Response of Sediment Connectivity to Altered Convergence Processes Induced by Forest Roads in Mountainous Watershed

Forest roads significantly affect sediment connectivity in mountainous catchments by contributing to the production of and disturbing confluence sediment-loaded runoff. This study considered forest as pathways sinks runoff understand effects on characteristics a catchment using scenario simulation. In order determine contribution spatial relationship between influencing factors, this utilized buffer analysis, an extremely randomized tree model, multiscale geographically weighted regression. The results show that presence changes transport process catchment. Specifically, flow length increases, but accumulation, upslope area, topographic index decrease with increasing distance from streams. Meanwhile, convergence are mainly manifested within certain threshold varies different characteristics. Moreover, increases when considering runoff, especially upper hillslopes intercepted at road–stream crossings. addition, closer roads, greater impact road connectivity. Change is most important factor affecting among all other convergence, terrain, longer length, lower conclusion, demonstrates altered processes possibility will be transported outlet, which significance for proper management catchments.