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Human Management Decreased Suspended Particle Size in the Loess Plateau Rivers during the 1980s to the 2010s

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  • Keyu Li

    (College of Urban and Environment Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China)

  • Dong Liu

    (Key Laboratory of Watershed Geographic Sciences, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China)

  • Zhiqiang Qiu

    (College of Urban and Environment Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China)

  • Mengwei Duan

    (School of Transportation and Geomatics Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, Shenyang 110168, China)

  • Xiaodao Wei

    (Shanghai Investigation, Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200050, China)

  • Hongtao Duan

    (College of Urban and Environment Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
    Key Laboratory of Watershed Geographic Sciences, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
    Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China)

Abstract

The study of river sediment is a broad and complex field. One of the very important parameters is suspended particle size (SPS), which is indispensable for understanding water–sediment dynamics. As one of the most serious soil erosion areas in the world, the Loess Plateau delivers a large amount of sediment to the Yellow River and its numerous tributaries. Studies on riverine SPS in the Loess Plateau have received extensive attention. In this study, we investigate the spatiotemporal variations of SPS in the Loess Plateau rivers and analyze the driving factors along with their relative importance. Through the analysis of SPS data from 62 hydrological stations, the results indicated the spatial distribution of SPS was similar in the 1980s and 2010s, with both coarser particles mainly distributed in the northern rivers and finer particles mainly distributed in the southern rivers. During the 1980s to the 2010s, the mean SPS on the Loess Plateau decreased from 33 μm to 20 μm, with mean reductions of 42.0%, 29.4%, 46.3%, and 36.8% in the northern, western, southwestern, and southeastern basins, respectively. The most significant changes in SPS were observed in the Kuye, Wuding and Jalu River basins in the northern region, with decreases ranging from 27 to 73 μm. In the 1980s, topography (slope) and human management, followed by precipitation, were the key factors affecting SPS variability, contributing 25.7%, 25.9% and 24.0%, respectively. In the 2010s, the explanatory power of topographic slope on SPS variability declined by 16.6%, and other natural factors no longer significantly influenced SPS variability. The results of this study can serve as a reference for integrated basin management and sustainable ecosystem development in river catchments around the world.

Suggested Citation

  • Keyu Li & Dong Liu & Zhiqiang Qiu & Mengwei Duan & Xiaodao Wei & Hongtao Duan, 2024. "Human Management Decreased Suspended Particle Size in the Loess Plateau Rivers during the 1980s to the 2010s," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:2:p:799-:d:1320850
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Qingzhen Yao & Xiaojing Wang & Huimin Jian & Hongtao Chen & Zhigang Yu, 2015. "Characterization of the Particle Size Fraction associated with Heavy Metals in Suspended Sediments of the Yellow River," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-20, June.
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