Land degradation changes in the Yellow River Delta and its response to the streamflow‐sediment fluxes since 1976

Abstract

AbstractThe Yellow River is globally renowned for its high sediment concentration, primarily because it flows over the Loess Plateau, which suffers from severe land degradation mainly in the soil erosion. Vast sediment flows from the Yellow River into the sea through the Yellow River Delta (YRD), largely shaping the YRD. On the basis of remote sensing images and historical hydrological measurements, we investigated the streamflow‐sediment flux from the Yellow River and the land area changes of YRD region from 1976 to 2016. The relationship between the streamflow‐sediment flux from the Yellow River and the land change rate at the YRD was examined. The changes in shape of different parts of the YRD and their influencing factors were also discussed. The results showed that there is a significant correlation between the land change rate at the Estuary region and streamflow‐sediment flux from the Yellow River. Because of ecological environment constructions on the Loess Plateau, the streamflow‐sediment flux, particularly the sediment flux, underwent a decreasing trend. Along with the collapse of sediment flux, the land area of the YRD and the Estuary region increased before 1998 and decreased afterwards. The solidification projects are of great significance to the protection of the Northern River Beach region, but the decreasing trend of the land degradation rate at the Estuary region is unlikely to change. Our results provided a useful reference for the protection of the YRD and prevention of land degradation in the Yellow River Basin.