Topography Meter to measure gravity erosion on gully bank, and several new type
of rainfall simulators suitable for laboratory or field experiments have been presented in this book. (2) Behavior and trigger of gravity erosion on the steep loess
slope are the focus of the authors’ recent research. As we know, the experimental
work on the sheet erosion or rill erosion has been extensive, but much less has been
accomplished regarding gravity erosion. (3) The relative stability theory and optimization method for the check-dam system have been verified via the semi-scale
model experiment. In practice, the check-dam system is the most effective way to
control gravity erosion on the gully bank in the catchment of the Loess Plateau.
One main objective of this book is to show the monitoring and modeling method
for soil scientists who design and prosecute experimental studies of soil loss. The
new data collected in the tests aforementioned can be beneficial to protection and
remediation of soils. Thus, another objective of this book, which is the most
important, is to make the results of these experiments more generally available. We
have attempted to assemble and integrate the experimental results, both published
and unpublished. In-depth discussions of the experimental data with the new
methods of data processing, e.g., the increase-rate-analysis method of analyzing the
sensitivity of gravity erosion, are also presented and used. Here lies the basic reason
why this new book is called “Experimental Erosion,” in which not only experimental aspects are considered but also theoretical and analytical aspects in relation
to the soil conservation. The book will be envisaged as an overview of the future
research mentioned earlier.
The published book is sponsored by Dalian Municipal Government. Prof.
Xiangzhou Xu conceived, designed, and drafted this book. Prof. Tongxin Zhu
wrote Chap. 13 and co-authored Chap. 12. Professor Hongwu Zhang participated in
the writing of Chaps. 2 and 3. Doctoral student Lu Gao participated in the editing
and proofreading of the whole manuscript. We sincerely thank Prof. Guangqian
Wang for his continuous encouragement and support in the research works related
to the book. We want to thank the Professors, Tingwu Lei, Chongfa Cai, Yongming
Shen, Junqiang Xia, and Yongqiang Cao, who have given valuable advices for
revising the book. In addition to former students and colleagues who permitted us to
use the product of their research efforts, the authors acknowledge the support of the
programs for National Key R&D Project (2016YFC0402504), entitled
Management of the River Bed and Bench Land in the Lower Reaches of the Yellow
River; General Programs of the National Natural Science Foundation of China
(51879032; 51179021; 51079016), entitled Landslides on the soil reservoir bank
for the different factors coupling processes, A Field Study on Gravitational Erosion
of the Loess Slope and An Experimental Study on Gravitational Erosion of the
Loess Slope, respectively; Excellent Talents in the Universities of Liaoning
Province (LR2015015), entitled Experimental Erosion; and Open Research Fund
of the State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess
Plateau (A314021402-1609), entitled Triggering, Processes, and Sensitivity
Analysis of the Gravity Erosion on the Loess Gully Bank. Chapters relating to the
research work performed by the graduate students have been reviewed by Wenzhao
Guo, Yulei Ma, Xingyang Zhao, Junwen Yin, Jiyuan Lu, Zhenyi Liu, Qiao Yan,
Preface
xv
of rainfall simulators suitable for laboratory or field experiments have been presented in this book. (2) Behavior and trigger of gravity erosion on the steep loess
slope are the focus of the authors’ recent research. As we know, the experimental
work on the sheet erosion or rill erosion has been extensive, but much less has been
accomplished regarding gravity erosion. (3) The relative stability theory and optimization method for the check-dam system have been verified via the semi-scale
model experiment. In practice, the check-dam system is the most effective way to
control gravity erosion on the gully bank in the catchment of the Loess Plateau.
One main objective of this book is to show the monitoring and modeling method
for soil scientists who design and prosecute experimental studies of soil loss. The
new data collected in the tests aforementioned can be beneficial to protection and
remediation of soils. Thus, another objective of this book, which is the most
important, is to make the results of these experiments more generally available. We
have attempted to assemble and integrate the experimental results, both published
and unpublished. In-depth discussions of the experimental data with the new
methods of data processing, e.g., the increase-rate-analysis method of analyzing the
sensitivity of gravity erosion, are also presented and used. Here lies the basic reason
why this new book is called “Experimental Erosion,” in which not only experimental aspects are considered but also theoretical and analytical aspects in relation
to the soil conservation. The book will be envisaged as an overview of the future
research mentioned earlier.
The published book is sponsored by Dalian Municipal Government. Prof.
Xiangzhou Xu conceived, designed, and drafted this book. Prof. Tongxin Zhu
wrote Chap. 13 and co-authored Chap. 12. Professor Hongwu Zhang participated in
the writing of Chaps. 2 and 3. Doctoral student Lu Gao participated in the editing
and proofreading of the whole manuscript. We sincerely thank Prof. Guangqian
Wang for his continuous encouragement and support in the research works related
to the book. We want to thank the Professors, Tingwu Lei, Chongfa Cai, Yongming
Shen, Junqiang Xia, and Yongqiang Cao, who have given valuable advices for
revising the book. In addition to former students and colleagues who permitted us to
use the product of their research efforts, the authors acknowledge the support of the
programs for National Key R&D Project (2016YFC0402504), entitled
Management of the River Bed and Bench Land in the Lower Reaches of the Yellow
River; General Programs of the National Natural Science Foundation of China
(51879032; 51179021; 51079016), entitled Landslides on the soil reservoir bank
for the different factors coupling processes, A Field Study on Gravitational Erosion
of the Loess Slope and An Experimental Study on Gravitational Erosion of the
Loess Slope, respectively; Excellent Talents in the Universities of Liaoning
Province (LR2015015), entitled Experimental Erosion; and Open Research Fund
of the State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess
Plateau (A314021402-1609), entitled Triggering, Processes, and Sensitivity
Analysis of the Gravity Erosion on the Loess Gully Bank. Chapters relating to the
research work performed by the graduate students have been reviewed by Wenzhao
Guo, Yulei Ma, Xingyang Zhao, Junwen Yin, Jiyuan Lu, Zhenyi Liu, Qiao Yan,
Preface
xv