Recent deforestation causes rapid increase in river sediment load in the Colombian Andes

摘要: Abstract Human induced soil erosion reduces productivity; compromises freshwater ecosystem services, and drives geomorphic ecological change in rivers their floodplains. The Andes of Colombia have witnessed severe changes land-cover forest loss during the last three decades with period 2000 2010 being highest on record. We address following: (1) what are cumulative impacts tropical erosion? (2) effects has deforestation had sediment production, availability, transport capacity Andean rivers? Models observations combined to estimate amount liberated from landscape by within a major basin, Magdalena. use scaling model BQART that combines natural human forces, like basin area, relief, temperature, runoff, lithology, trapping humans. Model adjustments terms land cover were used establish anthropogenic-deforestation factor for each sub-basins. Deforestation patterns across 1980–2010 obtained satellite imagery. employed simulate scenarios without impacts. that, 9% load Magdalena River is due deforestation; 482 Mt sediments was produced clearance over decades. Erosion rates drainage increased 33% between 1972 2010; increasing river’s 44 Mt y −1 . Much river catchment (79%) under erosional conditions part more than 70% 1980 2010.