Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions ›› 2016, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (3): 187-195.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1226.2016.00187

• ARTICLES • Previous Articles    

Wind tunnel simulation of the effects of freeze-thaw cycles on soil erosion in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

ShengBo Xie, JianJun Qu, Tao Wang   

  1. Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification/Dunhuang Gobi and Desert Research Station/State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
  • Received:2016-02-22 Revised:2016-02-22 Published:2018-11-23
  • Contact: ShengBo Xie,Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute,Chinese Academy of Sciences,No.320,West Donggang Road,Lanzhou,Gansu 730000,China.E-mail:xieshengbo@lzb.ac.cn E-mail:xieshengbo@lzb.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    This research project was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.41401611),the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant Nos.2014M560817 and 2015T81069),one of Special Fund for Forest Scientific Research in the Public Welfare (201504401),the Science and Technology Program of Gansu Province (Grant No.145RJZA118).

Abstract: Intense freezing and thawing actions occur in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau because of its high elevation and cold temperature.The plateau's unique environment makes it easy to generate wind erosion under dry,windy weather conditions,resulting in the emergence of desertification.As a major form of freeze-thaw erosion,freeze-thaw and wind erosion is displayed prominently on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.Therefore,in this study,soil samples were collected from the surface of the plateau to undergo freeze-thaw and wind erosion simulation experiments.Results show that wind erosion strength increases with an increasing number of freeze-thaw cycles,water content in the freezing-thawing process,and the difference in freeze-thaw temperatures.Therefore,in the conditions of water participation,the main reason for the freeze-thaw and wind erosion in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the damage to the soil structure by repeated,fierce freeze-thaw actions,and the sand-bearing wind is the main driving force for this process.The research results have theoretical significance for exploring the formation mechanism of freeze-thaw and wind erosion in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,and provide a scientific basis for freeze-thaw desertification control in the plateau.

Key words: freeze-thaw cycles, wind erosion strength, wind tunnel simulation, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

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