Mechanisms of Freezing -Thawing Induced Wind Erosion in Qinghai -Tibet Plateau
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Abstract:
Freezing and thawing cycles occur very often in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau due to its unique environment with high elevation and cold temperature. The frequent freezing and thawing cycles lead readily to wind erosion during the dry windy conditions,resulting in the emergence of desertification. Freezing-thawing induced wind erosion prevails as a major form of erosion on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Based on simulated experiments using soil samples on the surface of the Plateau,we found that the wind erosion intensity increased with the frequency of the freezing-thawing cycles,the water content of the soil,and the temperature difference in the freezing-thawing process. It is concluded that,the damage of soil structure caused by the repeated,fierce freezing-thawing behaviors was the main reason for wind erosion in the plateau,and the sand-suspended wind was the main driving force.