Transport mechanism of eroded sediment particles under freeze-thaw and runoff conditions

Hydraulic erosion associated with seasonal freeze-thaw cycles is one of the most predominant factors, which drives soil stripping and transportation. In this study, indoor simulated meltwater erosion experiments were used to investigate the sorting characteristics and transport mechanism of sediment...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of arid land 2022-05, Vol.14 (5), p.490-501
Main Authors: Wang, Tian, Li, Peng, Hou, Jingming, Tong, Yu, Li, Jing, Wang, Feng, Li, Zhanbin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clay
Clay soils
Earth and Environmental Science
Freeze thaw cycles
Freeze-thawing
Geography
Meltwater
Physical Geography
Plant Ecology
Research Article
Rolling (ship motion)
Runoff
Runoff rates
Saltation
Sand
Sand & gravel
Sediment
Sediment transport
Sediments
Silt
Slope
Slopes
Soil
Soil erosion
Sustainable Development
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Summary:Hydraulic erosion associated with seasonal freeze-thaw cycles is one of the most predominant factors, which drives soil stripping and transportation. In this study, indoor simulated meltwater erosion experiments were used to investigate the sorting characteristics and transport mechanism of sediment particles under different freeze-thaw conditions (unfrozen, shallow-thawed, and frozen slopes) and runoff rates (1, 2, and 4 L/min). Results showed that the order of sediment particle contents was silt>sand>clay during erosion process on unfrozen, shallow-thawed, and frozen slopes. Compared with original soils, clay and silt were lost, and sand was deposited. On unfrozen and shallow-thawed slopes, the change of runoff rate had a significant impact on the enrichment of clay, silt, and sand particles. In this study, the sediment particles transported in the form of suspension/saltation were 83.58%–86.54% on unfrozen slopes, 69.24%–84.89% on shallow-thawed slopes, and 83.75%–87.44% on frozen slopes. Moreover, sediment particles smaller than 0.027 mm were preferentially transported. On shallow-thawed slope, relative contribution percentage of suspension/saltation sediment particles gradually increased with the increase in runoff rate, and an opposite trend occurred on unfrozen and frozen slopes. At the same runoff rate, freeze-thaw process had a significant impact on the relative contribution percentage of sediment particle transport via suspension/saltation and rolling during erosion process. The research results provide an improved transport mechanism under freeze-thaw condition for steep loessal slopes.
ISSN:1674-6767
2194-7783
DOI:10.1007/s40333-022-0016-x