Spatiotemporal Trends and Variations in Rainfall Erosivity in the East Qinling Mountains and the Environmental Impacts

Abstract

A better understanding of the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of rainfall erosivity and effects of extreme rainfall events on soil erosion is the basis for improved water resource planning, protection, and ecological restoration in the Qinling Mountains. Using long-term daily precipitation data from 19 national standard meteorological stations from 1957 to 2018, the spatiotemporal variation trend of rainfall erosivity was explored. A linear regression analysis method was used to detect trends in rainfall erosivity. The spatial pattern of rainfall erosivity, which is based on annual, seasonal, and extreme rainfall indices, was analyzed via a geospatial interpolation method. Effects of natural factors and human activities on soil erosion at different stages were examined via the double cumulative curve method. The average annual rainfall erosivity in the Shangluo area is 2306 MJ mm ha−1 h−1 year−1 and generally displays a gradual decreasing trend from southeast to northwest. Over the last 60 years, the annual R exhibited a nonsignificant increasing trend (p > 0.05). Overall, rainfall erosivity showed a phased trend with an increasing trend after 2000. Rainfall erosivity from June to September accounts for 78.5% of the annual total, while the annual R is mainly determined by a few rainfall events during the year. RX1d and RX5d account for 20–40% and 60–80%, respectively, of the total annual R and are likely to result in severe soil erosion in sloping cultivated land areas, agricultural lands, and dirt roads with continued climate change. Implementation of the National Natural Forest Protection Project and the ‘Grain for Green’ Project significantly reduced the intensity and scope of soil erosion in the area. This study aids in understanding the ecohydrological processes and soil erosion and sediment transport characteristics in the Qinling Mountains and promotes water resource protection and management along the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.