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Arid Land Geography ›› 2025, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (2): 223-233.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2024.262

• Earth Surface Process • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Developmental characteristics and influencing factors of gullies based on fractal theory in eastern Gansu Province

TANG Yandong(), ZANG Cuiping(), YU Yunpeng, YU Qinglin   

  1. School of Architectural Engineering, Sichuan Polytechnic University, Deyang 618000, Sichuan, China
  • Received:2024-04-29 Revised:2024-07-30 Online:2025-02-25 Published:2025-02-25
  • Contact: ZANG Cuiping E-mail:tyd1201@126.com;115497513@163.com

Abstract:

The Loess Plateau, characterized by soil highly susceptible to erosion from flowing water, frequently experiences gully backward erosion, leading to reduced arable land and a series of geologic hazards. Using high-resolution remote sensing imagery and DEM, the gully network and its characteristic parameters were extracted to analyze the interaction relationships and development characteristics of gullies. The complexity of gully erosion and development was comprehensively evaluated through the box dimension of the watershed gully and the boundary dimension of the gully ridgeline. Additionally, the development process and spatial distribution patterns of erosion in the gully watershed were examined based on the box and boundary dimensions. The results demonstrated that: (1) In secondary-level valley development, there exists a 110° developable interval on one downstream side. (2) Watershed b exhibits the most complex erosion development, followed by watershed a, and then watershed c; along valley slopes, watershed b has the most intricate boundary dimension, followed by watershed a, and then watershed c. The degree of watershed gully erosion increases from southwest to northeast for watershed c. (3) Geological structure significantly influences the degree of gully development, with higher elevation, thinner loess thickness, sparser vegetation, and greater gully erosion. This study offers guiding recommendations for soil and water conservation management in eastern Gansu Province.

Key words: gully development, remote sensing interpretation, fractal theory, influencing factors, eastern Gansu Province