A Field Investigation on Gully Erosion and Implications for Changes in Sediment Delivery Processes in Some Tributaries of the Upper Yellow River in China

Erosion and sediment delivery have been undergoing considerable variations in many catchments worldwide owing to climate change human interference. Monitoring on-site erosion deposition is crucial for understanding the processes mechanisms of changes yield from catchments. The Ten Kongduis (kongdui transliteration ephemeral creeks Mongolian) are 10 tributaries upper Yellow River. Severe upstream hills gullies huge aeolian sand input middle reaches had made one main sources River, but gauged discharge has decreased obviously recent years. In order find out load tributaries, topographic surveys four typical 3 were repeatedly field with terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technique. results show that all monitored silted a mean net rate 587–800 g/m2 November 2014 June 2015 eroded by 185–24,800 2015. monitoring data suggest mechanism interseasonal interannual storage release existed kongduis. contrast low kongduis years against high surveyed gully indicates reduction their efficiency, which can be attributed diminution hyperconcentrated flows caused mainly increase vegetation coverage on slopes partly construction sediment-trapping dams gullies.