Physical Modelling of Hydraulic Erosion Rates on Loess Slopes
Soil erosion is a major environmental problem of global concern. In the Loess Plateau region of China, erosion of loess slopes is one of the major modes of soil erosion, causing serious erosional problems. Most current studies of loess slope erosion use qualitative analyses from field investigations...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/9/1344 |
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| author | Hong Zheng Xi-An Li Ya-Hong Deng Jie Li Feng Wen |
| author_facet | Hong Zheng Xi-An Li Ya-Hong Deng Jie Li Feng Wen |
| author_sort | Hong Zheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soil erosion is a major environmental problem of global concern. In the Loess Plateau region of China, erosion of loess slopes is one of the major modes of soil erosion, causing serious erosional problems. Most current studies of loess slope erosion use qualitative analyses from field investigations, while quantitative analyses from experimental physical simulations are relatively rare. This paper takes slope erosion, which is the most typical mode of loess erosion, as the starting point and investigates the hydraulic erosion process for different initial states using small-scale physical simulations. The slope erosion process can be generalised into two stages: rapid erosion, and slow and uniform erosion. Results of the physical simulations suggested that the initial dry density is negatively correlated with the erosion rate, but the initial water content is positively correlated with the erosion rate. The results of the study are not only of practical significance for the prevention and control of soil erosion on loess slopes, but also of theoretical significance, as they reveal the development of slope gully erosion. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:34:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e6bcb01fbce4e45ba66252e5144dc22 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:34:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e6bcb01fbce4e45ba66252e5144dc222023-11-23T09:34:24ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-04-01149134410.3390/w14091344Physical Modelling of Hydraulic Erosion Rates on Loess SlopesHong Zheng0Xi-An Li1Ya-Hong Deng2Jie Li3Feng Wen4College of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, ChinaCollege of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, ChinaCollege of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, ChinaCollege of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, ChinaCollege of Geological Engineering and Geomatics, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, ChinaSoil erosion is a major environmental problem of global concern. In the Loess Plateau region of China, erosion of loess slopes is one of the major modes of soil erosion, causing serious erosional problems. Most current studies of loess slope erosion use qualitative analyses from field investigations, while quantitative analyses from experimental physical simulations are relatively rare. This paper takes slope erosion, which is the most typical mode of loess erosion, as the starting point and investigates the hydraulic erosion process for different initial states using small-scale physical simulations. The slope erosion process can be generalised into two stages: rapid erosion, and slow and uniform erosion. Results of the physical simulations suggested that the initial dry density is negatively correlated with the erosion rate, but the initial water content is positively correlated with the erosion rate. The results of the study are not only of practical significance for the prevention and control of soil erosion on loess slopes, but also of theoretical significance, as they reveal the development of slope gully erosion.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/9/1344loess slopewater erosionerosion ratephysical modellinginitial dry densityinitial moisture content |
| spellingShingle | Hong Zheng Xi-An Li Ya-Hong Deng Jie Li Feng Wen Physical Modelling of Hydraulic Erosion Rates on Loess Slopes Water loess slope water erosion erosion rate physical modelling initial dry density initial moisture content |
| title | Physical Modelling of Hydraulic Erosion Rates on Loess Slopes |
| title_full | Physical Modelling of Hydraulic Erosion Rates on Loess Slopes |
| title_fullStr | Physical Modelling of Hydraulic Erosion Rates on Loess Slopes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical Modelling of Hydraulic Erosion Rates on Loess Slopes |
| title_short | Physical Modelling of Hydraulic Erosion Rates on Loess Slopes |
| title_sort | physical modelling of hydraulic erosion rates on loess slopes |
| topic | loess slope water erosion erosion rate physical modelling initial dry density initial moisture content |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/9/1344 |
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