The impacts of urbanization on soil erosion in the Loess Plateau region |
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Authors: | Sun Hu Gan Zhi-mao Yan Jun-ping |
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Institution: | Department of Geography, Shaanxi Normal University, |
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Abstract: | The accelerated urbanization has resulted in new soil erosion in the Loess Plateau region since the 1980s. A concept of urban
erosion and its impacts on environment are discussed. The experimental studies and field investigations show that those loose
silt and earth piles formed by urban construction can be eroded seriously: Under stormy rain, the amount of sediment from
steep man-dumped slope is 10.8–12.2 times that of from uncovered slope land; the result of experiments with the wind tunnel
also shows that the damage to the surface structure of dry loess can cause serious soil erosion by wind in some cities of
the region. Even if in the urban built-up area, there are many loose sandy soil, mud and silt, which are washed into rivers
by city’s ground flow in the rainy season. So, anthropogenically induced soil erosion has made soil erosion more serious around
the urban areas. And the urban eroded environment has several characteristics such as fragility, complexity, seasonality and
quick variability. Urban areas witness a quick economic growth and have more construction projects than rural areas, which
brings more intensive changes of environments during a short period of time or adds some new elements to the erosion system.
Therefore erosion has experienced more intensive impact by human activities. So, the possible impact of urbanization on erosion
environment must be taken into consideration when designing or planning to exploit natural resources or to develop urban areas
in the Loess Plateau. |
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Keywords: | the Loess Plateau urban erosion environment impacts characteristics |
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