Topographic maps,as essential tools and sources of information for geographic research,contain precise spatial locations and rich map features,and they illustrate spatio-temporal information on the distribution and di...Topographic maps,as essential tools and sources of information for geographic research,contain precise spatial locations and rich map features,and they illustrate spatio-temporal information on the distribution and differences of various surface features.Currently,topographic maps are mainly stored in raster and vector formats.Extraction of the spatio-temporal knowledge in the maps—such as spatial distribution patterns,feature relationships,and dynamic evolution—still primarily relies on manual interpretation.However,manual interpretation is time-consuming and laborious,especially for large-scale,long-term map knowledge extraction and application.With the development of artificial intelligence technology,it is possible to improve the automation level of map knowledge interpretation.Therefore,the present study proposes an automatic interpretation method for raster topographic map knowledge based on deep learning.To address the limitations of current data-driven intelligent technology in learning map spatial relations and cognitive logic,we establish a formal description of map knowledge by mapping the relationship between map knowledge and features,thereby ensuring interpretation accuracy.Subsequently,deep learning techniques are employed to extract map features automatically,and the spatio-temporal knowledge is constructed by combining formal descriptions of geographic feature knowledge.Validation experiments demonstrate that the proposed method effectively achieves automatic interpretation of spatio-temporal knowledge of geographic features in maps,with an accuracy exceeding 80%.The findings of the present study contribute to machine understanding of spatio-temporal differences in map knowledge and advances the intelligent interpretation and utilization of cartographic information.展开更多
The capabilities of GIS for constructing a digital elevation model of a mountainous area and visualizing a spatial image of the terrain are given in this paper.Graphic,digital data and topographic maps,which are the m...The capabilities of GIS for constructing a digital elevation model of a mountainous area and visualizing a spatial image of the terrain are given in this paper.Graphic,digital data and topographic maps,which are the main sources for GIS,are described.The methods of vectorization of isolines and the requirements for technical means of processing graphic materials are presented in detail.The advantages and disadvantages of the DEM of a mountainous region are shown here.Segmentation methods using an interpolation polynomial are described in detail.A DEM of the mountainous area where the border between the republics runs was constructed in 2D and 3D formats using the GIS Panorama.Reducing the chord length when segmenting isolines on topographic maps leads to more accurate DEM construction.A vertical profile of a mountainous area with a visibility zone between two points was constructed.It is expected that the improved latitude,longitude and altitude parameters of the topographic map will be used to form a regional geodetic network and geospatial analysis of mountain ranges.It is proposed to use not only satellite data,but also classical geodetic networks and maps.It is recommended to use satellite and aerial photography to clarify the topographic and geodetic support of the studied area.展开更多
Glacier dynamics in the Himalayan midlatitudes,particularly in regions like the Shishapangma,are not yet fully understood,especially the localized topographic and climatic impacts on glacier deformation.This study ana...Glacier dynamics in the Himalayan midlatitudes,particularly in regions like the Shishapangma,are not yet fully understood,especially the localized topographic and climatic impacts on glacier deformation.This study analyzes the spatiotemporal characteristics of glacier surface deformation in the Shishapangma region using the Small Baseline Subset(SBAS)Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar(In SAR)technique.The analysis reveals an average deformation rate of-4.02±17.65 mm/yr across the entire study area,with glacier regions exhibiting significantly higher rates of uplift(16.87±13.20 mm/yr)and subsidence(20.11±14.55 mm/yr)compared to non-glacier areas.It identifies significant surface lowering on the mountain flanks and localized uplift in certain catchments,emphasizing the higher deformation rates in glacial areas compared to non-glacial ones.We found a strong positive correlation between temperature and cumulative deformation(correlation coefficient of 0.63),particularly in glacier areas(0.82).The research highlights the role of temperature as the primary driver of glacier wastage,particularly at lower elevations,with strong correlations found between temperature and cumulative deformation.It also indicates the complex interactions between topographic features,notably,slope gradient,which shows a positive correlation with subsidence rates,especially for slopes below 35°.South-,southwest-,and west-facing slopes exhibit significant uplift,while north-,northeast-,and east-facing slopes predominantly subside.Additionally,we identified transition zones between debris-covered glaciers and clean ice as areas of most intense deformation,with average rates exceeding 30 mm/yr,highlighting these as potential high-risk zones for geohazards.This study comprehensively analyzes the deformation characteristics in both glacier and non-glacier areas in the Shishapangma region,revealing the complex interplay of topographic,climatic,and hydrological factors influencing glacier dynamics.展开更多
Exploring the worldwide patterns of endemism and the processes that lead to the formation of highendemism centers is crucial in biogeography.This study examines the geographic distribution and ecological influences on...Exploring the worldwide patterns of endemism and the processes that lead to the formation of highendemism centers is crucial in biogeography.This study examines the geographic distribution and ecological influences on the endemism of liverworts across 390 regions worldwide.We assess phylogenetic endemism and relative phylogenetic endemism in relation to eleven environmental factors,which represent current and Quaternary climate variations,as well as topographic and environmental heterogeneity.Areas with higher endemism in liverworts tend to have higher temperatures,precipitation,and environmental heterogeneity,but lower temperature seasonality and lesser impacts from Quaternary climate changes.Regions exhibiting notably high endemism are predominantly found in tropical Asia,Madagascar,eastern Australia,and the Andes,while those with notably low endemism are generally in temperate Eurasia and North America,parts of Africa,and eastern South America.Centers of neo-endemism are mainly in southern Africa,whereas centers of paleo-endemism are in southern South America,tropical Asia,and New Zealand.Environment variability is a more significant predictor of phylogenetic endemism than current climate conditions,which are themselves more predictive than variables related to Quaternary climate changes.Nevertheless,these three types of explanatory variables combined explain only about one-third of the variance in phylogenetic endemism.展开更多
The topographic factor(LS factor),derived from the multiplication of the slope length(L)and slope steepness(S)factors,is a vital parameter in soil erosion models.Generated from the digital elevation model(DEM),the LS ...The topographic factor(LS factor),derived from the multiplication of the slope length(L)and slope steepness(S)factors,is a vital parameter in soil erosion models.Generated from the digital elevation model(DEM),the LS factor always varies with the changing DEM resolution,i.e.,the LS factor scale effect.Previous studies have found the phenomenon of the LS factor scale effect,but the underlying causes of this phenomenon has not been well explored.Therefore,how the DEM resolution affects the LS factor and how the scale effect of the L and S factors influence the LS factor scale effect remains unclear.To address these problems,we collected 20 watersheds from the Guangdong Province with different topographic reliefs,and compared the corresponding L,S and LS factors at 10-m and 30-m resolution DEMs.Our results indicate that the S factor,heavily influenced by slope underestimation in coarse-resolution DEMs,makes a difference in the LS factor scale effect.In addition,the LS factor scale effect becomes less significant with increasing reliefs,suggesting the possibility of using 30-m DEM for LS calculation in rugged terrains.Our findings on the underlying mechanisms of the LS factor scale effect help to identify the uncertainty in the LS factor estimation,thereby enhancing the accuracy of soil erosion assessment,particularly in regions with different topographic characteristics and contribute to more effective soil conservation strategies and decision-making.展开更多
Most research on carbon storage in forests has focused on qualitative studies of carbon storage and influ-encing factors rather than on quantifying the effect of the spatial distribution of carbon storage and of its i...Most research on carbon storage in forests has focused on qualitative studies of carbon storage and influ-encing factors rather than on quantifying the effect of the spatial distribution of carbon storage and of its influencing factors at different scales.Here we described the spatial dis-tribution of aboveground carbon storage(ACS)in a 20-ha plot in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest to evalu-ate and quantify the relative effects of biotic factors(species diversity and structural diversity)and abiotic factors(soil and topographic factors)on ACS at different scales.Scale effects of the spatial distribution of ACS were significant,with higher variability at smaller scales,but less at larger scales.The distribution was also spatially heterogeneous,with more carbon storage on north-and east-facing slopes than on south-and west-facing slopes.At a smaller scale,species diversity and structural diversity each had a direct positive impact on ACS,but soil factors had no significant direct impact.At increasing scales,topographic and soil fac-tors gradually had a greater direct influence,whereas the influence of species diversity gradually decreased.Structural diversity had the greatest impact,followed by topographic factors and soil factors,while species diversity had a rela-tively smaller impact.These findings suggest studies on ACS in subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests in southern China should consider scale effects,specifically on the heterogene-ity of ACS distribution at small scales.Studies and conser-vation efforts need to focus on smaller habitat types with particular emphasis on habitat factors such as aspect and soil conditions,which have significant influences on community species diversity,structural diversity,and ACS distribution.展开更多
The authors regret that an error occurred during the preparation of their article:One of the official databases,which was used for functional trait collections,contained an incorrect term–'chametophytes'–for...The authors regret that an error occurred during the preparation of their article:One of the official databases,which was used for functional trait collections,contained an incorrect term–'chametophytes'–for the life form category'chamaephytes'.Unfortunately,this incorrect term was used throughout the article following the nomenclature of this official database:in one instance in the main text,in Fig.3 and its caption,in Fig.5,and in two instances in the supplementary material.展开更多
Research on the application of machine learning(ML)models to landslide susceptibility assessments has gained popularity in recent years,with a focus primarily on topographic factors derived from digital elevation mode...Research on the application of machine learning(ML)models to landslide susceptibility assessments has gained popularity in recent years,with a focus primarily on topographic factors derived from digital elevation models(DEMs).However,few studies have focused on the explanatory effects of these factors on different models,i.e.whether DEM-based factors affect different models in the same way.This study investigated whether different ML models could yield consistent interpretations of DEM-based factors using explanatory algorithms.Six ML models,including a support vector machine,a neural network,extreme gradient boosting,a random forest,linear regression,and K-nearest neighbors,were trained and evaluated on five geospatial datasets derived from different DEMs.Each dataset contained eight DEM-based and six non-DEM-based factors from 8912 landslide samples.Model performance was assessed using accuracy,precision,recall rate,F1-score,kappa coefficient,and receiver operating characteristic curves.Explanatory analyses,including Shapley additive explanations and partial dependence plots,were also employed to investigate the effects of topographic factors on landslide susceptibility.The results indicate that DEM-based factors consistently influenced different ML models across the datasets.Furthermore,tree-based models outperformed the other models in almost all datasets,while the most suitable DEMs were obtained from Copernicus and TanDEM-X.In addition,the concave surface without potholes on steep slopes are ideal topographic conditions for landslide formation in the study area.This study can benefit the wider landslide research community by clarifying how topographic factors affect ML models.展开更多
Texture analysis methods offer substantial advantages and potential in examining macro-topographic features of dunes.Despite these advantages,comprehensive approaches that integrate digital elevation model(DEM)with qu...Texture analysis methods offer substantial advantages and potential in examining macro-topographic features of dunes.Despite these advantages,comprehensive approaches that integrate digital elevation model(DEM)with quantitative texture features have not been fully developed.This study introduced an automatic classification framework for dunes that combines texture and topographic features and validated it through a typical coastal aeolian landform,namely,dunes in the Namib Desert.A three-stage approach was outlined:(1)segmentation of dune units was conducted using digital terrain analysis;(2)six texture features(angular second moment,contrast,correlation,variance,entropy,and inverse difference moment)were extracted from the gray-level co-occurrence matrix(GLCM)and subsequently quantified;and(3)texture–topographic indices were integrated into the random forest(RF)model for classification.The results show that the RF model fused with texture features can accurately identify dune morphological characteristics;through accuracy evaluation and remote sensing image verification,the overall accuracy reaches 78.0%(kappa coefficient=0.72),outperforming traditional spectral-based methods.In addition,spatial analysis reveals that coastal dunes exhibit complex texture patterns,with texture homogeneity being closely linked to dune-type transitions.Specifically,homogeneous textures correspond to simple and stable forms such as barchans,while heterogeneous textures are associated with complex or composite dunes.The complexity,periodicity,and directionality of texture features are highly consistent with the spatial distribution of dunes.Validation using high-resolution remote sensing imagery(Sentinel-2)further confirms that the method effectively clusters similar dunes and distinguishes different dune types.Additionally,the dune classification results have a good correspondence with changes in near-surface wind regimes.Overall,the findings suggest that texture features derived from DEM can accurately capture the dynamic characteristics of dune morphology,offering a novel approach for automatic dune classification.Compared with traditional methods,the developed approach facilitates large-scale and high-precision dune mapping while reducing the workload of manual interpretation,thus advancing research on aeolian geomorphology.展开更多
A P-band polarimetric synthetic aperture radar(PolSAR)sensor has deep penetration ability into and through the vegetation canopies in forested environments.Thus,the sensor is of great potential to accurately assess fo...A P-band polarimetric synthetic aperture radar(PolSAR)sensor has deep penetration ability into and through the vegetation canopies in forested environments.Thus,the sensor is of great potential to accurately assess forest parameters such as coverage,stand density,and tree height.Unfortunately,the radar backscatter from complex terrain can adversely impact the backscatter from trees or forests,and forest parameters assessed can be erroneous.Thus,reducing the topographic impact is an urgent must.In this study,a topographic compensation algorithm has been studied.To assess the algorithm’s validity and effectiveness,we applied it to P-band PolSAR datasets in four forested areas in the US.Trees in the forest stands have diverse species,and the topographic conditions of the terrain differ.Significant topographic impact on the P-band PolSAR data exists before the topographic compensation algorithm.After the algorithm,the impact decreases noticeably qualitatively and quantitatively.The algorithm is valid and effective in reducing the topographic influence on the PolSAR data and,consequently,provides a better chance of retrieving accurate forest parameters.展开更多
Understanding local variation in forest biomass allows for a better evaluation of broad-scale patterns and interpretation of forest ecosystems’role in carbon dynamics.This study focuses on patterns of aboveground tre...Understanding local variation in forest biomass allows for a better evaluation of broad-scale patterns and interpretation of forest ecosystems’role in carbon dynamics.This study focuses on patterns of aboveground tree biomass within a fully censused 20 ha forest plot in a temperate forest of northern Alabama,USA.We evaluated the relationship between biomass and topography using ridge and valley landforms along with digitally derived moisture and solar radiation indices.Every live woody stem over 1 cm diameter at breast height within this plot was mapped,measured,and identified to species in 2019-2022,and diameter data were used along with speciesspecific wood density to map the aboveground biomass at the scale of 20 m×20 m quadrats.The aboveground tree biomass was 211 Mg·ha^(-1).Other than small stream areas that experienced recent natural disturbances,the total stand biomass was not associated with landform or topographic indices.Dominant species,in contrast,had strong associations with topography.American beech(Fagus grandifolia)and yellow-poplar(Liriodendron tulipfera)dominated the valley landform,with 37% and 54% greater biomass in the valley than their plot average,respectively.Three other dominant species,white oak(Quercus alba),southern shagbark hickory(Carya carolinaeseptentrionalis),and white ash(Fraxinus americana),were more abundant on slopes and benches,thus partitioning the site.Of the six dominant species,only sugar maple(Acer saccharum)was not associated with landform.Moreover,both topographic wetness and potential radiation indices were significant predictors of dominant species biomass within each of the landforms.The study highlights the need to consider species when examining forest productivity in a range of site conditions.展开更多
AIM:To compare the RTVue spectral optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT),Sirius Scheimpflug-Placido topographer,Lenstar optical low coherence reflectometry(OLCR)and ultrasound pachymetry(USP)devices in terms of their ag...AIM:To compare the RTVue spectral optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT),Sirius Scheimpflug-Placido topographer,Lenstar optical low coherence reflectometry(OLCR)and ultrasound pachymetry(USP)devices in terms of their agreement and repeatability of measuring central corneal thickness(CCT).METHODS:In this prospective study,50 eyes of 50patients were included.Three repeated measures were obtained using SD-OCT,Scheimpflug-Placido topographer and USP and five measurements were determined with the OLCR.Bland-Altman plots were used to assess agreement among the instruments,and 95%limits of agreement(LoA)for each comparison were calculated.Intra-examiner repeatability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients(ICCs).RESULTS:The mean CCT by SD-OCT,ScheimpflugPlacido topographer,OLCR,and USP were 525.90±34.08μm,525.92±34.10μm,530.30±35.62μm,and543.50±37.11μm respectively.All 4 modalities of CCT measurements correlated closely with each other,with Pearson correlation coefficients ranging from 0.977 to0.995.The mean differences(and upper/lower LoA)for CCT measurements were-0.05±6.77μm(13.3/-13.3)between SD-OCT and Scheimpflug-Placido topographer,4.38±3.79μm(11.8/-3.1)between OLCR and SD-OCT,4.38±6.03μm(16.2/-7.5)between OLCR and ScheimpflugPlacido topographer,13.20±6.46μm(25.9/0.5)between USP and OLCR,17.59±6.76μm(30.8/4.3)between USP and SD-OCT,and 17.58±8.13μm(33.5/1.6)between USP and Scheimpflug-Placido topographer.Intra-examiner repeatability was excellent for all devices with ICCs】0.98.CONCLUSION:For most practical purposes,CCT measurements with the RTVue,Sirius and Lenstar can be used interchangeably.Although highly correlated,CCTmeasurement differences between USP and these 3optical instruments can be significant depending on the clinical situation.展开更多
AIM： To explore the effect of the posterior astigmatism on total corneal astigmatism and evaluate the error caused by substituting the corneal astigmatism of the simulated keratometriy （simulated K） for the total c...AIM： To explore the effect of the posterior astigmatism on total corneal astigmatism and evaluate the error caused by substituting the corneal astigmatism of the simulated keratometriy （simulated K） for the total corneal astigmatism in age-related cataract patients. METHODS： A total of 211 eyes with age-related cataract from 164 patients （mean age： 66.8±9.0y, range： 45-83y） were examined using a multi-colored spot reflection topographer, and the total corneal astigmatism was measured. The power vector components J0 and J45 were analyzed. Correlations between the magnitude difference of the simulated K and total cornea astigmatism （magnitude differenceSimK-Tca）, anterior J0, and absolute meridian difference （AMD） between the anterior and posterior astigmatisms were calculated. To compare the astigmatism of the simulated K and total cornea both in magnitude and axial orientation, we drew double-angle plots and calculated the vector difference between the two measures using vector analysis. A corrective regression formula was used to adjust the magnitude of the simulated K astigmatism to approach that of the total cornea. RESULTS： The magnitude differenceSimK-Tca was positively correlated with the anterior corneal J0 （Spearman’s rho= 0.539; P〈0.001） and negatively correlated with the AMDR （Spearman’s rho=-0.875, P〈0.001）. When the anterior J0 value was larger than 1.3 D or smaller than -0.8 D, the errors caused by determining the total corneal astigmatism with the karatometric calculation tended to be greater than 0.25 D. An underestimation by 16% was observed for against the rule （ATR） astigmatism and an overestimation by 9% was observed for with the rule （WTR） astigmatism when ignoring the posterior measurements. CONCLUSION： Posterior corneal astigmatism should be valued for more precise corneal astigmatism management, especially for higher ATR astigmatism of the anterior corneal surface. We suggest a 9% reduction in the magnitude of the simulated K in eyes with WTR astigmatism, and a 16% addition of the magnitude of the simulated K in eyes with ATR astigmatism.展开更多
The advantages of using unmanned underwater vehicles in coastal ocean studies are emphasized. Two types of representative vehicles, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) from Universi...The advantages of using unmanned underwater vehicles in coastal ocean studies are emphasized. Two types of representative vehicles, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) from University of South Florida, are discussed. Two individual modular sensor packages designed and tested for these platforms and field measurement results are also presented. The bottom classification and albedo package, BCAP, provides fast and accurate estimates of bottom albedos, along with other parameters such as in-water remote sensing reflectance. The real-time ocean bottom optical topographer, ROBOT, reveals high-resolution 3-dimentional bottom topography for target identification. Field data and results from recent Coastal Benthic Optical Properties field campaign, 1999 and 2000, are presented. Advantages and limitations of these vehicles and applications of modular sensor packages are compared and discussed.展开更多
In order to slove a realistic test problem of TF/TA algorithm, it is necessary to make a discrete terrain model. The model has adjustable roughness parameters so as to test the optimization procedure for different typ...In order to slove a realistic test problem of TF/TA algorithm, it is necessary to make a discrete terrain model. The model has adjustable roughness parameters so as to test the optimization procedure for different types of terrain. In this paper, an algorithm to generate random terrain data is given.展开更多
With large scale topographic map charted in accordance with Topographic Map Symbols of 1:500 1:1 000 1:2 000(GB/T 20257.1-2007) as the base map of land survey,the land use status information was collected from the map...With large scale topographic map charted in accordance with Topographic Map Symbols of 1:500 1:1 000 1:2 000(GB/T 20257.1-2007) as the base map of land survey,the land use status information was collected from the map based on the standard in Present Status Classification of Land Utilization(GB/T 21010-2007).The study discussed in details the information of some land types including water system,residential sites,facilities,transportation,pipeline,vegetation,soils and so on,and pointed out problems on extracting land use status information from large scale topographic map.In order to share resources and save social costs,it suggested unifying the standard to classify land types and define all kinds of land types by quantitative values.展开更多
Topographical relief is a key factor that limits population distribution and economic development in mountainous areas. The limitation is especially apparent in the mountain-plain transition zone. Taking the transitio...Topographical relief is a key factor that limits population distribution and economic development in mountainous areas. The limitation is especially apparent in the mountain-plain transition zone. Taking the transition zone between the Qinling Mountains and the North China Plain(i.e. the mountainous area in western Henan Province) as an example and based on the 200-m resolution DEM data, we used the mean change-point analysis to determine the optimal statistical unit for topographical relief, and thereafter extracted the relief degree. Taking the 1:100,000 land use data, township population and county-level industrial data, population and economic spatial models were constructed, and 200-m resolution grid population and economic density maps were generated. Afterwards, statistical analysis was carried out to quantitatively reveal the impact of topographical relief on population and economy. In addition, the impacts of other topographical factors were discussed. The results showed the following.(1) The relief degree in western Henan is generally low, where 58.6% of the regional topography does not exceed half the height of a reference mountain(relative elevation ≤250 m). Spatially, the relief degree is high in the west while low in the east, and high in the middle while low in the north and south. There is a positive correlation between relief degree and elevation, and a much stronger correlation between relief degree and slope.(2) The linear fitting degree between the population and economic validation data and the corresponding simulation data are 0.943 and 0.909, respectively, indicating that the spatialized results can reflect the actual population and economic distribution.(3) The impact of topographical relief on population and economy was stronger than that of other topographical factors. The relief degree showed a good logarithmic fit relationship with population density(0.911) and economic density(0.874). Specifically, 88.65% of the population lives in areas where the topographical relief is ≤0.5 and 88.03% of the gross regional product was from areas where the relief is ≤0.3. Compared with the population distribution, the economic development showed an obvious agglomeration trend towards low relief areas.展开更多
This paper reports a series solution of wave functions for two-dimensional scattering and diffraction of plane SH waves induced by a symmetrical V-shaped canyon with different shape ratios. A half-space with a symmetr...This paper reports a series solution of wave functions for two-dimensional scattering and diffraction of plane SH waves induced by a symmetrical V-shaped canyon with different shape ratios. A half-space with a symmetrical V-shaped canyon is divided into two sub-regions by using a circular-arc auxiliary boundary. The two sub-regions are represented by global and local cylindrical coordinate systems, respectively. In each coordinate system, the wave field satisfying the Helmholtz equation is represented by the separation of variables method, in terms of the series of both Bessel functions and Hankel functions with unknown complex coefficients. Then, the two wave fields are described in the local coordinate system using the Graf addition theorem. Finally, the unknown coefficients are sought by satisfying the continuity conditions of the auxiliary boundary. To consider the phase characteristics of the wave scattering, a parametric analysis is carried out in the time domain by assuming an incident signal of the Ricker type. Surface and subsurface transient responses demonstrate the characteristics and mechanisms of wave propagating and scattering.展开更多
Due to high intensity agricultural exploitation since the middle of the 20 th century, farmland gullies have become a pervasive form of water erosion in Northeast China. Yet few researches are concentrated on how topo...Due to high intensity agricultural exploitation since the middle of the 20 th century, farmland gullies have become a pervasive form of water erosion in Northeast China. Yet few researches are concentrated on how topography and land use affect long-term gully development in this region. In this study, gully distribution in a village with an area of 24.2 km^2 in the central Mollisols area of Northeast China in different times were compared by Aerial photography(1968), Quickbird image(2009) and field survey, and factors affecting gully development including land use and topography were analyzed. The results showed that the total gully number decreased from 104 to 69, while occupying area rose from 34.8 ha to 78.4 ha from 1968 to 2009. Fundamental gully distribution had been formed by 1968 as most of 2009′s gullies were evolved from 1968′s gullies′ merge and width expansion process, and new gullies those initiated after 1968 occupied only 7% of total gully area in 2009. Gully area increasing ratio in grassland was the highest and that in forestland was the lowest. The threshold catchment area between simple and complex gully development was around 15 ha to 25 ha. This threshold value sets apart catchment areas that will develop simple or complex gullies in areas with similar environmental conditions. Gully control measurements were urgent because if appropriate gully control implements would not be applied, present gully erosion crisis could be doubled within 50 years.展开更多
基金Deep-time Digital Earth(DDE)Big Science Program(No.GJ-C03-SGF-2025-004)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42394063)Sichuan Science and Technology Program(No.2025ZNSFSC0325).
文摘Topographic maps,as essential tools and sources of information for geographic research,contain precise spatial locations and rich map features,and they illustrate spatio-temporal information on the distribution and differences of various surface features.Currently,topographic maps are mainly stored in raster and vector formats.Extraction of the spatio-temporal knowledge in the maps—such as spatial distribution patterns,feature relationships,and dynamic evolution—still primarily relies on manual interpretation.However,manual interpretation is time-consuming and laborious,especially for large-scale,long-term map knowledge extraction and application.With the development of artificial intelligence technology,it is possible to improve the automation level of map knowledge interpretation.Therefore,the present study proposes an automatic interpretation method for raster topographic map knowledge based on deep learning.To address the limitations of current data-driven intelligent technology in learning map spatial relations and cognitive logic,we establish a formal description of map knowledge by mapping the relationship between map knowledge and features,thereby ensuring interpretation accuracy.Subsequently,deep learning techniques are employed to extract map features automatically,and the spatio-temporal knowledge is constructed by combining formal descriptions of geographic feature knowledge.Validation experiments demonstrate that the proposed method effectively achieves automatic interpretation of spatio-temporal knowledge of geographic features in maps,with an accuracy exceeding 80%.The findings of the present study contribute to machine understanding of spatio-temporal differences in map knowledge and advances the intelligent interpretation and utilization of cartographic information.
文摘The capabilities of GIS for constructing a digital elevation model of a mountainous area and visualizing a spatial image of the terrain are given in this paper.Graphic,digital data and topographic maps,which are the main sources for GIS,are described.The methods of vectorization of isolines and the requirements for technical means of processing graphic materials are presented in detail.The advantages and disadvantages of the DEM of a mountainous region are shown here.Segmentation methods using an interpolation polynomial are described in detail.A DEM of the mountainous area where the border between the republics runs was constructed in 2D and 3D formats using the GIS Panorama.Reducing the chord length when segmenting isolines on topographic maps leads to more accurate DEM construction.A vertical profile of a mountainous area with a visibility zone between two points was constructed.It is expected that the improved latitude,longitude and altitude parameters of the topographic map will be used to form a regional geodetic network and geospatial analysis of mountain ranges.It is proposed to use not only satellite data,but also classical geodetic networks and maps.It is recommended to use satellite and aerial photography to clarify the topographic and geodetic support of the studied area.
基金funded by The Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing(CSTB2023NSCQMSX0990)the Humanities and Social Sciences research project of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission(22SKSZ030)the Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission(Grant No.KJZD-K202400510)。
文摘Glacier dynamics in the Himalayan midlatitudes,particularly in regions like the Shishapangma,are not yet fully understood,especially the localized topographic and climatic impacts on glacier deformation.This study analyzes the spatiotemporal characteristics of glacier surface deformation in the Shishapangma region using the Small Baseline Subset(SBAS)Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar(In SAR)technique.The analysis reveals an average deformation rate of-4.02±17.65 mm/yr across the entire study area,with glacier regions exhibiting significantly higher rates of uplift(16.87±13.20 mm/yr)and subsidence(20.11±14.55 mm/yr)compared to non-glacier areas.It identifies significant surface lowering on the mountain flanks and localized uplift in certain catchments,emphasizing the higher deformation rates in glacial areas compared to non-glacial ones.We found a strong positive correlation between temperature and cumulative deformation(correlation coefficient of 0.63),particularly in glacier areas(0.82).The research highlights the role of temperature as the primary driver of glacier wastage,particularly at lower elevations,with strong correlations found between temperature and cumulative deformation.It also indicates the complex interactions between topographic features,notably,slope gradient,which shows a positive correlation with subsidence rates,especially for slopes below 35°.South-,southwest-,and west-facing slopes exhibit significant uplift,while north-,northeast-,and east-facing slopes predominantly subside.Additionally,we identified transition zones between debris-covered glaciers and clean ice as areas of most intense deformation,with average rates exceeding 30 mm/yr,highlighting these as potential high-risk zones for geohazards.This study comprehensively analyzes the deformation characteristics in both glacier and non-glacier areas in the Shishapangma region,revealing the complex interplay of topographic,climatic,and hydrological factors influencing glacier dynamics.
文摘Exploring the worldwide patterns of endemism and the processes that lead to the formation of highendemism centers is crucial in biogeography.This study examines the geographic distribution and ecological influences on the endemism of liverworts across 390 regions worldwide.We assess phylogenetic endemism and relative phylogenetic endemism in relation to eleven environmental factors,which represent current and Quaternary climate variations,as well as topographic and environmental heterogeneity.Areas with higher endemism in liverworts tend to have higher temperatures,precipitation,and environmental heterogeneity,but lower temperature seasonality and lesser impacts from Quaternary climate changes.Regions exhibiting notably high endemism are predominantly found in tropical Asia,Madagascar,eastern Australia,and the Andes,while those with notably low endemism are generally in temperate Eurasia and North America,parts of Africa,and eastern South America.Centers of neo-endemism are mainly in southern Africa,whereas centers of paleo-endemism are in southern South America,tropical Asia,and New Zealand.Environment variability is a more significant predictor of phylogenetic endemism than current climate conditions,which are themselves more predictive than variables related to Quaternary climate changes.Nevertheless,these three types of explanatory variables combined explain only about one-third of the variance in phylogenetic endemism.
基金funded by the Guangdong Major Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research(2021B0301030007)the Supplemental Funds for Major Scientific Research Projects of Beijing Normal University,Zhuhai(ZHPT2023013)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42301387)the Science and Technology Program of Guangdong(No.2024B1212070012)。
文摘The topographic factor(LS factor),derived from the multiplication of the slope length(L)and slope steepness(S)factors,is a vital parameter in soil erosion models.Generated from the digital elevation model(DEM),the LS factor always varies with the changing DEM resolution,i.e.,the LS factor scale effect.Previous studies have found the phenomenon of the LS factor scale effect,but the underlying causes of this phenomenon has not been well explored.Therefore,how the DEM resolution affects the LS factor and how the scale effect of the L and S factors influence the LS factor scale effect remains unclear.To address these problems,we collected 20 watersheds from the Guangdong Province with different topographic reliefs,and compared the corresponding L,S and LS factors at 10-m and 30-m resolution DEMs.Our results indicate that the S factor,heavily influenced by slope underestimation in coarse-resolution DEMs,makes a difference in the LS factor scale effect.In addition,the LS factor scale effect becomes less significant with increasing reliefs,suggesting the possibility of using 30-m DEM for LS calculation in rugged terrains.Our findings on the underlying mechanisms of the LS factor scale effect help to identify the uncertainty in the LS factor estimation,thereby enhancing the accuracy of soil erosion assessment,particularly in regions with different topographic characteristics and contribute to more effective soil conservation strategies and decision-making.
基金supported by the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation Program(2022GXNSFAA035583,2021GXNSFBA196052)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32060305,32460270).
文摘Most research on carbon storage in forests has focused on qualitative studies of carbon storage and influ-encing factors rather than on quantifying the effect of the spatial distribution of carbon storage and of its influencing factors at different scales.Here we described the spatial dis-tribution of aboveground carbon storage(ACS)in a 20-ha plot in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest to evalu-ate and quantify the relative effects of biotic factors(species diversity and structural diversity)and abiotic factors(soil and topographic factors)on ACS at different scales.Scale effects of the spatial distribution of ACS were significant,with higher variability at smaller scales,but less at larger scales.The distribution was also spatially heterogeneous,with more carbon storage on north-and east-facing slopes than on south-and west-facing slopes.At a smaller scale,species diversity and structural diversity each had a direct positive impact on ACS,but soil factors had no significant direct impact.At increasing scales,topographic and soil fac-tors gradually had a greater direct influence,whereas the influence of species diversity gradually decreased.Structural diversity had the greatest impact,followed by topographic factors and soil factors,while species diversity had a rela-tively smaller impact.These findings suggest studies on ACS in subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests in southern China should consider scale effects,specifically on the heterogene-ity of ACS distribution at small scales.Studies and conser-vation efforts need to focus on smaller habitat types with particular emphasis on habitat factors such as aspect and soil conditions,which have significant influences on community species diversity,structural diversity,and ACS distribution.
文摘The authors regret that an error occurred during the preparation of their article:One of the official databases,which was used for functional trait collections,contained an incorrect term–'chametophytes'–for the life form category'chamaephytes'.Unfortunately,this incorrect term was used throughout the article following the nomenclature of this official database:in one instance in the main text,in Fig.3 and its caption,in Fig.5,and in two instances in the supplementary material.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2022YFC3003205)the Chengdu University of Technology Postgraduate Innovative Cultivation Program(Grant No.10800-000510-01-022)+1 种基金the Sichuan Science and Technology Program(Grant No.2025ZNSFSC1206)the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection Independent Research Project(Grant No.SKLGP2023Z026).
文摘Research on the application of machine learning(ML)models to landslide susceptibility assessments has gained popularity in recent years,with a focus primarily on topographic factors derived from digital elevation models(DEMs).However,few studies have focused on the explanatory effects of these factors on different models,i.e.whether DEM-based factors affect different models in the same way.This study investigated whether different ML models could yield consistent interpretations of DEM-based factors using explanatory algorithms.Six ML models,including a support vector machine,a neural network,extreme gradient boosting,a random forest,linear regression,and K-nearest neighbors,were trained and evaluated on five geospatial datasets derived from different DEMs.Each dataset contained eight DEM-based and six non-DEM-based factors from 8912 landslide samples.Model performance was assessed using accuracy,precision,recall rate,F1-score,kappa coefficient,and receiver operating characteristic curves.Explanatory analyses,including Shapley additive explanations and partial dependence plots,were also employed to investigate the effects of topographic factors on landslide susceptibility.The results indicate that DEM-based factors consistently influenced different ML models across the datasets.Furthermore,tree-based models outperformed the other models in almost all datasets,while the most suitable DEMs were obtained from Copernicus and TanDEM-X.In addition,the concave surface without potholes on steep slopes are ideal topographic conditions for landslide formation in the study area.This study can benefit the wider landslide research community by clarifying how topographic factors affect ML models.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42271421).
文摘Texture analysis methods offer substantial advantages and potential in examining macro-topographic features of dunes.Despite these advantages,comprehensive approaches that integrate digital elevation model(DEM)with quantitative texture features have not been fully developed.This study introduced an automatic classification framework for dunes that combines texture and topographic features and validated it through a typical coastal aeolian landform,namely,dunes in the Namib Desert.A three-stage approach was outlined:(1)segmentation of dune units was conducted using digital terrain analysis;(2)six texture features(angular second moment,contrast,correlation,variance,entropy,and inverse difference moment)were extracted from the gray-level co-occurrence matrix(GLCM)and subsequently quantified;and(3)texture–topographic indices were integrated into the random forest(RF)model for classification.The results show that the RF model fused with texture features can accurately identify dune morphological characteristics;through accuracy evaluation and remote sensing image verification,the overall accuracy reaches 78.0%(kappa coefficient=0.72),outperforming traditional spectral-based methods.In addition,spatial analysis reveals that coastal dunes exhibit complex texture patterns,with texture homogeneity being closely linked to dune-type transitions.Specifically,homogeneous textures correspond to simple and stable forms such as barchans,while heterogeneous textures are associated with complex or composite dunes.The complexity,periodicity,and directionality of texture features are highly consistent with the spatial distribution of dunes.Validation using high-resolution remote sensing imagery(Sentinel-2)further confirms that the method effectively clusters similar dunes and distinguishes different dune types.Additionally,the dune classification results have a good correspondence with changes in near-surface wind regimes.Overall,the findings suggest that texture features derived from DEM can accurately capture the dynamic characteristics of dune morphology,offering a novel approach for automatic dune classification.Compared with traditional methods,the developed approach facilitates large-scale and high-precision dune mapping while reducing the workload of manual interpretation,thus advancing research on aeolian geomorphology.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grants No.41771401 and No.42350710201.
文摘A P-band polarimetric synthetic aperture radar(PolSAR)sensor has deep penetration ability into and through the vegetation canopies in forested environments.Thus,the sensor is of great potential to accurately assess forest parameters such as coverage,stand density,and tree height.Unfortunately,the radar backscatter from complex terrain can adversely impact the backscatter from trees or forests,and forest parameters assessed can be erroneous.Thus,reducing the topographic impact is an urgent must.In this study,a topographic compensation algorithm has been studied.To assess the algorithm’s validity and effectiveness,we applied it to P-band PolSAR datasets in four forested areas in the US.Trees in the forest stands have diverse species,and the topographic conditions of the terrain differ.Significant topographic impact on the P-band PolSAR data exists before the topographic compensation algorithm.After the algorithm,the impact decreases noticeably qualitatively and quantitatively.The algorithm is valid and effective in reducing the topographic influence on the PolSAR data and,consequently,provides a better chance of retrieving accurate forest parameters.
基金supported in part by the intramural research program of the US Department of Agriculture,National Institute of Food and Agriculture,Evans-Allen#1024525,and Capacity Building Grant#006531supported in part by the US National Science Foundation RII Track 2 FEC:Leveraging Intelligent Informatics and Smart Data for Improved Understanding of Northern Forest Ecosystem Resiliency(INSPIRES)#1920908by The Lyndhurst Foundation.
文摘Understanding local variation in forest biomass allows for a better evaluation of broad-scale patterns and interpretation of forest ecosystems’role in carbon dynamics.This study focuses on patterns of aboveground tree biomass within a fully censused 20 ha forest plot in a temperate forest of northern Alabama,USA.We evaluated the relationship between biomass and topography using ridge and valley landforms along with digitally derived moisture and solar radiation indices.Every live woody stem over 1 cm diameter at breast height within this plot was mapped,measured,and identified to species in 2019-2022,and diameter data were used along with speciesspecific wood density to map the aboveground biomass at the scale of 20 m×20 m quadrats.The aboveground tree biomass was 211 Mg·ha^(-1).Other than small stream areas that experienced recent natural disturbances,the total stand biomass was not associated with landform or topographic indices.Dominant species,in contrast,had strong associations with topography.American beech(Fagus grandifolia)and yellow-poplar(Liriodendron tulipfera)dominated the valley landform,with 37% and 54% greater biomass in the valley than their plot average,respectively.Three other dominant species,white oak(Quercus alba),southern shagbark hickory(Carya carolinaeseptentrionalis),and white ash(Fraxinus americana),were more abundant on slopes and benches,thus partitioning the site.Of the six dominant species,only sugar maple(Acer saccharum)was not associated with landform.Moreover,both topographic wetness and potential radiation indices were significant predictors of dominant species biomass within each of the landforms.The study highlights the need to consider species when examining forest productivity in a range of site conditions.
文摘AIM:To compare the RTVue spectral optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT),Sirius Scheimpflug-Placido topographer,Lenstar optical low coherence reflectometry(OLCR)and ultrasound pachymetry(USP)devices in terms of their agreement and repeatability of measuring central corneal thickness(CCT).METHODS:In this prospective study,50 eyes of 50patients were included.Three repeated measures were obtained using SD-OCT,Scheimpflug-Placido topographer and USP and five measurements were determined with the OLCR.Bland-Altman plots were used to assess agreement among the instruments,and 95%limits of agreement(LoA)for each comparison were calculated.Intra-examiner repeatability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients(ICCs).RESULTS:The mean CCT by SD-OCT,ScheimpflugPlacido topographer,OLCR,and USP were 525.90±34.08μm,525.92±34.10μm,530.30±35.62μm,and543.50±37.11μm respectively.All 4 modalities of CCT measurements correlated closely with each other,with Pearson correlation coefficients ranging from 0.977 to0.995.The mean differences(and upper/lower LoA)for CCT measurements were-0.05±6.77μm(13.3/-13.3)between SD-OCT and Scheimpflug-Placido topographer,4.38±3.79μm(11.8/-3.1)between OLCR and SD-OCT,4.38±6.03μm(16.2/-7.5)between OLCR and ScheimpflugPlacido topographer,13.20±6.46μm(25.9/0.5)between USP and OLCR,17.59±6.76μm(30.8/4.3)between USP and SD-OCT,and 17.58±8.13μm(33.5/1.6)between USP and Scheimpflug-Placido topographer.Intra-examiner repeatability was excellent for all devices with ICCs】0.98.CONCLUSION:For most practical purposes,CCT measurements with the RTVue,Sirius and Lenstar can be used interchangeably.Although highly correlated,CCTmeasurement differences between USP and these 3optical instruments can be significant depending on the clinical situation.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81670837)the Scientific and Technological Project of Tianjin Health Bureau(No.2015KY38)
文摘AIM： To explore the effect of the posterior astigmatism on total corneal astigmatism and evaluate the error caused by substituting the corneal astigmatism of the simulated keratometriy （simulated K） for the total corneal astigmatism in age-related cataract patients. METHODS： A total of 211 eyes with age-related cataract from 164 patients （mean age： 66.8±9.0y, range： 45-83y） were examined using a multi-colored spot reflection topographer, and the total corneal astigmatism was measured. The power vector components J0 and J45 were analyzed. Correlations between the magnitude difference of the simulated K and total cornea astigmatism （magnitude differenceSimK-Tca）, anterior J0, and absolute meridian difference （AMD） between the anterior and posterior astigmatisms were calculated. To compare the astigmatism of the simulated K and total cornea both in magnitude and axial orientation, we drew double-angle plots and calculated the vector difference between the two measures using vector analysis. A corrective regression formula was used to adjust the magnitude of the simulated K astigmatism to approach that of the total cornea. RESULTS： The magnitude differenceSimK-Tca was positively correlated with the anterior corneal J0 （Spearman’s rho= 0.539; P〈0.001） and negatively correlated with the AMDR （Spearman’s rho=-0.875, P〈0.001）. When the anterior J0 value was larger than 1.3 D or smaller than -0.8 D, the errors caused by determining the total corneal astigmatism with the karatometric calculation tended to be greater than 0.25 D. An underestimation by 16% was observed for against the rule （ATR） astigmatism and an overestimation by 9% was observed for with the rule （WTR） astigmatism when ignoring the posterior measurements. CONCLUSION： Posterior corneal astigmatism should be valued for more precise corneal astigmatism management, especially for higher ATR astigmatism of the anterior corneal surface. We suggest a 9% reduction in the magnitude of the simulated K in eyes with WTR astigmatism, and a 16% addition of the magnitude of the simulated K in eyes with ATR astigmatism.
基金support to the University of South Florida(Grants No.0014-96-1-5013 and No.0014-97-1-0006)cooperation between Ocean University of China and University of South Florida.
文摘The advantages of using unmanned underwater vehicles in coastal ocean studies are emphasized. Two types of representative vehicles, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) from University of South Florida, are discussed. Two individual modular sensor packages designed and tested for these platforms and field measurement results are also presented. The bottom classification and albedo package, BCAP, provides fast and accurate estimates of bottom albedos, along with other parameters such as in-water remote sensing reflectance. The real-time ocean bottom optical topographer, ROBOT, reveals high-resolution 3-dimentional bottom topography for target identification. Field data and results from recent Coastal Benthic Optical Properties field campaign, 1999 and 2000, are presented. Advantages and limitations of these vehicles and applications of modular sensor packages are compared and discussed.
文摘In order to slove a realistic test problem of TF/TA algorithm, it is necessary to make a discrete terrain model. The model has adjustable roughness parameters so as to test the optimization procedure for different types of terrain. In this paper, an algorithm to generate random terrain data is given.
基金Supported by Programs of Scientific and Technological Foundation of Nanjing Forestry University (X09-050-2)~~
文摘With large scale topographic map charted in accordance with Topographic Map Symbols of 1:500 1:1 000 1:2 000(GB/T 20257.1-2007) as the base map of land survey,the land use status information was collected from the map based on the standard in Present Status Classification of Land Utilization(GB/T 21010-2007).The study discussed in details the information of some land types including water system,residential sites,facilities,transportation,pipeline,vegetation,soils and so on,and pointed out problems on extracting land use status information from large scale topographic map.In order to share resources and save social costs,it suggested unifying the standard to classify land types and define all kinds of land types by quantitative values.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41671090National Basic Research Program(973 Program),No.2015CB452702.
文摘Topographical relief is a key factor that limits population distribution and economic development in mountainous areas. The limitation is especially apparent in the mountain-plain transition zone. Taking the transition zone between the Qinling Mountains and the North China Plain(i.e. the mountainous area in western Henan Province) as an example and based on the 200-m resolution DEM data, we used the mean change-point analysis to determine the optimal statistical unit for topographical relief, and thereafter extracted the relief degree. Taking the 1:100,000 land use data, township population and county-level industrial data, population and economic spatial models were constructed, and 200-m resolution grid population and economic density maps were generated. Afterwards, statistical analysis was carried out to quantitatively reveal the impact of topographical relief on population and economy. In addition, the impacts of other topographical factors were discussed. The results showed the following.(1) The relief degree in western Henan is generally low, where 58.6% of the regional topography does not exceed half the height of a reference mountain(relative elevation ≤250 m). Spatially, the relief degree is high in the west while low in the east, and high in the middle while low in the north and south. There is a positive correlation between relief degree and elevation, and a much stronger correlation between relief degree and slope.(2) The linear fitting degree between the population and economic validation data and the corresponding simulation data are 0.943 and 0.909, respectively, indicating that the spatialized results can reflect the actual population and economic distribution.(3) The impact of topographical relief on population and economy was stronger than that of other topographical factors. The relief degree showed a good logarithmic fit relationship with population density(0.911) and economic density(0.874). Specifically, 88.65% of the population lives in areas where the topographical relief is ≤0.5 and 88.03% of the gross regional product was from areas where the relief is ≤0.3. Compared with the population distribution, the economic development showed an obvious agglomeration trend towards low relief areas.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China Under Grant No.51278382
文摘This paper reports a series solution of wave functions for two-dimensional scattering and diffraction of plane SH waves induced by a symmetrical V-shaped canyon with different shape ratios. A half-space with a symmetrical V-shaped canyon is divided into two sub-regions by using a circular-arc auxiliary boundary. The two sub-regions are represented by global and local cylindrical coordinate systems, respectively. In each coordinate system, the wave field satisfying the Helmholtz equation is represented by the separation of variables method, in terms of the series of both Bessel functions and Hankel functions with unknown complex coefficients. Then, the two wave fields are described in the local coordinate system using the Graf addition theorem. Finally, the unknown coefficients are sought by satisfying the continuity conditions of the auxiliary boundary. To consider the phase characteristics of the wave scattering, a parametric analysis is carried out in the time domain by assuming an incident signal of the Ricker type. Surface and subsurface transient responses demonstrate the characteristics and mechanisms of wave propagating and scattering.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41601289,41571264)
文摘Due to high intensity agricultural exploitation since the middle of the 20 th century, farmland gullies have become a pervasive form of water erosion in Northeast China. Yet few researches are concentrated on how topography and land use affect long-term gully development in this region. In this study, gully distribution in a village with an area of 24.2 km^2 in the central Mollisols area of Northeast China in different times were compared by Aerial photography(1968), Quickbird image(2009) and field survey, and factors affecting gully development including land use and topography were analyzed. The results showed that the total gully number decreased from 104 to 69, while occupying area rose from 34.8 ha to 78.4 ha from 1968 to 2009. Fundamental gully distribution had been formed by 1968 as most of 2009′s gullies were evolved from 1968′s gullies′ merge and width expansion process, and new gullies those initiated after 1968 occupied only 7% of total gully area in 2009. Gully area increasing ratio in grassland was the highest and that in forestland was the lowest. The threshold catchment area between simple and complex gully development was around 15 ha to 25 ha. This threshold value sets apart catchment areas that will develop simple or complex gullies in areas with similar environmental conditions. Gully control measurements were urgent because if appropriate gully control implements would not be applied, present gully erosion crisis could be doubled within 50 years.
