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Abstract Massive bed degradation (20 m in 7 years) has been observed in the Shi‑ting River, Sichuan Province, China, since the 2008 Wenchuan Ms. 8.0 earthquake. The reason for the massive bed degradation has not been well understood. A hypothesis has been proposed that relates bed degradation to the augmentation of sand supply after the earthquake. The effect of sand on gravel mobility (magic sand effect) has long been observed in laboratory experiments. In this paper, we study whether the augmentation of sand supply and its magic sand effect can lead to the observed massive degradation at decadal scales. A one-dimensional river morphodynamic model is implemented to study the problem in general at field scale and in context of the gravel-bed Shi‑ting River. Sediment transport is calculated with the Wilcock and Crowe (2003) relation, in which the magic sand effect is explicitly embedded in terms of a function relating reference Shields number to the surface sand fraction. We find that the augmentation of gravel supply leads to bed aggradation, whereas the augmentation of sand supply can indeed lead to bed degradation and surface fining. The magnitude and timescale of bed degradation are not sensitive to the sand supply rate but are sensitive to the flood intermittency factor , i.e., the fraction of time the river is in flood. However, an unrealistic flood intermittency factor (≥0.3) would be required in order to match the observed timescale of bed degradation, thus indicating that the magic sand effect might not be the governing reason for massive bed degradation in the Shi‑ting River, and by implication in gravel-bed rivers in general. Our simulation results also indicate that despite the fact that magic sand effects are not explicitly included in most sediment transport relations, they are at least partly built in via the hiding function that is contained in most sediment transport relations for gravel-sand mixtures. While here we use the Shi‑ting River as an example, our results have applicability to gravel-bed rivers subjected to augmentation in sand supply in general. Highlights • Augmentation of gravel supply leads to bed aggradation • Augmentation of sand supply leads to enhanced gravel transport and bed degradation • Magic sand effects alone cannot induce the observed river incision at decadal scale • Magic sand effects can be partly incorporated with a dimensionless hiding function [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Support vector machine (SVM) modeling is based on statistical learning theory. It involves a training phase with associated input and target output values. In recent years, the method has become increasingly popular. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the mapping power of SVM modeling in earthquake triggered landslide-susceptibility mapping for a section of the Jianjiang River watershed using a Geographic Information System (GIS) software. The river was affected by the Wenchuan earthquake of May 12, 2008. Visual interpretation of colored aerial photographs of 1-m resolution and extensive field surveys provided a detailed landslide inventory map containing 3147 landslides related to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Elevation, slope angle, slope aspect, distance from seismogenic faults, distance from drainages, and lithology were used as the controlling parameters. For modeling, three groups of positive and negative training samples were used in concert with four different kernel functions. Positive training samples include the centroids of 500 large landslides, those of all 3147 landslides, and 5000 randomly selected points in landslide polygons. Negative training samples include 500, 3147, and 5000 randomly selected points on slopes that remained stable during the Wenchuan earthquake. The four kernel functions are linear, polynomial, radial basis, and sigmoid. In total, 12 cases of landslide susceptibility were mapped. Comparative analyses of landslide-susceptibility probability and area relation curves show that both the polynomial and radial basis functions suitably classified the input data as either landslide positive or negative though the radial basis function was more successful. The 12 generated landslide-susceptibility maps were compared with known landslide centroid locations and landslide polygons to verify the success rate and predictive accuracy of each model. The 12 results were further validated using area-under-curve analysis. Group 3 with 5000 randomly selected points on the landslide polygons, and 5000 randomly selected points along stable slopes gave the best results with a success rate of 79.20% and predictive accuracy of 79.13% under the radial basis function. Of all the results, the sigmoid kernel function was the least skillful when used in concert with the centroid data of all 3147 landslides as positive training samples, and the negative training samples of 3147 randomly selected points in regions of stable slope (success rate=54.95%; predictive accuracy=61.85%). This paper also provides suggestions and reference data for selecting appropriate training samples and kernel function types for earthquake triggered landslide-susceptibility mapping using SVM modeling. Predictive landslide-susceptibility maps could be useful in hazard mitigation by helping planners understand the probability of landslides in different regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper examines the characteristics of historical floods and associated monsoon precipitation in the Yangtze Catchment, with specific attention given to the middle and lower Yangtze basin. Based on in situ field observations and historical discharge, flood duration, and land-use information, etc, we propose a number of flood characteristics of the basin: 1) floods have occurred more frequently after 1950s, however, changes in discharge can only partially explain the occurrence of the floods; 2) spectral analysis on the annual mean water discharge during 1860–1985 in Hankou hydrological gauging station of the middle Yangtze River reveals 16.4-year and 2.5-year flood recurrences, which become shortened from what has been recorded in the Chinese historical literature on millennial time scale; 3) floods after 1950s tend to have higher water levels (both mean and peak) and longer duration than before, but with remarkably limited inundation area; and 4) a series of flood waves generated by monsoon precipitation in 1998, initiated from the middle Yangtze, highlights the basin-wide climate hazards with a recurrence of around 60 years. Intensifying anthropogenic activity in the last century, including deforestation, dyking, and lake–coast reclamation etc. that results directly in riverbeds aggradation and shrinkage of lake water area in the middle Yangtze basin, are the key causes for recently human-induced floods in the basin. Threatened land property in the basin reminds us to harmonize with the river and provide more space for flooding. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper describes 20th century climate and human impacts on terrestrial and fluvial systems in the Dabie Mountains, Anhui Province, China, based on analyses of four types of information. Analyses of particle size, mineral magnetism, organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in a sediment core taken from the Longhekou reservoir, built in 1958 AD in the upper reaches of Hangbu River, provide an ∼45 year record of fluvial responses, while monitored meteorological and hydrological data provide records of climate and river discharge. Census data compiled for the local Shucheng County provide records of population and land use, complemented with analyses of satellite images. The Xiaotian river delivers over 65% of the total water and silt to the reservoir. Analyses indicate that the fluvial regime tracks the monsoon climate over seasonal timescales, but human activities have a strongly mediating effect on sediment supply, sediment delivery and, to a lesser extent, runoff over longer timescales. Notable periods of human impact on erosion include the Great Leap Forward (1958–1960) and Great Cultural Revolution (1966–1976). A rising trend in precipitation and new land use changes at the present time may be leading to an enhanced flood risk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A sharp decrease in total suspended solids (TSS) concentration has occurred in the Mekong River after the closure of the Manwan Dam in China in 1993, the first of a planned cascade of eight dams. This paper describes the upstream developments on the Mekong River, concentrating on the effects of hydropower dams and reservoirs. The reservoir-related changes in total suspended solids, suspended sediment concentration (SSC), and hydrology have been analyzed, and the impacts of such possible changes on the Lower Mekong Basin discussed. The theoretical trapping efficiency of the proposed dams has been computed and the amount of sediment to be trapped in the reservoirs estimated. The reservoir trapping of sediments and the changing of natural flow patterns will impact the countries downstream in this international river basin. Both positive and negative possible effects of such impacts have been reviewed, based on the available data from the Mekong and studies on other basins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Intensive anthropogenic disturbances have affected the channel of the middle Yangtze River since the 1950s. This paper selects the Jianli reach as an example to examine human impact on channel change in the middle Yangtze River. 1:100,000 channel distribution maps from 1951, 1961 and 1975 and 1:25,000 navigation charts from 1981 and 1997 were employed to reconstruct channel change in the study reach. The result indicates that the channel, under the constraint of levees along the riverbanks, underwent a minor widening but frequent bank failure due to susceptible bank structure and increase in water discharge. The bank failure promoted bar growth in the channel. Cross-section changes and quantitative calculations of erosion and deposition based on the DEM derived from navigation charts present a pattern of over-bank sedimentation and riverbed incision. The stage and duration of floods have increased following levee construction and bank revetment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper addresses the recent (1970s–1990s) processes of river mouth bar formation, riverbed aggradation and distributary migration in the Huanghe River mouth area, in the light of station-based monitoring, field measurements and remote sensing interpretation. The results show that the morphological changes of the river mouth bar have been closely associated with the largely reduced fluvial discharge and sediment load. Landform development such as bar progradation occurred in two phases, i.e. before and after 1989, which correspond to faster and lower bar growth rates, respectively. Fast riverbed aggradation in the mouth channel was strongly related to river mouth bar progradation. During 1976–1996, about 2.8% of the total sediment loads were deposited in the river channel on the upper to middle delta. Therefore, the river water level rose by a few meters from 1984 to 1996. The frequent distributary channel migration, which switched the radial channel pattern into the SE-directed pattern in the mid-1980s, was linked with mouth bar formation. Marine conditions also constrain seaward bar progradation. Furthermore, the history of river mouth bar formation reflects human impacts, such as dredging and dyking in order to stabilize the coastal area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents a revision of a river-flow response model by Dust and Wohl (2012). In particular, serious confusion of the relationship between sediment transport capacity and width-to-depth ratio is clarified. As a consequence, we propose a reasonable qualitative model for understanding the complexity of river responses as illustrated in an appropriately modified form of the Lane diagram, which identifies the equilibrium condition based on the balance between channel aggradation and degradation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]