马拉雅造山带内,剥蚀强度与 降水势能之间有很好的空间耦合性。这说明, 在喜马拉雅构造带, 现今的AFT 年龄空间分 布,是受气候作用主导的。进一步的研究发现,喜马拉雅带大约2.8 Ma 以来的AFT 年龄与现 今的降水势能秩相关性显著,且有局部最优的线性相关性,说明喜马拉雅带的剥蚀空间分布 受第四纪以来很年轻的地质历史时期的地表降水过程所控制。最新的气候样式决定了现今的 降水过程,控制了造山带剥蚀强度的空间分布。     

碎屑矿物热年代学研究进展

碎屑矿物热年代学是以沉积物中未遭受热重置的碎屑矿物颗粒为研究对象,将造山带抬升、剥露和盆地沉积联系起来的年代学方法。在物源分析、源区构造热历史、古地形恢复和约束地层年龄等方面有广泛的应用。在概述其基本原理的基础上,从造山带剥露历史分析、物源分析中多种技术的联合运用和现代汇水区侵蚀速率计算3个方面介绍了这一方法近年来的研究进展。     

哈密坳陷二叠纪-三叠纪原型盆地恢复及沉积中心演化特征

 本文主要根据野外露头资料、地震资料及钻井资料,运用平衡剖面法、地震地层法、地层对比法、邻近厚度比值法及沉积速率比值法计算哈密坳陷二叠系-三叠系地层剥蚀厚度,在残余地层厚度的基础上,恢复哈密坳陷二叠系-三叠系原始地层厚度,进而对哈密坳陷二叠纪-三叠纪原型盆地进行恢复,探讨其沉积中心的演化过程。     

Submerged macrophytes avoiding a negative feedback in reaction to hydrodynamic stress

In most aquatic ecosystems, hydrodynamic conditions are a key abiotic factor determining species distribution and aquatic plant abundance. Recently, local differences in hydrodynamic conditions have been shown to be an explanatory mechanism for the patchy pattern of Callitriche platycarpa Kütz. vegetation in lowland rivers. These local conditions consists of specific areas of increased shear zones, resulting in additional plant stress and erosion of the sediment on the one hand and local decreased shear zones resulting in zones favourable to plant growth and sedimentation of bed material on the other hand. In this study, the process of this spatial plant-flow-sedimentation interaction has been illustrated quantitatively by in situ flume measurements. By disturbing the incoming discharge on a single patch in such flume, we have quantified the behaviour and influence of a C. platycarpa patch under normal field conditions (base flow). Additionally, the behaviour of a C. platycarpa patch under different conditions of hydrodynamic stress has been examined in a laboratory flume. Indeed, flexible, submerged macrophytes are capable to adapt patch dimensions with changing stream velocities. At times of modest hydrodynamic stress, the species takes a position near the water surface and optimises its leaf stand, thereby maximising its photosynthetic capacity. At times of peak discharge, the patch will bend down towards the river bed and become more confined and streamlined, as such averting the stream velocity and diminishing the risk of breaking or being uprooted.In this paper, the processes of local hydrodynamic conditions on the patch and the patch’ intriguing life strategy of avoiding negative feedback was shown.     

Effects of DEM resolution and source on soil erosion modelling: a case study using the WEPP model

Digital elevation models (DEMs) vary in resolution and accuracy by the production method. DEMs with different resolutions and accuracies can generate varied topographic and hydrological features, which can in turn affect predictions by soil erosion models, such as the WEPP (Water Erosion Prediction Project) model. This study investigates the effects of DEMs on deriving topographic and hydrological attributes, and on predicting watershed erosion using WEPP v2006.5. Six DEMs at three resolutions from three sources were prepared for two small forested watersheds located in northern Idaho, USA. These DEMs were used to calculate topographic and hydrological parameters that served as inputs to WEPP. The model results of sediment yields and runoffs were compared with field observations. For both watersheds, DEMs with different resolutions and sources generated varied watershed shapes and structures, which in turn led to different extracted hill slope and channel lengths and gradients, and produced substantially different erosion predictions by WEPP.     

Interannual (1999-2005) morphodynamic evolution of macro-tidal salt marshes in Mont-Saint-Michel Bay (France)

This paper provides a detailed study on the sedimentation patterns and the recent morphodynamic evolution affecting the macro-tidal salt marshes located west of the Mont-Saint-Michel (France). Twenty-two stations along three transects on the marshes were seasonally monitored for marsh surface level variations from 1999 to 2005, using a sediment erosion bar. The corresponding erosion/accretion rates were obtained together with data on topography, vegetation cover, and grain size of surface sediment. To examine the mechanisms contributing to the salt marsh sedimentation, the data and their evolution were treated with respect to tides, relative mean regional sea level, and wind speed/frequency variations.From 1999 to 2005, the marsh was globally accreting (from 3.45 to 38.11 mm yr⁻¹ in the low marsh, up to 4.91 mm yr⁻¹ in the middle marsh, and up to 1.35 mm yr⁻¹ in the high marsh), while the study was conducted during a window of decreasing trend in mean regional sea level (−2.45 mm yr⁻¹ according to regional-averaged time series). These sedimentation rates are one of the highest recorded worldwide; however, the sedimentation was not found to be continuous over the period in question. This pattern is illustrated by the strong extension of the marshes from 1999 to 2002, and the relative stability observed from 2003 to 2005. The imported and reworked sediments are trapped and fixed by the dense vegetation (Puccinellia maritima, Halimione portulacoides), inducing the general seaward extension of the marshes. The processes governing sediment budget (accretion/erosion) show annual, seasonal, and spatial variability on the marsh. Spatial variations display contrasted patterns of erosion/sedimentation between the low, middle, and high marsh, and between the different transects. These patterns are a result of distance from sediment sources, strong heterogeneity in vegetation cover (human induced or not), and contrasting topographic and micro-topographic characteristics. The higher accretion rates are observed in distal settings in the low marsh, and strongly decrease toward the middle and high marsh. This evolution results from a decrease in accommodation space/water column thickness, and frequency of inundation coupled with an increase in station elevation, but also from the cumulated effects of vegetation cover and micro-topography. The vegetation cover of the low and middle marsh enhance the settling and fixing of fine sediments imported through tides or dispersed by flood and ebb currents.The seasonal evolution of the marshes is marked by contrasting effects of water storage in the sediment. The overall seasonal sediment budget is controlled by the variation of the frequency of inundation relative to tidal range and marshes topography. Autumns are influenced by the tide (equinoxes), relative mean regional sea level, and variations in wind speed/frequency. Winter wind speed and frequency in relation with tidal variations appear to be the main parameters regulating winter marsh evolution. Summers are predominantly under the influence of local variations in water storage (desiccation) while external parameters generally display a low influence. Although it is not governed by any one parameter, springtime sediment budget seems to result from strong interaction between the above-cited parameters, despite the significant frequency of inundation (equinoxes).     

Spectral response of different eroded soils in subtropical china: A case study in Changting County,China

Hyper-spectral data is widely used to determine soil properties. However, few studies have explored the soil spectral characteristics as response to soil erosion. This study analysed the spectral response of different eroded soils in subtropical China, and then identify the spectral characteristics and soil properties that better discriminate softs with different erosion degrees. Two methods were compared： direct identification by inherent spectral characteristics and indirect identification by predictions of critical soft properties. Results showed that the spectral curves for different degrees of erosion were similar in morphology, while overall reflectance and characteristics of specific absorption peaks were different. When the first method is applied, some differences among different eroded groups were found by integration of associated indicators. However, the index of such indicators showed apparent mixing and crossover among different groups, which reduced the accuracy of identification. For the second method, the correlation between critical soil properties, such as soil organic matter （SOM）, iron and aluminium oxides and reflectance spectra, was analysed. The correlation coefficients for the moderate eroded group were primarily between -0.3 to -0.5, which were worse than the other twogroups. However, the maximum value of R2 was obtained as 0.86 and 0.94 for the non-apparent eroded and the severe group. Furthermore, these two groups also showed some differences in the spectral response of iron complex state （Fep）, Aluminium amorphous state （Alo） and the modelling results for soil organic matter （SOM）. The study proved that it is feasible to identify different degrees of soil erosion by hyperspectral data, and that indirect identification by modelling critical soil properties and reflectance spectra is much better than direct identification. These results indicate that hyper-spectral data may represent a promising tool in monitoring and modelling soil erosion.