Spatial and temporal variation of sediment yield in the landscape: Example of Huanghe (Yellow River)

Regional scale relations between specific sediment yield and drainage basin area in the Huanghe basin reveal varying landscape sedimentary dynamics. Declining specific sediment yield with area is typical of disturbed agricultural areas, while increasing yields indicate the remobilization of stored sediment by bank and floodplain erosion along major tributaries. Using the developed relations, areally-adjusted sediment yield maps are created over the entire Huanghe basin. Maps of the Loess Plateau for periods before and after 1970 reveal major changes in sediment yield, indicating that land management may have a major effect on sediment dynamics within a short period of time.