Morphometrics of China's Loess Plateau: The spatial legacy of tectonics, climate, and loess deposition history

摘要: Abstract The Loess Plateau in China is the largest and deepest loess deposit world. surficial geology dominated by Quaternary deposits of varying thicknesses, which exhibit some fastest erosion rates Although plateau has been traditionally thought as morphologically homogenous, river network morphometrics this area are spatially variable, suggesting that landscape evolution processes across sensitive to variability local conditions. We divided into sub-basins examined six DEM-derived morphometric parameters: Aspect Ratio, Anisotropic Coefficient Variation (ACV), Bifurcation Concavity, Steepness, Mean Junction Angle. exhibited low aspect ratios, high bifurcation ratios large junction angles relative landscapes around world, however they varied intra-regionally each other. Through use Principal Component Analysis Cluster Analysis, we observed specific spatial variation attributable differences climate, lithology tectonics along a NW-SE transect through plateau. Sub-basins elevated regions more oval with higher lower ACV values while those located down-dropped valley have smaller angles, concavity steepness index. transition between parts distinguished their elongated shape. propose conceptual model explain relationship these environmental