148
9 Gravity Erosions on the Loess Gully Bank …
human activities, proper engineering works, maintenance (Wei et al. 2006; Au 1998).
Installing retaining facilities, and draining surface and underground water from the
sliding area, are all effective measures in the control of avalanche, landslide and earth
flow. Additionally, cutting the steep slopes to make them gentler is usually adopted
in the area prone to avalanches. Stabilization measures for landslide also include: (1)
excavating and redistributing sliding mass, and (2) coarsening the slip band. Besides
the landslide and avalanche control methods, planting also plays a more important
role in controlling mudslide, while drainage works, e.g., diversion dike and chute,
are particularly used to control the mudflow.
On the Loess Plateau of China, gravity erosion is remarkably controlled by the
check-dams. The base level of erosion will be raised while the dam farmland is formed
(Xu et al. 2004, 2006). Thus the height and mean gradient of the bank are decreased
(Fig. 9.4). Moreover, toes of the slopes are also compacted and strengthened, the
longitudinal gradient of the gully is decreased, also the scour and transport capacity
of the flow in the gully is reduced. Hence avalanche, landslide, and earth flow are all
alleviated as the check dam is built.
9.4 Conclusions
We conclude that as heavy rainfall applied on the steep slope compacted by hand
with loess, soil loss caused by the avalanche and landslide is much more serious
than that caused by the mudslide, and especially the avalanche is the most violent
gravity erosion which might do great harm to the local transportations and lives.
Furthermore, the slope height and gradient had a remarkable impact on the erosion
amount.
References
Acharya G, Cochrane T, Davies T, et al. 2011. Quantifying and modeling post-failure sediment
yields from laboratory-scale soil erosion and shallow landslide experiments with silty loess.
Geomorphology, 129(1–2): 49–58.
Ali A, Huang J S, Lyamin A V, et al. 2014. Boundary effects of rainfall-induced landslides.
Computers and Geotechnics, 61: 341–354.
Au S W C. 1998. Rain-induced slope instability in Hong Kong. Engineering Geology, 51(1): 1–36.
Benda L, Dunne T. 1997. Stochastic forcing of sediment supply to channel networks from landsliding
and debris flow. Water Resources Research, 33(12): 2849–2863.
Derbyshire E, Van Asch T, Billard A, et al. 1995. Modelling the erosional susceptibility of landslide
catchments in thick loess: Chinese variations on a theme by Jan de Ploey. Catena, 25(1–4):
315–331.
Fourie A B. 1996. Predicting rainfall-induced slope instability. Proceedings of the Institution of
Civil Geotechnical Engineering, 119(4): 211–218.
Glade T. 2003. Landslide occurrence as a response to land use change: a review of evidence from
New Zealand. Catena, 51(3–4): 297–314.
9 Gravity Erosions on the Loess Gully Bank …
human activities, proper engineering works, maintenance (Wei et al. 2006; Au 1998).
Installing retaining facilities, and draining surface and underground water from the
sliding area, are all effective measures in the control of avalanche, landslide and earth
flow. Additionally, cutting the steep slopes to make them gentler is usually adopted
in the area prone to avalanches. Stabilization measures for landslide also include: (1)
excavating and redistributing sliding mass, and (2) coarsening the slip band. Besides
the landslide and avalanche control methods, planting also plays a more important
role in controlling mudslide, while drainage works, e.g., diversion dike and chute,
are particularly used to control the mudflow.
On the Loess Plateau of China, gravity erosion is remarkably controlled by the
check-dams. The base level of erosion will be raised while the dam farmland is formed
(Xu et al. 2004, 2006). Thus the height and mean gradient of the bank are decreased
(Fig. 9.4). Moreover, toes of the slopes are also compacted and strengthened, the
longitudinal gradient of the gully is decreased, also the scour and transport capacity
of the flow in the gully is reduced. Hence avalanche, landslide, and earth flow are all
alleviated as the check dam is built.
9.4 Conclusions
We conclude that as heavy rainfall applied on the steep slope compacted by hand
with loess, soil loss caused by the avalanche and landslide is much more serious
than that caused by the mudslide, and especially the avalanche is the most violent
gravity erosion which might do great harm to the local transportations and lives.
Furthermore, the slope height and gradient had a remarkable impact on the erosion
amount.
References
Acharya G, Cochrane T, Davies T, et al. 2011. Quantifying and modeling post-failure sediment
yields from laboratory-scale soil erosion and shallow landslide experiments with silty loess.
Geomorphology, 129(1–2): 49–58.
Ali A, Huang J S, Lyamin A V, et al. 2014. Boundary effects of rainfall-induced landslides.
Computers and Geotechnics, 61: 341–354.
Au S W C. 1998. Rain-induced slope instability in Hong Kong. Engineering Geology, 51(1): 1–36.
Benda L, Dunne T. 1997. Stochastic forcing of sediment supply to channel networks from landsliding
and debris flow. Water Resources Research, 33(12): 2849–2863.
Derbyshire E, Van Asch T, Billard A, et al. 1995. Modelling the erosional susceptibility of landslide
catchments in thick loess: Chinese variations on a theme by Jan de Ploey. Catena, 25(1–4):
315–331.
Fourie A B. 1996. Predicting rainfall-induced slope instability. Proceedings of the Institution of
Civil Geotechnical Engineering, 119(4): 211–218.
Glade T. 2003. Landslide occurrence as a response to land use change: a review of evidence from
New Zealand. Catena, 51(3–4): 297–314.