Work

Influence of hydraulic properties on soil detachment rate at different slope positions during the spring thaw period

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Rainfall and snowmelt runoff are the primary drivers of soil detachment in cold regions. Understanding how hydraulic properties influence the soil detachment rate ( D r ) is essential for accurately modelling soil erosion during the spring thaw period. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between hydraulic parameters and D r at different slope positions. Experiments were conducted under four flow discharge conditions (4.5, 6.5, 8.5 and 10.5 L min −1 ), two slope gradients (10° and 15°) and four thawing depths (2, 5, 10 and 15 cm). Results indicated Dr could be adequately described as a power function of the flow discharges increasing with shear stress, the resistance coefficient and stream power. Shear stress was identified as the most effective hydrodynamic parameter for predicting D r at upslope (first slope) and midslope (second slope) positions, whereas stream power best predicted D r at the downslope (third slope) position. Unit stream power was not a reliable predictor of D r . These findings enhance the mechanistic understanding of soil erosion processes occurring during the spring thaw period and improve the predictive capabilities of soil erosion models.

Source: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms

DOI: 10.1002/esp.70058

Authors: Kai Zhang, Yikui Bai, Suhua Fu, Xuan Wang

Institutions: Shenyang Agricultural University, Beijing Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Soil erosion and sediment transport

Subfield: Soil Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China

Awards: G2223740094, G7319034082