Aspect differentiation of wind erosion rates on sandy loess hillslopes affected by water erosion

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2026.00035

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (2): 371-379.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2026.00035

Aspect differentiation of wind erosion rates on sandy loess hillslopes affected by water erosion

Xiaoqiang Fan¹(), Fei Bai², Jiaqiong Zhang¹^,³(), Ziyan Huang¹, Mengjie Wang¹, Xin An¹, Yunji Yan¹

^1.College of Soil and Water Conservation / National Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Combating，Northwest A&F University，Yangling 712100，Shaanxi，China
^2.Yulin Engineering Construction Center of Soil and Water Conservation Ecological，Yulin 719000，Shaanxi，China
^3.Institute of Soil and Water Conservation，Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources，Yangling 712100，Shaanxi，China

Received:2026-01-12 Revised:2026-03-05 Online:2026-03-20 Published:2026-04-13
Contact: Jiaqiong Zhang

Abstract

Abstract:

Slope aspect is one of the key factors affecting soil wind erosion， yet there is currently a lack of research on the aspect differentiation of wind erosion rates affected by water erosion. This study quantified wind erosion rates on typical windward and leeward hillslopes at Shenmu City of Shaanxi Province in the wind-water erosion crisscross region on the Loess Plateau using a Be-7 tracing. The specified objectives were to clarify aspect variation in wind erosion rates affected by water erosion taking wind erosion as a contrast， and to identify the impact degree of water erosion on wind erosion on "˄" shape continuous distributed hillslopes. The results showed that windward slopes were dominated by wind erosion， with wind erosion rates increased logarithmically or linearly from the toe to the top of the hillslope； while leeward slopes were dominated by wind deposition， concentrating between the middle-upper to toe area of the slope regardless of the influence of water erosion. Water erosion obviously varied wind erosion rates and their spatial distribution. Water erosion resulted in the decrease of the mean wind erosion rate by 85.2% on the windward slope compared to that of sole wind erosion （712.2 t·km^-2）， and the reduction in wind erosion rates at different slope positions was significantly positively correlated to the co-located water erosion rates （R²=0.96）. On the leeward slope， the mean deposition rate of wind erosion affected by water erosion decreased by 74.2% compared to that of sole wind erosion （383.5 t·km^-2）， and the wind erosion area decreased by 30%. Additionally， water erosion also changed the spatial distribution of wind erosion indicating by the contour line distribution of wind erosion rates. The contour lines of wind erosion rates changed from a pattern that parallel to width direction of the hillslopes to parallel to their length direction in some areas. Furthermore， water erosion also varied the material transport from windward slope to its connected leeward slope. The deposition proportion of eroded material on the leeward slope transporting from the windward slope increased by 38.2% affected by water erosion compared to sole wind erosion， and the total wind erosion rates of both hillslopes decreased by 97.4%. The results of this study could provide research foundation for quantifying the influence of topographic factors on wind-water erosion.

Key words: wind-water erosion crisscross region, Be-7 tracing, wind erosion, slope aspect, isoline of erosion rate

CLC Number:

S157.1

Xiaoqiang Fan, Fei Bai, Jiaqiong Zhang, Ziyan Huang, Mengjie Wang, Xin An, Yunji Yan. Aspect differentiation of wind erosion rates on sandy loess hillslopes affected by water erosion[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2026, 46(2): 371-379.

Figures/Tables 6

References 28

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条件	方法	区域/研究时期	坡向	坡长/m	坡度/（°）	土地利用类型	风蚀速率/（t·km^-2·a^-1）	数据来源
受水蚀影响的风蚀	Be-7示踪	陕西神木/2025年	NW	10	15	耕地	105.7	本研究
	Be-7示踪	陕西神木/2025年	SE	10	15	耕地	-99.0	本研究
	Cs-137 示踪与侵蚀能量分析	陕西神木/2000年	N	125	18~21	耕地	＞1 797	李勉等^[25]
		陕西神木/2009年	NW	—	—	退耕地	2 439	孙喜军^[12]
		陕西神木/2009年	SE	—	—	退耕地	-299	孙喜军^[12]
		陕西神木/2014年	NW	70	12	退耕地	4 320	Zhang等^[11]
			N				2 750
			SE				-1 080
			S				-450
	Cs-137 示踪和RUSLE模型	陕西定边/2014年	NW	105	10	耕地	1 460	Tuo等^[10]
		陕西靖边/2020年	NW	80	9~10	退耕地	3 138	Zou等^[9]
			N				2 572
			SE				611
			S				2 442
单一风蚀	Be-7示踪	陕西神木/2025年	NW	10	15	耕地	712.2	本研究
		陕西神木/2025年	SE	10	15	耕地	383.5	本研究
		陕西神木/2015—2016年	NW	5	10	耕地	458.0~609.4	Zhang等^[8]
			NW	5	15	耕地	571.0~691.1
			NW	5	20	耕地	674.9~811.2
			NW	55	6	耕地	388.1
			NW	75	20	耕地	778.2

条件	方法	区域/研究时期	坡向	坡长/m	坡度/（°）	土地利用类型	风蚀速率/（t·km^-2·a^-1）	数据来源
受水蚀影响的风蚀	Be-7示踪	陕西神木/2025年	NW	10	15	耕地	105.7	本研究
	Be-7示踪	陕西神木/2025年	SE	10	15	耕地	-99.0	本研究
	Cs-137 示踪与侵蚀能量分析	陕西神木/2000年	N	125	18~21	耕地	＞1 797	李勉等^[25]
		陕西神木/2009年	NW	—	—	退耕地	2 439	孙喜军^[12]
		陕西神木/2009年	SE	—	—	退耕地	-299	孙喜军^[12]
		陕西神木/2014年	NW	70	12	退耕地	4 320	Zhang等^[11]
			N				2 750
			SE				-1 080
			S				-450
	Cs-137 示踪和RUSLE模型	陕西定边/2014年	NW	105	10	耕地	1 460	Tuo等^[10]
		陕西靖边/2020年	NW	80	9~10	退耕地	3 138	Zou等^[9]
			N				2 572
			SE				611
			S				2 442
单一风蚀	Be-7示踪	陕西神木/2025年	NW	10	15	耕地	712.2	本研究
		陕西神木/2025年	SE	10	15	耕地	383.5	本研究
		陕西神木/2015—2016年	NW	5	10	耕地	458.0~609.4	Zhang等^[8]
			NW	5	15	耕地	571.0~691.1
			NW	5	20	耕地	674.9~811.2
			NW	55	6	耕地	388.1
			NW	75	20	耕地	778.2

Aspect differentiation of wind erosion rates on sandy loess hillslopes affected by water erosion

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