Chapter 9
Gravity Erosions on the Loess Gully
Bank: Avalanche, Landslide, or Mudslide
Abstract Gravity erosion is a dominant geomorphic process on the steep loess
slopes. Here, we conducted rainfall simulation experiments to monitor occurrence
and behavior of the mass failure on steep loess slopes. The results show that the
quantity of soil loss caused by the avalanche and landslide was much more than that
caused by the mudslide, and the avalanche was the most violent gravity erosion.
As the slopes were eroded with five runs of rainfalls each at a duration of 48 mm,
the total volume of avalanche, landslide, and mudslide were 150.9 × 10
3 , 82.5 ×
10
3 , and 3.9 × 10
3 cm
3 /m, and accounted for 62, 36, and 2% of the total gravity
erosion, respectively. Furthermore, the slope height and gradient had a remarkable
positive correlation with the erosion amount. As a result, the avalanche and landslide,
especially the former, played a crucial role in soil erosion on steep slope compacted
by hand with loess.
Keywords Mass failure · Behavior · Role · Trigger · Loess Plateau
9.1 Impact Factors of the Gravity Erosion
Gravity erosion, mass failure on steep slope triggered by self-weight, is an important
process controlling the sedimentary structures and growth patterns of the steep slope,
and also one of the major sources causing a large amount of soil loss to the lower
reaches. On the Loess Plateau of China (Fig. 9.1), soil and water loss as well as gravity
erosion is the severest in the world. How do we quantitatively evaluate the roles
of various mass failures on the steep slope, and availably alleviate gravity erosion
according to local characteristic conditions? The questions above have important
implications for modeling soil erosion in the small watershed and it is also significant
in controlling failure disasters.
Gravity erosion is a frequent and widespread geomorphological phenomenon,
whether in mountainous or urban areas. It is the mass failure on a steep slope, triggered by self-weight. Erosion due to gravitational force occurs under the combined
influence of definite hydrologic, geologic, and topographic conditions. Gravity erosion is also an important part of the loss process and is often the first stage in the
© Science Press and Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
X. Xu et al., Experimental Erosion,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3801-8_9
141
Gravity Erosions on the Loess Gully
Bank: Avalanche, Landslide, or Mudslide
Abstract Gravity erosion is a dominant geomorphic process on the steep loess
slopes. Here, we conducted rainfall simulation experiments to monitor occurrence
and behavior of the mass failure on steep loess slopes. The results show that the
quantity of soil loss caused by the avalanche and landslide was much more than that
caused by the mudslide, and the avalanche was the most violent gravity erosion.
As the slopes were eroded with five runs of rainfalls each at a duration of 48 mm,
the total volume of avalanche, landslide, and mudslide were 150.9 × 10
3 , 82.5 ×
10
3 , and 3.9 × 10
3 cm
3 /m, and accounted for 62, 36, and 2% of the total gravity
erosion, respectively. Furthermore, the slope height and gradient had a remarkable
positive correlation with the erosion amount. As a result, the avalanche and landslide,
especially the former, played a crucial role in soil erosion on steep slope compacted
by hand with loess.
Keywords Mass failure · Behavior · Role · Trigger · Loess Plateau
9.1 Impact Factors of the Gravity Erosion
Gravity erosion, mass failure on steep slope triggered by self-weight, is an important
process controlling the sedimentary structures and growth patterns of the steep slope,
and also one of the major sources causing a large amount of soil loss to the lower
reaches. On the Loess Plateau of China (Fig. 9.1), soil and water loss as well as gravity
erosion is the severest in the world. How do we quantitatively evaluate the roles
of various mass failures on the steep slope, and availably alleviate gravity erosion
according to local characteristic conditions? The questions above have important
implications for modeling soil erosion in the small watershed and it is also significant
in controlling failure disasters.
Gravity erosion is a frequent and widespread geomorphological phenomenon,
whether in mountainous or urban areas. It is the mass failure on a steep slope, triggered by self-weight. Erosion due to gravitational force occurs under the combined
influence of definite hydrologic, geologic, and topographic conditions. Gravity erosion is also an important part of the loss process and is often the first stage in the
© Science Press and Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
X. Xu et al., Experimental Erosion,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3801-8_9
141