Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Research on the slope spectrum of the Loess Plateau

  • Published:
Science in China Series E: Technological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A new concept dealing with digital analysis of loess terrain, slope spectrum, is presented and discussed in this paper, by introducing its characteristic, representation and extracting method from DEMs. Using 48 geomorphological units in different parts of the loess as test areas and 5 m-resolution DEMs as original test data, the quantitative depiction and spatial distribution of slope spectrum in China’s Loess Plateau have been studied on the basis of a series of carefully-designed experiments. In addition, initial experiment indicates a strong relationship between the slope spectrum and the loess landform types, displaying a potential importance of the slope spectrum in geomorphological studies. Based on the slope spectrums derived from the 25 m-resolution DEM data in whole loess terrain in northern part of Shaanxi, 13 slope spectrum indices were extracted and integrated into a comprehensive layer with image integration method. Based on that, a series of unsupervised classifications was applied in order to make a landform classification in northern Shaanxi Loess Plateau. Experimental results show that the slope spectrum analysis is an effective method in revealing the macro landform features. A continuous change of slope spectrum from south to north in northern Shaanxi Loess Plateau shows an obvious spatial distribution of different loess landforms. This also proves the great significance of the slope spectrum method in describing the terrain roughness and landform evolution as well as a further understanding on landform genesis and spatial distribution rule of different landforms in the Loess Plateau.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chen C K. Landform type and its evolution in south-eastern of east Gansu province. Acta Geogr Sin (in Chinese), 1956, 22(3): 223–231

    Google Scholar 

  2. Luo L X. A tentative classification of landforms in the Loess Plateau. Acta Geogr Sin (in Chinese), 1956, 22(3): 201–222

    Google Scholar 

  3. Luo S Y, Sun X, Chen Y Z. Physical Geography of the Loess Plateau (in Chinese). Xi’an: Shaanxi People’s Publishing House, 1998

    Google Scholar 

  4. Yang H R, Xu X J, Han T C. Geomorphology of the Loess Plateau of south-western Shanxi. Acta Geogr Sin (in Chinese), 1957, 23(1): 17–53

    Google Scholar 

  5. Qi Y N, Wang Z C. Geomorphology and new tectonic movement in the Guanzhong plain and south Loess Plateau of north Shaanxi Province. Acta Geogr Sin (in Chinese), 1959, 25(4): 286–298

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  6. Zhang Z H. Geomorphologic Map of the Loess Plateau, China (1:500,000) (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  7. Wu B F, Chen M R, Chen Z X, et al. The Loess Plateau of China (in Chinese). Xi’an: Shannxi People’s Publishing House, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  8. John P W, John C G. Terrain Analysis: Principles and Applications. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2000

    Google Scholar 

  9. Tang G A, Liu X J, Lu G N. Principle and Methodology of Digital Elevation Model and Geo-analysis (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press, 2005

    Google Scholar 

  10. Li Z L, Zhu Q. Digital Elevation Model (in Chinese). Wuhan: Wuhan University Press, 2001

    Google Scholar 

  11. Li Z L, Zhu Q, Gold C M. Digital Terrain Modeling: Principles and Methodology. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2005

    Google Scholar 

  12. Richard J P. Geomorphometry—diversity in quantitative surface analysis. Prog Phys Geog, 2000, 24(1): 1–30

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hu P, Yang C Y, Wu Y L, et al. New Digital Elevation Model: Theory, Methodology, Standard and Application (in Chinese). Beijing: SinoMaps Press, 2007

    Google Scholar 

  14. Ke Z Y, He J B, Chi T H. Digital Terrain Model (in Chinese). Hefei: Chinese Science and Technology Press, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  15. Zhou Q M, Liu X J. Digital Terrain Analysis (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press, 2006

    Google Scholar 

  16. Tang G A. A Research on the Accuracy of Digital Elevation Models. Beijing: Science Press, 2000

    Google Scholar 

  17. Adrian J F, Michael J G. Automatic DEM generation for Antarctic terrain. Photogramm Rec, 2001, 17(98): 275–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Crosetto M. Calibration and validation of SAR interferometry for DEM generation. ISPRS J Photogramm, 2002, 57(3): 213–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Florinsky I V. Errors of signal processing in digital terrain modeling. Int J Geogr Inf Sci, 2002, 16(5): 475–501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Gong J, Li Z L, Zhu Q, et al. Effect of various factors on the accuracy of DEMs: An intensive experimental investigation. Photogramm Eng Rem S, 2000, 66(9): 1113–1117

    Google Scholar 

  21. Shary P A, Sharaya L S, Mitusov A V. Fundamental quantitative methods of land surface analysis. Geoderma, 2002, 107(1–2): 1–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Li Z L, Li C M. Objective generalization of DEM based on a natural principle. In: Proceedings of 2nd International Workshop on Dynamic and Multi-Dimensional GIS, 1999

  23. Zhu Q, Zhao J, Zhong Z, et al. An efficient algorithm for the extraction of topographic structures from large scale grid DEMs. In: Li Z L, Zhou Q M, Kainz W, eds. Advances in Spatial Analysis and Decision Making. Netherland: Balkema, 2003. 99–107

    Google Scholar 

  24. Toutin T. Impact of terrain slope and aspect on radargrammetric DEM accuracy. ISPRS J Photogramm, 2002, 57(3), 228–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Li F Y, Tang G A, Wang C, et al. Quantitative analysis and spatial distribution of slope spectrum—A case study in the Loess Plateau in north Shaanxi province. In: Chen J M, Pu Y X, eds. Proceedings or SPIE-Geoinformatics 2007: Geospatial Information Science. Bellingham: SPIE, 2007

    Google Scholar 

  26. Tang G A, Zhao M D, Li T W, et al. Simulation on slope uncertainty extracted from DEMs at different resolution levels: A case study in the Loess Plateau. J Geogr Sci, 2003, 13(4): 387–394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Lu G N, Qian Y D, Chen Z M. Automated extraction of the characteristic of topography from grid digital elevation data. Acta Geogr Sin (in Chinese), 1998, 53(6): 562–570

    Google Scholar 

  28. Lu G N, Qian Y D, Chen Z M. Study on automated mapping of channel network in hilly loess region. Acta Geod Carto Sin (in Chinese), 1998, 27(2): 131–137

    Google Scholar 

  29. Chen N, Wang Q M. Study on the relationship between the resolution and the slope extracted by DEM based on Single Grids. J China Univ Min Tech (in Chinese), 2007, 36(4): 499–504

    Google Scholar 

  30. Zhang C X, Yang Q K, Duan J J. Method for establishing high resolution digital elevation model. J Hydro Eng (in Chinese), 2007, 37(8): 1009–1014

    Google Scholar 

  31. Montgomery D R. Slope distributions, threshold hillslopes, and steady-state topography. Am J Sci, 2001, 301(4–5): 432–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Wolinsky M A, Pratson L F. Constrain on landscape evolution from slope histograms. Geology, 2005, 33(6): 477–480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Smith D K, Shaw P R. Using topographic slope distributions to infer seafloor patterns. IEEE J Oceanic Eng, 1989, 14(4): 338–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Burbank D W, Leland J, Fielding E, et al. Bedrock incision, rock uplift and threshold hillslopes in the northwestern Himalaysis. Nature, 1996, 379(8): 505–510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Iwahashi J S, Watanabeb S, Furuya T. Landform analysis of slope movements using DEM in Higashikubiki area, Japan. Comput Geosci-UK, 2001, 27(7): 851–865

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Daniel G B, David P L, Kenneth A D. Supervised classification of types of glaciated landscapes using digital elevation data. Geomorphology, 1998, 21(3–4): 233–250

    Google Scholar 

  37. Tang G A, Liu A L, Li F Y, et al. DEM based research on the landform features of China. In: Gong J Y, Zhang J X, eds. Proceedings or SPIE — Geoinformatics 2006: Geospatial Information Science. Bellingham: SPIE, 2006

    Google Scholar 

  38. Liu Y, Wang Y X, Pan B T. A preliminary approach on the 3D presentation and quantitative analysis of planation surface. Geogr Res (in Chinese), 1999, 18(4): 391–399

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Virtual Geographic Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, 210046, China

    GuoAn Tang, FaYuan Li, XueJun Liu, Yi Long & Xin Yang

Authors
  1. GuoAn Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. FaYuan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. XueJun Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yi Long
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xin Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to GuoAn Tang.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40671148 and 40571120)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tang, G., Li, F., Liu, X. et al. Research on the slope spectrum of the Loess Plateau. Sci. China Ser. E-Technol. Sci. 51 (Suppl 1), 175–185 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-008-5002-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-008-5002-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation