Qualifying mass failures on loess gully sidewalls using laboratory experimentation

Xu, Xiangzhou; Ma, Yulei; Yang, Wenjun; Zhang, Hongwu; Tarolli, Paolo; Jiang, Yunzhong; Yan, Qiongxian

doi:10.1016/j.catena.2019.104252

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…A sensitivity coefficient, which represents the extent of change in a target value triggered by variation in a crucial factor while keeping other conditions fixed, is the ratio of the percentage change in the target value to the percentage change in the parameter (Xu et al 2020). A relatively large sensitivity coefficient indicates that the target value is highly susceptible to changes in the influencing factor.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, from a long-term perspective, the check dam has become an effective practice to control mass failure in gully areas on the Loess Plateau. The expansion of gully sidewall will be mitigated when the thalweg in the upper reach of the gully is increased and the height of the sidewall behind the check dam is reduced as a result of siltation behind the check dam (Xu et al 2020). Thus, a combination of vegetation measures on the gentle slope, structural and ecological practices on the sidewall and powerful structural practices, e.g., check dams, on the gully floor, is preferred for sidewalls vulnerable to expansion.…”

Section: Hazards and Defense Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geomorphic natural hazard on loess terrain: expansion on the gully sidewall

Xiao

et al. 2021

Nat Hazards

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Gully sidewall expansion is an important geomorphic natural hazard, and the expansion destroys a large extent of agricultural land in the loess regions every year. The main aim of this study was to identify the mechanisms behind gully sidewall expansion through a series of simulated rainfall experiments. The results show that land loss on the gentle slope was the result caused by the water and gravity erosions, and gravity erosion was the primary driving force. The correlation coefficient between the area of land loss on gentle slope and volume of gravity erosion on the gully sidewall was 0.93, and the correlation coefficient between the area of land loss on gentle slope and volume of water erosion was 0.71. The gravity erosion was the dominant impetus driving the change in slope gradient of the gully sidewall. The amount of gravity erosion in 17 of the 19 rainfall events causing a change greater than 5° in the slope gradient of the gully sidewall accounted for more than 50% of the total amount of sidewall erosion. Furthermore, the dynamic variation of the retreat rates for the gully shoulder line showed a similar trend to that of the total volume of sidewall erosion and exhibited an increase-decrease-increase tendency. The most significant factors affecting the change in slope gradient of the gully sidewall and retreat rate of the gully shoulder line were the rainfall duration and intensity, of which the sensitivity coefficients were 2.2 and 4.0, respectively. As a result, a combination of vegetation measures on the gentle slope, structural and ecological practices on the sidewall and powerful structural practices, e.g., check dams, on the gully floor, is preferred for sidewalls vulnerable to expansion.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hazards and Defense Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geomorphic natural hazard on loess terrain: expansion on the gully sidewall

Xiao

et al. 2021

Nat Hazards

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“…Soil erosion caused by natural factors is widely distributed on all the earth surfaces, so numerous studies focus on the soil erosion problems caused by natural factors, e.g. rainfall (Xu et al, 2020), topography slope (Li et al, 2020), wind (Wang & shao, 2013), vegetation cover (Zhou, 2008), freeze-thaw (Wu et al, 2018).…”

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confidence: 99%

Warning: soil erosion and land degradation caused by productive and constructive engineering during construction period.

Dai

Ma³

2020

Preprint

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Serious environmental issues, especially soil erosion and land degradation, caused by productive and constructive engineering in China have not gained due attention as those issues caused by natural factors, such as rainfall, wind or Freeze-thaw. Four field investigations together with a statistical study have been carried out in China to analyze environmental problems caused by clean energy projects, i.e. photovoltaic power and wind power projects, that are considered to have huge potential to replace traditional energy. The investigations show that these projects brought problems of land degradation, threatening safety and ecological degradation. Statistical analysis indicates that the number of productive and constructive engineering causing soil erosion was increasing year by year and reached 42.67 × 104 km2 from 2003 to 2018, the corresponding scope of soil erosion prevention and control responsibility was 23.22 × 104 km2. Finally, seven policy suggestions to deal with these environmental issues are proposed, which can provide reference and guidance for the future clean energy projects and other construction projects in China or other countries. We hope that a thorough understanding of the unsustainable development that leads to the deterioration of the environment in current cases will enhance the awareness of environmental protection and contribute to the implementation of policies that will promote sustainable development.

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Spatial Distributions and Interactions of Different Erosion Processes

Zhu

2021

Geography of the Physical Environment

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Qualifying mass failures on loess gully sidewalls using laboratory experimentation

Cited by 7 publications

References 66 publications

Geomorphic natural hazard on loess terrain: expansion on the gully sidewall

Geomorphic natural hazard on loess terrain: expansion on the gully sidewall

Warning: soil erosion and land degradation caused by productive and constructive engineering during construction period.

Spatial Distributions and Interactions of Different Erosion Processes

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