A potential mechanism for disturbance-mediated channel migration in a southeastern United States salt marsh

Coastal salt marsh tidal creeks are thought to show less channel adjustment/movement relative to their terrestrial fluvial counterparts. We propose a mechanism for disturbance-mediated bank failure that may allow/initiate channel migration in these otherwise stable systems. The stability of tidal creeks is promoted by the extensive vegetation root structure along the banks. However, wrack mats (i.e., dead vegetation) deposited on creek banks can cause the death of below-ground vegetation leading to bare, unstable banks that may slump into the channel. We measured the frequency of bank failures associated with wrack-disturbed sites along three creeks on Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA to determine whether these sites were vulnerable to erosion. Approximately 81% of the disturbed sites showed signs of bank failure. Therefore, wrack-induced bank failure may potentially lead to channel migration in creeks previously believed to be static landscape features.     

130ka B.P.前后黄土高原东部地区的气候侵蚀事件

通过黄土高原塬区、梁峁区和断陷谷区典型沟谷的阶地堆积、侵蚀面及其与之相邻的黄土－古土壤地层序列研究,并结合古气候特征分析,提出倒数第二次冰期冬季风向末次间冰期夏季风过渡期黄土高原东部地区发生了强烈的气候侵蚀事件。沉积特征研究和古气候复原结果表明,此次侵蚀是一次以暴雨为主要动力的快速侵蚀事件。     

Climatic influences on Holocene variations in soil erosion rates on a small hill in the Mojave Desert

A detailed study of a small hill in NE Mojave Desert in eastern California was conducted to elucidate the effect of climate on the variations in soil erosion rates through Holocene. Field surveys and sampling were carried out to obtain information on topography, geomorphology, soil and vegetation conditions, seismic refraction, sediment deposition, and hillslope processes. Integration of this information allowed reconstruction of the hill topography at the end of the Pleistocene, deduction of the evolution of the hill from the end of the Pleistocene to the present, and estimation of total soil losses resulting from various hillslope processes. The estimates are consistent with the premise that early Holocene climate change resulted in vegetation change, soil destabilization, and topographic roughening. Current, very slow, hillslope transport rates (e.g., 5 mm ky⁻¹ by rodent burrowing, a presently important transport form) appear inconsistent with the inferred total soil loss rate (31 mm ky⁻¹). Packrat midden studies imply that the NE Mojave Desert experienced enhanced monsoonal precipitation in the early Holocene, presumably accentuating soil loss. Water erosion on one slope of the hill was simulated using Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP), a process-based erosion model, using 4 and 6 ky of precipitation input compatible with an appropriate monsoonal climate and the present climate, respectively. The WEPP-predicted soil losses for the chosen slope were compatible with inferred soil losses. Identification of two time periods within the Holocene with distinct erosion characteristics may provide new insight into the current state of Mojave Desert landform evolution.     

LANDSLIDE POTENTIALITY OF THE TSENGWEN RESERVOIR WATERSHED,TAIWAN,CHINA

To recognize the geographical characteristics of the landslide areas will be helpful for the watershed management in the reservoir watershed.According to the quantitative analysis,we'll take different scores and weighting for the potential parameters of the landslide areas in the Tsengwen reservoir watershed,and in the meanwhile,we'll extract the different factors,including the slope,aspect,altitude,soil and geological textures etc.,and the results shown as maximum one-day rainfall,ratio of forests and average relief is the most affecting parameters on the potential risk map of landslide areas.     

The determination of erosion rates from exposed tree roots in the piceance basin,colorado

Tree roots, exposed by hillslope erosion in the Piceance basin of Colorado, were inspected to determine average net erosion rates during the last four centuries. Twenty pinyon pine and juniper root sections were obtained from each of five sites in this region. The date when a root was first exposed by erosion was determined, for 83 of the sections collected, by one of three methods: 1. time of initial cambium dieback; 2. interpretation of annual ring growth pattern; and 3. the earliest occurrence of reaction wood. Analysis indicated no significant difference in erosion rates between the five study sites. However, a strong difference in erosion rates was noted between north-facing (0–56 mm/yr) and south-facing (1.18 mm/yr) slopes. No significant difference in erosion rates were found between various south-facing aspects and local steepness of slopes. Significant differences were noted between erosion rate and the length of time the root was exposed to erosion. Rates of erosion on south-facing slopes in the pinyon-juniper community during the last four centuries are as follows: period (years ago) 0-99 100-199 200-299 300-399 erosion rate (mm/yr) 1-79 0-49 0-33 0-22. Although there appears to be a slow increase in erosion rates during the three earliest centuries the dramatic increase during the last century may have been substantially augmented by the introduction of cattle into this region approximately one hundred years ago.     

Patterns and rates of slopewash on the badlands of Hong Kong

Slopewash measurements were made at 449 sites on the badlands of Hong Kong over a 15-month period. The mean amount of ground retreat was 2.17 cm and the spread of data was large (coefficient of variation = 36.6 per cent). This demonstrates a large variation in rates of slopewash in the study area. A large sample size is suggested for any future work to narrow the limits of the sampling error. It is also shown that ground retreat, as conventionally measured in the field, is different and should be distinguished from vertical lowering. In the study of erosion rates and slope evolution, different conclusions are likely to be drawn unless the distinction is realized. Various attempts have been made to account for the observed variations in slopewash rates on the badlands of the study area. It was found that the site to site variations in slopewash rate could not be attributed to the conventional soil, microtopographic and distance parameters. This absence of relationship is probably due to the fact that the sites on the slope profiles are not isolated systems, but are components of a larger functional entity, in which all sites are in some form of adjustment and equilibrium with the others.     

Deforestation modifying terrestrial organic transport in the Rio Tapajós, Brazilian Amazon

The concentration and biomarker compositions of sedimentary organic matter (OM) as well as fine and coarse suspended particles were analysed to identify the impact of deforestation on the transport of terrigenous organic matter (OM) in the Rio Tapajós, a major tributary to the Amazon. Substantial shifts in the concentration and composition of recently deposited sedimentary OM suggest that intensive deforestation over the last few decades has considerably modified the natural inputs of sedimentary materials to the aquatic ecosystems by disrupting the terrigenous fluxes of humus and soil materials from the drainage basin. The observed compositional changes of bulk OM and land derived biomarkers (e.g. lignin) in recent sediments illustrate a sedimentary enrichment in OM from soil horizons that, under normal forest cover, tend to be retained in the drainage basin. On average, the recently accumulated OM is nitrogen-rich ((C/N)a=12–15) and more highly degraded ((Ac/Al)v=0.4–0.6 and DHBA/V=0.15–0.20) than deep materials ((C/N)a=20–30, (Ac/Al)v=0.25–0.4, and DHBA/V=0.05–0.10), showing that this recently accumulated material is more humified than original inputs to the aquatic system, and consistent with increased exportation of fine eroded mineral and organic particles from surface soils along river banks. The present study illustrates the relevance of using OM oxidation products in sediment profiles to evaluate deforestation impacts on aquatic ecosystems and to characterize the nature of eroded soil materials, complementing studies on mineral/metal cycling.     

沿程淤积与溯源淤积的概念与数学模型

沿程淤积与溯源淤积是有关河床纵剖面调整的一对重要概念,但以前的一些文章对此的认识是互相矛盾的。本文对沿程淤积和溯源淤积的概念作了严格的限定,并给出了数量化的定义——沿程淤积与溯源淤积的数学模型。     

控制碰撞造山带热异常形成的主要因素及其地质作用分析

本文对剥蚀、逆冲断层剪切摩擦和放射性物质富集等因素对造山带热结构和热演化的影响进行了模拟计算以及定量分析,并对热异常与造山带内的若干地质现象之间的关系进行了讨论.在剪切生热模型的计算中考虑了逆冲断层的速度变化及其对热结构的影响,考察了断裂宽度与热结构之间的关系.计算中还考虑了两种热剪切计算模式,即:(1)瞬间推覆就位模式;(2)非瞬间推覆就位模式.从计算与讨论中得出如下认识:造山带后期的剥蚀使整个岩石层加热;剪切摩擦使壳内局部地区升温;放射性物质的富集主要使上部岩石层产生热异常.三者联合作用的结果使岩石层大幅度升温,从而形成造山带内部大范围的与其它地区不同的高温异常以及独特的地质特征.通过计算和讨论,文中认为:重熔型花岗岩和大量的构造岩是造山带内逆断层剪切作用的产物;与逆断层呈平行排列的拉张正断层是造山带在诸因素作用下升温,然后又经剥蚀,物质发生热收缩的结果.在造山带演化后期出现的这种拉张正断层代表造山带解体和向盆地转化的构造面貌.     

ON THE DYNAMIC MECHANISM OFEROSION PROCESS

Erosion process is controlled and affected by various forces of different nature. Erosion processes induced or affected by these forces can be classified into three cate- gories: erosion process induced by endogenic agent, by exogenic agent and associated with human activities. In this article, various dynamic mechanisms are systematically reviewed. Effects of tectonic stress and gravitational stress fields on erosion, effects of human activity on erosion, effect of exogenic forces such as water and wind erosion are discussed respectively.