Intensity Assessment of Compound Soil Erosion in Source Region of Yellow River and Its Response to Climate Change under Background of Ecological Restoration
Objective This study aims to clarify the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of compound soil erosion in the source region of the Yellow River under the background of ecological restoration and reveal its response mechanisms to climate change. Methods Based on meteorological observations, remote sensing-derived vegetation index, and topographic data from 1980 to 2020, the RUSLE, RWEQ, and freeze-thaw erosion models were coupled to quantitatively assess the intensity of three types of soil erosion driving forces. Transition matrices were employed to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution pathways, while pixel-based partial correlation analysis was conducted to reveal the independent responses of compound erosion to annual precipitation, annual average temperature, and annual average wind speed. Results From 1980 to 2020, the climate in the source region of the Yellow River exhibited a warming and wetting trend, characterized by a significant increase in precipitation, a temperature rise of 1.5 ℃, and a wind speed reduction of 0.3-0.6 m/s, while vegetation coverage increased by more than 40.0%. The intensities of water, wind, and freeze-thaw erosion all decreased significantly. Partial correlation analysis between different climate variables and compound erosion driving forces revealed that, during the study period (1980-2020), the positive driving effect of precipitation on erosion continuously strengthened (the proportion of positively correlated area increased from 27.4% to 56.0%), the influence of temperature shifted from promoting to suppressing erosion (the proportion of positively correlated area decreased from 46.0% to 12.8%), and the driving effect of wind speed markedly weakened (the proportion of positively correlated area decreased to 19.8%). The alternating and synergistic effects of compound erosion driving forces in the source region of the Yellow River resulted in abnormal responses of climate variables and erosion intensity changes under specific spatiotemporal conditions. Conclusion The ecological restoration project effectively improves the compound soil erosion environmental characteristics in the source region of the Yellow River, thereby suppressing the compound soil erosion in this region. The alternating and synergistic effects of compound erosion driving forces lead to abnormal spatiotemporal responses of climate variables and erosion intensity changes. The research findings provide theoretical references for the intensity assessment of compound soil erosion and its response to environmental changes.
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