Beijing, China (from WASER Net):
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SEDIMENT RESEARCH
SPECIAL ISSUE ON
Gully Erosion
Edited by
M. J. M. R ? MKENS
Sean J. BENNETT
Sept. 2005
Volume 20 Number 3 Sept. 2005
Technical Papers
Modeling Ephemeral Gully Erosion for Conservation Planning
George R. FOSTER 157-175
Hydrologically Driven Mechanisms of Headcut Development
M. J. M. R?MKENS and S. N. PRASAD 176-184
Numerical Simulation of Head-cut with a Two-layered Bed
Yafei JIA, Tadanori KITAMURA and S. S. Y. WANG 185-193
Drainage Networks after Wildfire
D. A. KINNER and J. A. MOODY 194-201
Freeze/Thaw Effects on Rill and Gully Erosion in the Northwestern Wheat and Range Region
D. K. MCCOOL and J. D. WILLIAMS 202-210
Natural and Anthropogenic Factors Controlling Gully Erosion in The Basaltic Upland of Southern Brazil
Ana C. VIERO, Nilza M. dos Reis CASTRO, Joel A. GOLDENFUM and Alfonso RISSO 211-223
S tages of L ate H olocene G ully D evelopment in the C entral R ussian plain
V. R. BELYAEV, E. A. EREMENKO, A. V. PANIN and Y. R. BELYAEV 224-232
Empirical-Numerical Analysis of Headcut Migration
W. WU and S. S. Y. WANG 233-243
A Simple Device to Monitor Sediment Yield from Gully Erosion
Antonio Jose Teixeira GUERRA and Marcos FIGUEIREDO 244-248
Macropore Flow and Mass Wasting of Gullies in the Loess Plateau, China
G. V. WILSON, Mingxiang XU, Yunming CHEN, Guobin LIU and M.J.M. R?MKENS 249-258
Overview of Dam Gully Erosion Research
G. J. HANSON, D. M. TEMPLE , K. M. ROBINSON and K. R. COOK 259-269
Evaluation of Rill and Ephemeral Gully Erosion in Cultivated Areas of Navarre ( Spain )
L. M. De SANTISTEBAN, J. CASALíand J. J. LóPEZ 270-280
Cover Photo: Landslides Damed the Jiuzhaigou Creek and Created a Series of Waterfalls in Sichuan Province , China
HYDROLOGICALLY DRIVEN MECHANISMS OF HEADCUT DEVELOPMENT
M. J. M. R? MKENS 1 and S. N. PRASAD 2
ABSTRACT
An analytic investigation of the effect of surface seal mechanical properties, overland flow, and subsurface hydrology was performed on headcut development. Headcut growth rates on upland areas have been observed to be quite small (less than 0.00015 meter per second) and that they occur in increments in which chips break off at points where cracks have developed in surface seals. The substrate soil under the seal collapses and is removed by the flow. This mode of headcut development is the result of a strong interaction between the surface and the subsurface processes. The surface process is energetically controlled by the mechanical features of the seal whereas the subsurface process is hydrologically controlled. The analysis yields estimates of the temporal scale of headcut velocities. In cases of infiltration from the vertical gully wall into the substrate, the flexural wave velocity (seismic sound velocity) was found to inversely affect headcut velocity.
Key Words: Surface seal, Subsurface, Headcut, Soil erosion, Overland flow
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF HEAD-CUT WITH A TWO-LAYERED BED
Yafei JIA , Tadanori KITAMURA and S . S. Y. WANG
ABSTRACT
Gully erosion is one of the main causes of top soil loss, land deterioration and sources of sediment deposition in streams. Headcut often occurs in the gully erosion process when erodability of the soil layers varies, and the gully cuts through a hard layer at a point. A scouring hole appears downstream of the head cut which migrates upstream due to strong erosion in the scour hole. This paper presents numerical analyses of turbulent flow and sediment transport processes of a head-cut associated with a two-layer soil stratigraphic formation. The flow in the scour hole is three-dimensional induced by the water jet from the brink of the top layer; the sediment transport model considers sediment entrainment by the impinging jet, erosion underneath the hard layer and the retreat of the brink of the hard layer. The 3D flow simulation in the scour hole and the scouring process was verified with physical model data. The two-layer head cut migration is simulated with different flow and soil parameters, the trends of the simulated results reasonably revealed contributions of these parameters to the scouring and migration process.
Keywords: H ead-cut migration, Impinging jet, Numerical simulation, Local scour, Sediment transport
Dr., National Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering, The University of Mississippi, University MS 38677 , USA , E-mail: jia@ncche.olemiss.edu
Hydraulics & Environmental Engineering, Dept. of Geo- & Environmental Eng. Nagoya University , USA
Same as the first author , E-mail: wang@hydra.cche.olemiss.edu
Note: Discussion open until Sept. 2006.
DRAINAGE NETWORKS AFTER WILDFIRE
D. A. KINNER and J. A. MOODY
ABSTRACT
Predicting runoff and erosion from watersheds burned by wildfires requires an understanding of the three-dimensional structure of both hillslope and channel drainage networks. We investigate the small- and large-scale structures of drainage networks using field studies and computer analysis of 30-m digital elevation model. Topologic variables were derived from a composite 30-m DEM, which included 14 order 6 watersheds within the Pikes Peak batholith. Both topologic and hydraulic variables were measured in the field in two smaller burned watersheds (3.7 and 7.0 hectares) located within one of the order 6 watersheds burned by the 1996 Buffalo Creek Fire in Central Colorado . Horton ratios of topologic variables (stream number, drainage area, stream length, and stream slope) for small-scale and large-scale watersheds are shown to scale geometrically with stream order (i.e., to be scale invariant). However, the ratios derived for the large-scale drainage networks could not be used to predict the rill and gully drainage network structure. Hydraulic variables (width, depth, cross-sectional area, and bed roughness) for small-scale drainage networks were found to be scale invariant across 3 to 4 stream orders. The relation between hydraulic radius and cross-sectional area is similar for rills and gullies, suggesting that their geometry can be treated similarly in hydraulic modeling. Additionally, the rills and gullies have relatively small width-to-depth ratios, implying sidewall friction may be important to the erosion and evolutionary process relative to main stem channels.
Key W ords: C hannel network, S teep hillslope drainage network, W ildfire, G ullies, H ydraulic geometry
U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25046 DFC Mail Stop 966, Denver CO 80225 , USA , E-mail: dakinner@usgs.gov
Note: Discussion open until Sept. 2006.
FREEZE/THAW EFFECTS ON RILL AND GULLY EROSION IN THE NORTHWESTERN WHEAT AND RANGE REGION
D. K. MCCOOL and J. D. WILLIAMS
ABSTRACT
Hydrology of the Northwestern Wheat and Range Region (NWRR) of the Pacific Northwest USA is dominated by winter events. Fifty-five to sixty-five percent of the precipitation occurs from November through March, and formation of impermeable frost, intensified by excessive tillage and tillage pans, has long been a major factor in rill and gully formation in the region. Saturated zones can form above tillage pans, freeze solid, and significantly reduce infiltration. Frost heaved surface soils thaw and weaken with warming temperatures or rain. Under these conditions, runoff from rain or snowmelt or a combination of the two is inevitable, concentrating in rills and channels, and carrying with it the loosened soil. Slopes are frequently quite steep and there may be little deposition above the toe slope. Classical over-fall head-cut gullies are uncommon. Concentrated flow channels form because of collection of water from impervious areas such as conventionally tilled fall seeded small grains and bare grass seed fields. In some soils, gullies are created by seepage from saturated layers above permanent restrictive layers in the soil. Gullies can also result from terrace failures due to rodent burrows and low compaction at the time of construction. In naturally unconsolidated soil, rodent activity can lead to piping failures that remove large quantities of subsurface soil and can become gullies. Rill measurements on conventionally tilled fields in Oregon , Washington , and Idaho were used to determine coefficients for relationships between slope length and steepness and size of rills. This paper describes these studies and the results as well as analysis of long-term erosion and weather records from southeastern Washington .
Key Words: Erosion, Slope length, Slope steepness, Topography, Pacific Northwest , Frozen soil, Thawing soil
Supervisory Agricultural Engineer, Land Management and Water Conservation Research, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, USA, E-mail: dkmccool@wsu.edu
Hydrologist, Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center, USDA-ARS, Pendleton, OR.
Note: Discussion open until Sept. 2006.
NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC FACTORS CONTROLLING GULLY EROSION IN THE BASALTIC UPLAND OF SOUTHERN BRAZIL
Ana C. VIERO * , Nilza M. dos Reis CASTRO, Joel A. GOLDENFUM and Alfonso RISSO
ABSTRACT
This paper describes an analysis of natural and anthropogenic factors controlling the evolution of gullies in a rural basin in the basaltic upland in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil. In this region of deep ferrallitic soils with more than 60% clay, runoff and erosion are of increasing concern. In the Tabo?o drainage basin ( 100 km 2 ), gully erosion was studied in a field survey that measured rills and gullies. Eighty-four gullies were identified. They had an average length of 136 m , were 10 m wide, and 3 m deep and had a volume of 15.458 m 3 . Each gully was characterised in terms of factors that included slope, geological structure, presence of piping, drainage, soil use, and the presence of surface and subsurface flow. On average, the main channels had knickpoints varying from 2 m to 7 m , and their evolution in the vertical plane increased until bed-rock basalt material was reached, after which gullies increase in width and length. Gully development was also monitored from 1991 to 2003. Subsurface flow appears to be the principal agent controlling their development. Results show that both natural (slope, surface curvature, geological structure and rainfall) and anthropogenic (soil use, road construction) factors are important in gully development. The change in cultural practices throughout the drainage basin from conventional to direct seeding has led to increased subsurface flow, which was more important than surface runoff in causing erosion. However, the higher rainfall during El Ni?o Southern Oscillation ( ENSO) events and the consequently higher subsurface flow were the dominant factors. From 1991 to 2003 a total land loss of 1 , 013 m 3 was observed in one gully, with 236 m 3 lost during the 1992 ENSO and 702 m 3 during the 1997 ENSO; 95% of the total volume lost occurred during ENSO periods.
Key W ords: G ully, G eological structure, S ubsurface flow, N o-tillage, ENSO
¨ CPRM-Geological Survey of Brazil, Rua Banco da Provincia 105, Porto Alegre, RS, cep 90.840-030, Brazil ,
E-mail: anaclaudia@pa.cprm.gov.br
Note: Discussion open until Sept. 2006.
STAGES OF LATE HOLOCENE GULLY DEVELOPMENT IN THE CENTRAL RUSSIAN PLAIN
V. R. BELYAEV , E. A. EREMENKO, A. V. PANIN 2 and Y. R. BELYAEV
ABSTRACT
Two gullies located in the Protva River basin (central part of European Russia, 100 km southwest of Moscow ) were studied to investigate the history of their development during Late Holocene. This case study included detailed topographic and geomorphologic surveys, geological cross-sections, and radiocarbon dating of organic matter in gully sediments. For both gullies, incision of the long profile occurred for most of the Holocene, as indicated by the limited presence of infill sediment. However, interruptions of incisions occurred in both gullies during the last ~3.5 ka (the Chugunkin gully) or ~2.0 ka (the Uzkiy gully), as evident from stratigraphic interpretation of the sediment record. Periods of surface stabilization are represented by buried soil horizons, whereas relatively thick sediment layers suggest periods of predominant aggradation. Similarities and differences in discovered sequences of erosion and accumulation stages for the two gullies point out the importance of distinguishing between local and regional controls. Evidence of the role of internal system behavior and self-development in the gully long-term evolution is clear from asynchronous response of different parts of gullies. In recent times (~500 years), active agricultural development of the study territory resulted in accelerated incisions, followed by deposition of catchment-derived material. The latter was limited to the upper parts of the gullies, while incisions have continued in the middle and lower parts. The impact of human activities (~500 years) has been very limited. This suggests that within the forest zone of the Russian Plain many gullies which were earlier attributed to anthropogenic factors are, in reality, due to natural phenomena.
Key words: Gully erosion, Incision and infill, Environmental change, Late Holocene, Human impact, Russian Plain
,2 Dr. The Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Fluvial Processes, Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, GSP-2, Vorob'evy Gory, Moscow, 119992, Russia. E-mail: belyaev@river.geogr.msu.su
Note: Discussion open until Sept. 2006.
EMPIRICAL-NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF HEADCUT MIGRATION
W. WU * and S. S. Y. WANG 2
ABSTRACT
Headcut migration is studied by using empirical and numerical modeling approaches. Empirical formulas for the headcut migration are established using available measurement data, which consider not only the flow strength but also the properties of soil. Numerical model for the headcut migration is proposed. The influences of dynamic pressure gradient, downward flow, and bed slope on sediment entrainment are considered. The local erosion patterns and migration speeds of headcut calculated by the numerical model agree reasonably well with observed data.
Key Words: Headcut migration, Empirical formula, Numerical model
Research Assistant Professor, 2 F .A.P. Barnard Distinguished Professor, Director.
* Corresponding author , National Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering , University of Mississippi , University, MS 38677 , USA, E-mail: wuwm@ncche.olemiss.edu or wang@ncche.olemiss.edu
Note: Discussion open until Sept. 2006.
A SIMPLE DEVICE TO MONITOR SEDIMENT YIELD FROM GULLY EROSION
Antonio Jose Teixeira GUERRA 1 and Marcos FIGUEIREDO 2
ABSTRACT
The focus of this paper is the design and use of a simple device to determine sediment yield from gullies. The simplicity and low cost makes this device especially useful when resources are limited. In this study, it was used to measure sediment yield at a site called An?o Gully, in a study area in Cáceres municipality (15o 57' S and 57o 31' W, Mato Grosso State , Brazil ). This gully is located 28 kilometres from the center of the town, Cáceres, and was easy to reach during and immediately after storm events to make measurements with this device.
Key words: Gully erosion, Sediment yield, Gully monitoring, Simple device
1 Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography Federal University of Rio de Janeiro , Av. Canal de Marapendi , 1100 apto. 608, Bloco 2, Barra da Tijuca?CEP , Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 22.631?050, Brazil , E-mail: antonioguerra@ gmail .com
2 Lecturer in Physical Geography State University of Mato Grosso , E-mail: marcosunemat@bol.com.br
Note: Discussion open until Sept. 2006.
MACROPORE FLOW AND MASS WASTING OF GULLIES IN THE LOESS PLATEAU , CHINA
G. V. WILSON , Mingxiang XU , Yunming CHEN 3 , Guobin LIU 4 and M. J. M. R?MKENS 5
ABSTRACT
Due to the extensive gullying from historically excessive erosion in the loess plateau of China, much of this region is being converted to native grass and shrub vegetation. Tunnel scour and mass wasting are important gully erosion processes resulting from preferential flow through macropores ( pores > 1 mm diameter). The objective of this study is to assess the changes with time in macropore flow characteristics of soils on the L oess P lateau following conversion to grass vegetation and the associated degree of mass wasting of gully faces. Ridge areas that had been revegetated for 1 year, 6 years, and > 15 years following tilling, and for 6 years following contour-ditching and the adjacent gully faces were characterized for their macropore and soil matrix properties on a 50 cm by 50 cm area. The total number of macropores increased from 11.6 / m 2 to 39.6 / m 2 from 1 to 6 years and to 51.6 / m 2 after 15 years of revegetation following tillage. The macroporosity increased from 0.0008 m 3 / m 3 to 0.0018 m 3 / m 3 from 1 to 6 years of revegetation following tillage but the lowest macroporosity ( 0.0005 m 3 / m 3 ) was 6 years of revegetation following contour-ditching. The contour-ditched area had the lowest infiltration rate ( 95 m / d) through the soil matrix (areas without macropores) with the tilled areas having similar infiltration rates regardless of the number of years of revegetation (averaged 146 m / d). Due to tunnel scour erosion of macropores during infiltration into the area revegetated for 1 year, pore diameters enlarged by more than 200% resulting in this condition having the highest individual macropore infiltration rates ( 7967 m / d). Macropores in all other areas were stable with no tunnel scour erosion of macropores. The total capacity for infiltration through macropores increased significantly with time following revegetation. The number of macropores on the gully faces was triple (92.8 / m 2 ) and the macroporosity quadruple ( 0.004 m 3 / m 3 ) that of the ridge surfaces. The upper gully faces exhibited 1.1 slumps m -1 for a total soil loss of 48622 kg per ha.
Key Words: Pipe flow, Macropores, Infiltration, Mass wasting, Gully erosion
Dr. , 5 Prof. Dr., USDA-ARS National Sedimentation Laboratory, 598 McElroy Dr., Oxford, MS 38655, E-mail: gvwilson@ars.usda.gov
, 3 Dr. , 4 Prof. Dr. , Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (ISWC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, 26 Xiong Rd, Yangling, Shaanxi China 712100
Note: Discussion open until Sept. 2006.
OVERVIEW OF DAM GULLY EROSION RESEARCH
G. J. HANSON , D. M. TEMPLE 1 , K. M. ROBINSON and K. R. COOK
ABSTRACT
Traditionally gully erosion has been identified with the dissection of the landscape in agricultural settings but it is also recognized as a prevalent erosion feature in earthen dam auxiliary spillways and embankments. Flows through earthen spillways and over dam embankments, due to large rainfall events, have the potential to erode and breach the dam or spillway and result in catastrophic releases from the reservoir. The gully erosion process in an earthen spillway or on an embankment can be characterized by stages of initiation, development, and migration of a headcut. A headcut is defined as a near vertical drop at the upstream end of a gully. The rate of headcut migration is important in determining the breach potential of an earthen spillway and dam embankment. A research program is being conducted to examine the gully erosion processes of earthen dam auxiliary spillways and embankments. This paper describes: 1) the unique test facilities constructed to examine the dominant factors affecting the erosion of earthen spillways and embankments; 2) the observations of the erosion processes and results to date; and 3) the predictive relationships that have been developed for dam gully erosion research at the ARS Hydraulic Engineering Research Unit laboratory in Stillwater , OK .
Key Words : Dams, Erosion, Spillways, Embankments, Gullies, Headcut, Breach
USDA-ARS HERU Stillwater, OK greg.hanson@ars.usda.gov , darrel.temple@ars.usda.gov
USDA-NRCS ENTSC Greensboro, NC kerry.robinson@gnb.usda.gov
USDA-NRCS State Office, Stillwater, OK Kevin.cook@ok.usda.gov
Note: Discussion open until Sept. 2006.
EVALUATION OF RILL AND EPHEMERAL GULLY EROSION IN CULTIVATED AREAS OF NAVARRE (SPAIN)
L. M. De SANTISTEBAN , J. CASALí and J. J. LóPEZ 2
ABSTRACT
Although there is much evidence of intense soil erosion in cultivated areas of Navarre ( Spain ), scarce information currently is available regarding soil loss rates, the spatial and temporal distribution of erosion, and the factors controlling these processes. Rills and ephemeral gullies are frequently responsible for a high percentage of total soil erosion, and these features can be considered a good approximation for the minimum erosion rates. With the main purpose of determining the annual soil loss rates in cultivated areas of Central Navarre , a detailed assessment of rainfall and rill and gully erosion was made in 19 small watersheds cultivated with winter grains or vineyards. The study period spanned from 1995 to 2001. For cereal watersheds, soil losses were caused by only one or two rainfall events each year. High erosion rates were observed (0.20 -11.50 kg / m 2 per y ear ). In vineyards, soil losses were caused by several rainfall events each year, occurring year round. High erosion rates were observed in these vineyards (0.33 y 16.19 kg /m 2 per y ear ). No erosion was observed in those cultivated watersheds with no-till practices. It can be concluded that rill and ephemeral gully erosion can be very significant in Mediterranean regions, and much more attention should be paid to the problem.
Key Words : Rill erosion , Ephemeral gully erosion , Spain , Navarre
Postdoctoral scholarship holder , Department of Projects and Rural Engineering, Universidad Pública de Navarra Campus de Arrosadia s/n, 31006 Pamplona (Navarra), Spain , E-mail: luisa.satinsteban@unavarra.es
Professor , Department of Projects and Rural Engineering, Universidad Pública de Navarra Campus de Arrosadia s/n, 31006 Pamplona (Navarra), Spain , E-mail: jcs@unavarra.es , E-mail: jjlr@unavarra.es
Note: Discussion open until Sept. 2006.
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