Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Modern eolian and fluvial processes and their interactions in an ephemeral desert stream in Inner Mongolia, China

  • Sediments, Sec 3 • Hillslope and River Basin Sediment Dynamics • Research Article
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Floods and eolian activities are the dominant external agents to shape the topographic forms in ephemeral desert streams of drylands. So far, few studies have discussed the modern processes of eolian–fluvial interactions. To bridge this gap, we studied the modern interactions of eolian and fluvial process in a desert ephemeral river, the Maobula Gully in Inner Mongolia, which exhibits typical eolian–fluvial interactions.

Materials and methods

Multisource data such as integrated particle size data, hydrological data from the Tugerige Hydrological Station, high-spatial-resolution satellite images, and an eolian sediment saltation emission model were integrated to analyze the effects of eolian and fluvial delivery to the sediment on the riverbed, the eolian sediment feeding rate to the gully, the transport of sediment in flood events, and the interactions between eolian and fluvial processes.

Results and discussion

The desert reach of the Maobula Gully is a replacement reach between coarse sediment from the upper reaches and eolian sediment from the Kubuqi Desert. The annual eolian sediment feeding into the gully exhibited a significant decreasing trend. The eolian sediment into the gully increases the available sediment and the bed roughness, affecting the transport of sediment during floods. The sediment concentration and yields in flood events are mainly decided by the discharge and water yield, respectively. Through a comparison of the channel forms between 1970 and 2013, a recovery mechanism in the Maobula Gully was identified, which involves the equilibrium state between abrupt flood erosion and continuous dune migration.

Conclusions

This study analyzed the modern processes of eolian and fluvial processes and their interactions in a typical ephemeral desert stream named the Maobula Gully, and some interesting results were found. We believe that the methodology and results could provide references and evidence for understanding the mechanisms of fluvial and eolian interactions in other ephemeral desert streams around the world.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Al-Masrahy MA, Mountney NP (2015) A classification scheme for fluvial-aeolian system interaction in desert-margin settings. Aeolian Res 17:67–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson SP, Anderson RS (1990) Debris-flow benches: dune-contact deposits record paleo-sand dune positions in north Panamint Valley, Inyo County, California. Geol 18:227–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagnold RA (1941) The physics of blown sand and desert dunes. Chapman and Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker VR (1977) Stream-channel response to floods, with example from central Texas. Geol Soc Am Bull 88:1057–1071

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker VR, Kochel RC, Patton PC (1988) Flood geomorphology. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Beven K, Carling P (1989) Floods: hydrological, sedimentological and geomorphological implications. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourke MC, Pickup G (1999) Fluvial form variability in arid central Australia. In: Miller AJ, Gupta A (eds) Varieties of fluvial form. Wiley, Chichester, pp 249–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Bullard JE, Livingstone I (2002) Interactions between aeolian and fluvial system in dryland environments. Area 34:5–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Bullard JE, McTainsh GH (2003) Aeolian-fluvial interaction in dryland environments: example, concept and Australia case study. Prog Phys Geogr 27:471–501

    Google Scholar 

  • Burkham DE (1972) Channel changes of the Gila River in Safford Valley, Arizona 1846-1970. United States Geological Survey Professional Paper, 655-G, Washington, DC, USA

  • Chen Y, Yang Q, Luo Y, Shen Y, Pan X (2012) Ponder on the issues of water resources in the arid region of northwest China. Arid Land Geog 35(1):1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Du H, Xue X, Wang T (2014) Estimation of saltation emission in the Kubuqi Desert, North China. Sci Total Environ 479-480:77–92

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du H, Xue X, Wang T, Deng X (2015) Assessment of wind-erosion risk in the watershed of the Ningxia-Inner Mongolia Reach of the Yellow River, northern China. Aeolian Res 17:193–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Fecan F, Marticorena B, Bergametti G (1998) Parametrization of the increase of the aeolian erosion threshold wind friction velocity due to soil moisture for arid and semi-arid areas. Ann Geophy-Germany 17:149–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Field JP, Breshears DD, Whicker JJ (2009) Toward a more holistic perspective of soil erosion: why aeolian research needs to expolicityly consider fluvial processes and interactions. Aeolian Res 1:9–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Graf WL (1983a) Flood-related channel change in an arid region river. Earth Surf Process Landf 8:125–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Graf WL (1983b) Downstream changes in stream power in the Henry Mountains, Utah. Ann Assoc Am Geogr 73:373–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Graf WL (1988) Fluvial processes in dryland river. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobberger PA (1988) Mapping abandoned river channels in Mali through directional filtering of thematic mapper data. Remote Sens Environ 26:161–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones LS, Blakey RC (1997) Eolian–fluvial interaction in the Page Sandstone (Middle Jurassic) in south-central Utah, USA—a case study of erg-margin processes. Sediment Geol 109:181–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Knighton AD, Nanson GG (1994) Waterholes and their significance in the anastomosing channel system of Cooper Creek, Australia. Geomorphol 9:311–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Kushwaha AP, Pandey AC, Mahto SS (2018) Assessment of runoff pattern and relationship to sediment yield of Bhagirathi-Alaknanda River Basin using geospatial techniques. J Geovis Spat Anal 2:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Lisle TE (1989) Channel-dynamic control on the establishment of riparian trees after large floods in Northwestern California. Proceedings of the California Riparian Systems Conference, 22-24, September 1988. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PSW-110. Davis, California, USA, pp 8–13

  • Marker ME (1977) A long-return geomorphic event in the Namib Desert, South-West Africa. Area 9:209–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Graña AM, Goy JL, Zazo C (2014) Water and wind erosion risk in natural parks. A case study in “Las Batuecas-Sierra de Francia” and “Quilamas” protected parks (Central System, Spain). Int J Environ Res 8(1):61–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Graña AM, Goy JL, Zazo C (2015) Cartographic procedure for the analysis of eolian erosion hazard in natural parks (Central System, Spain). Land Degrad Dev 26:110–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason JP, Swinehart JB, Loope DB (1997) Holocene history of lacustrine and marsh sediments in a dune-blocked drainage, south-western Nebraska Sand Hills, USA. J Palaeolim 17:67–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer L, Nash D (1987) Catastrophic flooding. Binghampton Symposium in Geomorphology Vol. 18. Allen and Unwin, Boston

  • Mc Intosh RJ (1983) Floodplain geomorphology and human occupation of the upper inland delta of the Niger. Geogr J 149:182–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Nanson GC, Chen XY, Price DM (1995) Aeolian and fluvial evidence of changing climate and wind pattern during the past 100 ka in the western Simpson Desert, Australia. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl 113:87–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Osterkamp WP, Costa JE (1987) Changes accompanying an extraordinary flood on a sand-bed stream. In: Mayer L, Nash D (eds) Catastrophic flooding, Binghampton symposium in geomorphology, vol 18. Allen and Unwin, Boston, pp 201–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Owen RP (1964) Saltation of uniform grains in air. J Fluid Mech 20:225–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitlick J (1993) Response and recovery of a subalpine stream following a catastrophic flood. Geol Soc Am Bull 105:657–670

    Google Scholar 

  • Raupach MR, Gillette DA, Leys JF (1993) The effect of roughness elements on wind erosion threshold. J Geophys Res 98(D2):3023–3029

    Google Scholar 

  • Sankey JB, Draut AE (2014) Gully annealing by aeolian sediment: field and remote-sensing investigation of aeolian-hillslope-fluvial interactions, Colorado River corridor, Arizona, USA. Geomorphology 220:68–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumm SA, Lichty RW (1963) Channel widening and flood-plain construction along Cimarron River in southwestern Kansas. United States Geological Survey Professional Paper, 352-D, Washington, DC, USA, pp 71–88

  • Shao Y (2001) A model for mineral dust emission. J Geophys Res 106(20):239–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Shao Y (2008) Physical and modeling of wind erosion. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheikh V, Visser S, Stroosnijder L (2009) A simple model to predict soil moisture: bridging event and continuous hydrological (BEACH) modeling. Environ Model Softw 24:542–556

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith ND, Smith DG (1984) William River: an outstanding example of channel widening and braiding caused by bed-load addition. Geology 12(2):78–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Ta W, Yang G, Qu J, Wang T, Dai F (2003) The effect of the coarse aeolian sand on siltation of the Inner Mongolian Reach of the Yellow River. Environ Geol 43:493–502

    Google Scholar 

  • Ta W, Wang H, Jia X (2011) Downstream fining in contrasting reaches of the sand-bedded Yellow River. Hydrol Process 25(24):3693–3700

    Google Scholar 

  • Ta W, Jia X, Wang H (2013a) Channel deposition induced by bank erosion in response to decreased flows in the sand-banked reach of the upstream Yellow River. Catena 105:62–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Ta W, Wang H, Jia X (2013b) The contribution of aeolian processes to fluvial sediment yield from a desert watershed in the Ordos Plateau, China. Hydrol Process 29:80–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Ta W, Wang H, Jia X (2014) Aeolian process-induced hyper-concentrated flow in a desert watershed. J Hydrol 511:220–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Teller JT, Lancaster N (1986) Lacustrine sediments at Narabeb in the central Namib Desert, Namibia. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl 56:177–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas DSG, Stokes S, Shaw PA (1997) Holocene aeolian activity in the southwestern Kalahari Desert, southern Africa: significance and relationships to late-Pleistocene dune-building events. Holocene 7(3):273–281

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornes JB (1977) Channel changes in ephemeral streams: observation, problems and models. In: Gregory KG (ed) River channel changes. Wiley, Chichester, pp 317–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Tooth S (1999) Downstream changes in floodplain character on the Northern Plains of arid central Australia. In: Smith ND, Rogers J (ed) Fluvial sedimentology VI. Oxford: Blackwell. International Association of Sedimentologists, Special Publication No. 28:93-112

  • Tooth S (2000) Process, form, and change in dryland rivers: a review of recent research. Earth-Sci Rev 51:67–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Bülow K (1930) General-geological observations in the moving dune area of the Leba lake Nehrung in East Pomerania. Jahrbuch der Preussischen Geologischen Lande Sanstalt 50(2):592–606 (in German)

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Bülow K (1934) Four years of observations at the wandering dunes on the Nehrung of Leba lake. Provisional report. Jahrb Preuss Geol Landesanst 54(1):151–159 (in German)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z, Ta W (2016) Hyper-concentrated flow response to aeolian and fluvial interactions from a desert watershed upstream of the Yellow River. Catena 147:258–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Fen X, Wang L (1996) The effect of a reservoir on the siltation of the Inner Mongolia Reach of the Yellow River. Yellow River 1:5–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang P, Tian Y, Hou S, Zhang Y (2012) Analysis on characteristics of flow and sediment of the hyperconcentration tributaries of Inner-Mongolia Reach of the Yellow River. Yellow River 34(11):39–42

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wells LE (1990) Holocene history of the El Ninõ phenomenon as recorded in flood sediments of northern coastal Peru. Geology 18:1134–1137

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolman MG, Gerson R (1978) Relative scales of time and effectiveness of climate in watershed geomorphology. Earth Surf Process Landf 3:189–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu J (2013) Erosion and sediment yield of 10 small tributaries joining Inner Mongolia Reach of upper Yellow River in relation with coupled wind-water processes and hyperconcentrated flows. J Sediment Res 6:28–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao H, Shi C, Shao W, Bai J, Yang H (2015) Impacts of climate change and human activities on runoff and sediment load of the Xiliugou Basin in the upper Yellow River. Adv Meteorol. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/481713

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yao H, Shi C, Shao W, Bai J, Yang H (2016) Changes and influencing factors of the sediment loadub the Xiliugou basin of the upper Yellow River, China. Catena 142:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Yasrebi J, Saffari M, Fathi H, Karimian N, Moazallahi M, Gazni R (2009) Evaluation and comparison of ordinary kriging and inverse distance weighting methods for prediction of spatial variability of some soil chemical parameters. Res J Biol Sci 4(1):93–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Zawada PK, Smith AM (1991) The 1988 Orange River flood, Upington region, northwestern Cape Province, RSA. Terra Nova 3:317–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhi J, Shi M (2002) Cross-river sand dam formation response to confluence of extreme sediment loading flow into the Yellow River in July 21, 1989. In: Wang F (ed) Change in water and sediment of the Yellow River. Yellow River Conservancy Press, Zhengzhou, pp 460–471

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Some of the data was provided by the Environmental and Ecological Science Data Center for West China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (http://westdc.westgis.ac.cn).

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41601009) and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFC0500902).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China

    Heqiang Du, Tao Wang, Xian Xue & Sen Li

  2. Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China

    Heqiang Du, Tao Wang, Xian Xue & Sen Li

  3. Urat Desert-Grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China

    Heqiang Du

Authors
  1. Heqiang Du
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tao Wang
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xian Xue
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sen Li
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Heqiang Du.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philip N. Owens

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Du, H., Wang, T., Xue, X. et al. Modern eolian and fluvial processes and their interactions in an ephemeral desert stream in Inner Mongolia, China. J Soils Sediments 20, 1140–1156 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-019-02452-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-019-02452-x

Keywords

Profiles

  1. Heqiang Du View author profile