Acta Geographica Sinica ›› 2003, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (2): 247-254.doi: 10.11821/xb200302012

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Sedimentation Rate Change in the Lower Yellow River in the Past 2300 Years

XU Jiongxin1, SUN Ji2   

  1. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
  • Received:2002-05-08 Revised:2002-11-16 Online:2003-03-25 Published:2003-03-25
  • Supported by:

    National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.59890200; Knowledge Innovation Project of the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, No.CXIOG-A00-05-01

Abstract:

Sedimentary method has been used to determine the historical sedimentation rate in this study, and historical literature has been studied to obtain information on climate change and human activities. Based on the data obtained in this way, the temporal variation in the sedimentation rate of the lower Yellow River in the past 2300 years has been studied in relation with climate change and human activities. The results indicate that the response of the sedimentation zone of the Yellow River system to the change in the erosion zone is sensible. The changes in vegetation and land use, both related to climate change and human activities, are two major controls for the acceleration of sedimentation rate. In addition, changes in strategies for the harnessing of the lower Yellow River are also responsible for such acceleration. During the process of accelerated sedimentation in the past 2300 years, the period of the 7th-10th centuries and the period since the mid-19th century have been identified as two periods with abrupt changes.

Key words: sedimentation rate, human activities, climate change, the lower Yellow River