Naturally and Anthropogenically Accelerated Sedimentation in the Lower Yellow River, China, over the Past 13,000 Years

Based on data from instrumental measurements, map comparison, sedimentological methods, historical literature analysis and ¹⁴C dating techniques, a data-base has been built to study the changing sedimentation rate of the lower Yellow River over the past 13,000 years. A striking increase of sedimentation rate with time has been revealed which reflects the effects of both global climatic change and human activities. The points in the plots can be fitted by several straight-line segments with different slopes, representing geological sedimentation, naturally accelerated sedimentation and anthropogenically accelerated sedimentation.