Study on the runoff and sediment-producing effects of precipitation in headwater areas of the Yangtze River and Yellow River,China |
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| Authors: | Li Yuanshou Wang Genxu Qin Dahe Zhao Lin Ding Yongjian |
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| Institution: | (1) Cryosphere Research Station on Qinghai Xizang Plateau of State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science and State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000 Lanzhou, China;(2) Institute of Mountain Hazard and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Conservancy, 610041 Chengdu, China |
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| Abstract: | Natural runoff observation fields with different vegetation coverage were established in the Zuomaoxikongqu River basin in
the headwater area of the Yangtze River, and in the Natong River basin and the Kuarewaerma River basin in the headwater area
of the Yellow River, China. The experiments were conducted using natural precipitation and artificially simulated precipitation
between July and August to study the runoff and sediment-producing effects of precipitation under the conditions of the same
slope and different alpine meadow land with coverage in the headwater areas. The results show that, in the three small river
basins in the headwater areas of the Yangtze and the Yellow Rivers, the surface runoff yield on the 30° slope surface of the
alpine meadow land with a vegetation cover of 30% is markedly larger than that of the fields with a vegetation cover of 95,
92, and 68%. Furthermore, the sediment yield is also obviously larger than the latter three; on an average, the sediment yield
caused by a single precipitation event is 2–4 times as large as the latter three. Several typical precipitation forms affecting
the runoff yield on the slope surface also influence the process. No matter how the surface
conditions are; the rainfall is still the main precipitation form causing soil erosion. In some forms of precipitation, such
as the greatest snow melting as water runoff, the
sediment yield is minimal. Under the condition of the same precipitation amount, snowfall can obviously increase the runoff
yield, roughly 2.1–3.5 times as compared to the combined runoff yield of the Sleet or that of rainfall alone; but meanwhile,
the sediment yield and soil erosion rate decrease, roughly decreasing by 45.4–80.3%. High vegetation cover can effectively
decrease the runoff-induced erosion. This experimental result is consistent in the three river basins in the headwater areas
of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. |
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| Keywords: | Headwater areas of the Yangtze River and Yellow River Vegetation coverage Precipitation Runoff yield Sediment yield |
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