scholarly journals Spatiotemporal Patterns of Hillslope Erosion Investigated Based on Field Scouring Experiments and Terrestrial Laser Scanning

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1674
Author(s):  
Pengfei Li ◽  
Mingkui Hao ◽  
Jinfei Hu ◽  
Chendi Gao ◽  
Guangju Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Sharp Decrease ◽  
Spatiotemporal Patterns ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Weak Relationship ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Relative Errors

Hillslope erosion is an essential source of catchment sediment yield. However, the current understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns of field hillslope erosion processes is limited. In this study, fourteen runoff scouring experiments were undertaken on two plots (A and B) established on one field slope of the hilly and gully loess plateau in China. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was employed to investigate soil erosion processes across the hillslopes of the plots. The results demonstrated that the TLS-derived cumulative sediment yields of the hillslopes were more accurate than the TLS-derived consecutive sediment yields (i.e., the sediment yields for individual experiments). The magnitudes of the mean absolute/relative errors for the TLS-derived cumulative sediment yield for slopes A and B were 0.87 kg/25.02% and 1.26 kg/56.82%, respectively, with the linear relation R2 between the calculated and measured values over 0.60 (p < 0.001). The sediment yields from the hillslopes fluctuated considerably even when the runoff production became stable, leading to a weak relationship between the sediment yield and runoff discharge (the R2 values for slopes A and B were 0.57 (p = 0.002) and 0.08 (p = 0.321) for inter-experiments, and 0.37 (p < 0.001) and 0.06 (p = 0.035) for intra-experiments, respectively). The development of hillslope erosion was found to experience three major stages, which included a rapid increase and widespread distribution, a sharp decrease, and a stable distribution of the area with erosion/deposition. The rill development impacted the cumulative erosion and sediment yield rather than the cumulative deposition, with the impacts of rill depth and rill width development being stronger than those of rill length. The peak sediment yield corresponded well with the evolution of rills, partly accounting for the weak relationship between runoff and sediment yield. Our results provide a useful reference for the development of process-based soil erosion models and the establishment of spatially targeted control of soil erosion.

scholarly journals Evaluating the importance of surface soil contributions to reservoir sediment in alpine environments: a combined modelling and fingerprinting approach in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park

Solid Earth ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 963-978 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Palazón ◽  
L. Gaspar ◽  
B. Latorre ◽  
W. H. Blake ◽  
A. Navas
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
Sediment Fingerprinting ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Resource Information ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Alpine Environments

Abstract. Soil in alpine environments plays a key role in the development of ecosystem services and in order to maintain and preserve this important resource, information is required on processes that lead to soil erosion. Similar to other mountain alpine environments, the Benasque catchment is characterised by temperatures below freezing that can last from November to April, intense rainfall events, typically in spring and autumn, and rugged topography which makes assessment of erosion challenging. Indirect approaches to soil erosion assessment, such as combined model approaches, offer an opportunity to evaluate soil erosion in such areas. In this study (i) the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) hydrological and erosion model and (ii) sediment fingerprinting procedures were used in parallel to assess the viability of a combined modelling and tracing approach to evaluate soil erosion processes in the area of the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park (central Spanish Pyrenees). Soil erosion rates and sediment contribution of potential sediment sources defined by soil type (Kastanozems/Phaeozems; Fluvisols and Cambisols) were assessed. The SWAT model suggested that, with the highest specific sediment yields, Cambisols are the main source of sediment in the Benasque catchment and Phaeozems and Fluvisols were identified as the lowest sediment contributors. Spring and winter model runs gave the highest and lowest specific sediment yield, respectively. In contrast, sediment fingerprinting analysis identified Fluvisols, which dominate the riparian zone, as the main sediment source at the time of sampling. This indicates the importance of connectivity as well as potential differences in the source dynamic of material in storage versus that transported efficiently from the system at times of high flow. The combined approach enabled us to better understand soil erosion processes in the Benasque alpine catchment, wherein SWAT identified areas of potential high sediment yield in large flood events but sediment fingerprinting identified areas that, due to high connectivity, contribute more to channel-stored sediment deposits.

scholarly journals Prioritization of Sub-Watersheds to Sediment Yield and Evaluation of Best Management Practices in Highland Ethiopia, Finchaa Catchment

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 650
Author(s):  
Wakjira Takala Dibaba ◽  
Tamene Adugna Demissie ◽  
Konrad Miegel
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Soil And Water

Excessive soil loss and sediment yield in the highlands of Ethiopia are the primary factors that accelerate the decline of land productivity, water resources, operation and function of existing water infrastructure, as well as soil and water management practices. This study was conducted at Finchaa catchment in the Upper Blue Nile basin of Ethiopia to estimate the rate of soil erosion and sediment loss and prioritize the most sensitive sub-watersheds using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated using the observed streamflow and sediment data. The average annual sediment yield (SY) in Finchaa catchment for the period 1990–2015 was 36.47 ton ha−1 yr−1 with the annual yield varying from negligible to about 107.2 ton ha−1 yr−1. Five sub-basins which account for about 24.83% of the area were predicted to suffer severely from soil erosion risks, with SY in excess of 50 ton ha−1 yr−1. Only 15.05% of the area within the tolerable rate of loss (below 11 ton ha−1yr−1) was considered as the least prioritized areas for maintenance of crop production. Despite the reasonable reduction of sediment yields by the management scenarios, the reduction by contour farming, slope terracing, zero free grazing and reforestation were still above the tolerable soil loss. Vegetative contour strips and soil bund were significant in reducing SY below the tolerable soil loss, which is equivalent to 63.9% and 64.8% reduction, respectively. In general, effective and sustainable soil erosion management requires not only prioritizations of the erosion hotspots but also prioritizations of the most effective management practices. We believe that the results provided new and updated insights that enable a proactive approach to preserve the soil and reduce land degradation risks that could allow resource regeneration.

scholarly journals Estimation of soil redistribution rates due to snow cover related processes in a mountainous area (Valle d'Aosta, NW Italy)

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 517-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Ceaglio ◽  
K. Meusburger ◽  
M. Freppaz ◽  
E. Zanini ◽  
C. Alewell
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Mountainous Area ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil Redistribution ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Soil Accumulation ◽  
Snow Gliding

Abstract. Mountain areas are widely affected by soil erosion, which is generally linked to runoff processes occurring in the growing season and snowmelt period. Also processes like snow gliding and full-depth snow avalanches may be important factors that can enhance soil erosion, however the role and importance of snow movements as agents of soil redistribution are not well understood yet. The aim of this study was to provide information on the relative importance of snow related processes in comparison to runoff processes. In the study area, which is an avalanche path characterized by intense snow movements, soil redistribution rates were quantified with two methods: (i) by field measurements of sediment yield in an avalanche deposition area during 2009 and 2010 winter seasons; (ii) by caesium-137 method, which supplies the cumulative net soil loss/gain since 1986, including all the soil erosion processes. The snow related soil accumulation estimated with data from the deposit area (27.5 Mg ha−1 event−1 and 161.0 Mg ha−1 event−1) was not only higher than the yearly sediment amounts, reported in literature, due to runoff processes, but it was even more intense than the yearly total deposition rate assessed with 137Cs (12.6 Mg ha−1 yr−1). The snow related soil erosion rates estimated from the sediment yield at the avalanche deposit area (3.7 Mg ha−1 and 20.8 Mg ha−1) were greater than the erosion rates reported in literature and related to runoff processes; they were comparable to the yearly total erosion rates assessed with the 137Cs method (13.4 Mg ha−1 yr−1 and 8.8 Mg ha−1 yr−1). The 137Cs method also showed that, where the ground avalanche does not release, the erosion and deposition of soil particles from the upper part of the basin was considerable and likely related to snow gliding. Even though the comparison of both the approaches is linked to high methodological uncertainties, mainly due to the different spatial and temporal scales considered, we still can deduce, from the similarity of the erosion rates, that soil redistribution in this catchment is driven by snow movement, with a greater impact in comparison to the runoff processes occurring in the snow-free season. Nonetheless, the study highlights that soil erosion processes due to the snow movements should be considered in the assessment of soil vulnerability in mountain areas, as they significantly determine the pattern of soil redistribution.

scholarly journals Sediment Yield in Dam-Controlled Watersheds in the Pisha Sandstone Region on the Northern Loess Plateau, China

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1264
Author(s):  
Fabing Xie ◽  
Guangju Zhao ◽  
Xingmin Mu ◽  
Peng Tian ◽  
Peng Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil Erosion Rate ◽  
Check Dams ◽  
Loss Control

Soil erosion has become the dominant environmental issue endangering sustainable development in agriculture and the ecosystem on the Loess Plateau. Determination of watershed soil erosion rates and sediment yields is essential for reasonable utilization of water resources and soil loss control. In this study, we employed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry to determine the sediment yields in 24 dam-controlled watersheds in the Pisha sandstone region of the northern Loess Plateau. High differences in total sediment were trapped before the check dams due to their running periods and sediment yields. The estimated specific sediment yield ranged from 34.32 t/(ha∙a) to 123.80 t/(ha∙a) with an average of 63.55 t/(ha∙a), which indicated that the Pisha sandstone region had an intense soil erosion rate. Furthermore, the modified Sediment Distributed Delivery (SEDD) model was applied to identify the erosion-prone areas in the watersheds, and the sediment retained in the check dams were used for model calibration. The performance of the model was acceptable, and the modeling results indicated that the steep Pisha sandstone was the major sediment source for the watersheds, accounting for approximately 87.37% of the sediment yield. Catchment area, erosive precipitation, and badland proportion were the key factors for sediment yield in the dam-controlled watersheds of the Pisha sandstone region, according to multiple regression analyses. These findings indicated that the modified SEDD model is very efficient in identifying spatial heterogeneities of sediment yield in the watershed but requires comprehensive calibration and validation with long-term observations. The Pisha sandstone region is still the key area of soil erosion control in the Loess Plateau, which needs more attention for soil and water conservation due to high sediment yield.

scholarly journals Effects of vegetation cover and slope on soil erosion in the Eastern Chinese Loess Plateau under different rainfall regimes

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11226
Author(s):  
Congjian Sun ◽  
Huixin Hou ◽  
Wei Chen
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Chinese Loess Plateau ◽  
Slope Gradient ◽  
Chinese Loess ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Erosion Processes

Soil erosion is a critical environmental problem of the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). The effects of vegetation cover on soil erosion reduction under different rainfall types are not well understood especially in the eastern Chinese Loess Plateau (ECLP). In this study, we monitored runoff and sediment yield at the Fengjiagou water and soil conservation station with five types of vegetation cover (arbor trees (ARC), shrubs (SHC), arable (ABC), natural vegetation (NVC), and artificial grass (APC)) and three slope gradients (10°, 15°, and 20°) in the ECLP. Based on long-term monitoring data, five rainfall types were classified by the maximum 30 min rainfall intensity (I30). We also quantitatively revealed the interactive effects of different types precipitation, vegetation cover and slope gradients on regional soil erosion. The results showed that (1) The RII (13 times) and RIII (eight times) type are the most threatening erosive rainfall in this region. (2) The ARC and SHC type were most beneficial for soil and water conservation in the ECLP; The APC and ABC are not conductive to the prevention of regional soil erosion. (3) Runoff and sediment yields increased with the slope gradient. The farmland is vulnerable to soil erosion when the slope gradient exceeds 10°. The results of this study can improve the understanding of regional soil erosion processes on the ECLP and provide useful information for managing regional water and land resources.

scholarly journals Climate Change Impacts on Soil Erosion and Sediment Yield in a Watershed

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2247
Author(s):  
Ching-Nuo Chen ◽  
Samkele S. Tfwala ◽  
Chih-Heng Tsai
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Climate Change Scenario ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Change Scenario ◽  
Erosion And Deposition ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Southern Taiwan ◽  
Total Sediment

This study analyzed the influence of climate change on sediment yield variation, sediment transport and erosion deposition distribution at the watershed scale. The study was based on Gaoping River basin, which is among the largest basins in southern Taiwan. To carry out this analysis, the Physiographic Soil Erosion Deposition (PSED) model was utilized. Model results showed a general increase in soil erosion and deposition volume under the A1B-S climate change scenario. The situation is even worsened with increasing return periods. Total erosion volume and total sediment yield in the watershed were increased by 4–25% and 8–65%, respectively, and deposition volumes increased by 2–23%. The study showed how climate change variability would influence the watershed through increased sediment yields, which might even worsen the impacts of natural disasters. It has further illustrated the importance of incorporating climate change into river management projects.

scholarly journals Estimation of Sediment Yield and Maximum Outflow Using the IntErO Model in the Sarada River Basin of Nepal

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devraj Chalise ◽  
Lalit Kumar ◽  
Velibor Spalevic ◽  
Goran Skataric
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Surface Erosion ◽  
Good Opportunity ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Erosion Coefficient ◽  
To Come

Soil erosion is a severe environmental problem worldwide as it washes away the fertile topsoil and reduces agricultural production. Nepal, being a hilly country, has significant erosion disputes as well. It is important to cognise the soil erosion processes occurring in a river basin to manage the erosion severity and plan for better soil conservation programs. This paper seeks to calculate the sediment yield and maximum outflow from the Sarada river basin located in the western hills of Nepal using the computer-graphic Intensity of Erosion and Outflow (IntErO) model. Asymmetry coefficient of 0.63 was calculated, which suggests a possibility of large floods to come in the river basin in the future whereas the maximum outflow from the river basin was 1918 m³ s−1. An erosion coefficient value of 0.40 was obtained, which indicates surface erosion of medium strength prevails in the river basin. Similarly, the gross soil loss rate of 10.74 Mg ha−1 year−1 was obtained with the IntErO modeling which compares well with the soil loss from the erosion plot measurements. The IntErO model was used for the very first time to calculate soil erosion rates in the Nepalese hills and has a very good opportunity to be applied in similar river basins.

scholarly journals Evaluating the importance of surface soil contributions to reservoir sediment in alpine environments: a combined modelling and fingerprinting approach in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1155-1190 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Palazón ◽  
L. Gaspar ◽  
B. Latorre ◽  
W. Blake ◽  
A. Navas
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
Practical Interest ◽  
Sediment Sources ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Erosion Processes ◽  
Rugged Topography ◽  
Alpine Environments

Abstract. Soil in alpine environments plays a key role in the development of ecosystem. Identify, maintain and preserve its resources, as well as recognize processes that would affect them are important and of practical interest. Environmental concerns about these fragile systems which are threatened by the human pressure and climatic change have stressed the need to gather information in soil erosion processes. As most mountain alpine environment the Benasque catchment is characterized by temperatures below freezing that can last from November to April, strong rainfall events and rugged topography. Indirect studies, such as combined model approaches, could be an alternative to evaluate soil erosion on these areas. In this study the complementary tools of Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and fingerprinting procedure were used to assess an initial approach on soil erosion processes which take place in the area of the Posets-Maladeta National Park (Central Spanish Pyrenees). Soil erosion rates and sediment contribution of potential sediment sources (Kastanozem/Phaeozem; Fluvisol; Cambisol and channel bed sediments) were assessed. SWAT model identified Cambisols as the main source of sediment of the Benasque catchment with the highest specific sediment yields and Phaeozems and Fluvisols were identified as the lowest sediment contributors. Spring and winter performed the highest and lowest specific sediment yield, respectively. Fingerprinting procedure identified channel bed sediment and Fluvisols as the main sediment sources indicating the main influence of connectivity. The combined approach enabled us to better understand soil erosion processes in the Benasque alpine catchment.

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