Determination and energy-sediment relationship analysis of erosive runoff events on the entire slope of the Chinese Loess Plateau

IF 5.4 1区农林科学 Q1 GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Catena Pub Date : 2025-05-16 DOI:10.1016/j.catena.2025.109155

Qingyuan Wang , Letao Zhang , Yunfeng Cen , Tong Wu , Guanfang Sun , Yonghong Li , Zhaoliang Gao

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Erosive events are the primary rainfall–runoff patterns responsible for soil erosion on slopes. Understanding the energy–sediment relationship during erosive events is crucial for the control of soil erosion. While previous studies have focused on defining erosive rainfall thresholds, the thresholds for erosive runoff and the associated energy erosion mechanisms remain unclear. This study addressed this gap by investigating a typical agricultural catchment in the hilly loess region of the Chinese Loess Plateau, using data from three entire-slope plots. Two energy parameters (stream energy factor and stream power) were constructed to derive erosive runoff thresholds for the entire slope using frequentist statistics. Based on the energy thresholds, erosive and nonerosive runoff events were separated, and their energy–sediment relationship and sediment flow behavior were examined. Results showed that the threshold for stream power (ω) ranged from 166.7 W·m⁻¹ to 385.0 W·m⁻¹, while the threshold for the stream energy factor (SE) varied between 0.72 and 1.02 W. Area-specific sediment yield (SSY) demonstrated the strongest correlation with SE, predominantly following linear and power function relationships. Average sediment concentration exhibited the best correlation with ω in nonerosive events, adhering to a logarithmic relationship. For similar values of ω (difference ≤ 20 W·m⁻¹), SSY of erosive runoff was 2.07–2.48 times higher than that of nonerosive runoff. Sediment delivery capacity of erosive runoff was 1.03–1.26 times higher than that of nonerosive runoff. Nonerosive runoff showed a greater potential for sediment increment, ranging from 6.05 times to 12.62 times that of erosive runoff. Under the threshold for ω, the sediment reduction benefit from the transition of erosive runoff to nonerosive runoff ranged from 12.3 % to 55.0 %. Thus, implementing soil and water conservation measures to regulate erosive energy and facilitate the transition from erosive to nonerosive runoff is essential for effective soil erosion control on slopes.

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黄土高原全坡面侵蚀径流事件的确定及能沙关系分析

侵蚀事件是造成斜坡土壤侵蚀的主要降雨径流模式。了解侵蚀过程中的能沙关系对控制土壤侵蚀具有重要意义。虽然以前的研究侧重于确定侵蚀降雨阈值，但侵蚀径流的阈值和相关的能量侵蚀机制仍然不清楚。本研究通过调查中国黄土高原丘陵区典型的农业集水区，利用来自三个全坡样地的数据来解决这一差距。构建了两个能量参数（河流能量因子和河流功率），利用频率统计推导了整个边坡的侵蚀径流阈值。在能量阈值的基础上，分离了侵蚀性和非侵蚀性径流事件，分析了它们的能沙关系和沙流行为。结果表明，河流功率的阈值（ω）在166.7 ~ 385.0 W·m−1之间，河流能量因子（SE）的阈值在0.72 ~ 1.02 W之间。面积产沙量（SSY）与SE的相关性最强，主要遵循线性和幂函数关系。在非侵蚀事件中，平均泥沙浓度与ω的相关性最好，符合对数关系。ω值相近（差值≤20 W·m−1）时，侵蚀径流的SSY比非侵蚀径流高2.07 ~ 2.48倍。侵蚀径流输沙量是非侵蚀径流输沙量的1.03 ~ 1.26倍。非侵蚀径流的增沙潜力更大，为侵蚀径流的6.05 ~ 12.62倍。在ω阈值下，侵蚀径流向非侵蚀径流转化带来的减沙效益在12.3% ~ 55.0%之间。因此，实施水土保持措施，调节侵蚀能，促进从侵蚀径流向非侵蚀径流的过渡，是有效控制坡面土壤侵蚀的必要条件。

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来源期刊

Catena 环境科学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

10.50

自引率

9.70%

发文量

816

审稿时长

54 days

期刊介绍： Catena publishes papers describing original field and laboratory investigations and reviews on geoecology and landscape evolution with emphasis on interdisciplinary aspects of soil science, hydrology and geomorphology. It aims to disseminate new knowledge and foster better understanding of the physical environment, of evolutionary sequences that have resulted in past and current landscapes, and of the natural processes that are likely to determine the fate of our terrestrial environment. Papers within any one of the above topics are welcome provided they are of sufficiently wide interest and relevance.