Trends in erosion rates and suspended sediment yield in North America during the second half of the XX century

Abstract

Long-term series of suspended sediment yield measurements at different gauging-stations of North America, added by analysis of literature, were used for determining the erosion trends during the second half of the XX century. Dynamic of human activities (deforestation, scarifying, changes of sowing structure, erosion control measures, water storage construction) is shown to be the main factor of erosion changes. The impact of human induced processes in different places manifests whether in the erosion acceleration and suspended sediment yield growth, or in their decrease. The changes in sediment discharge and erosion rates due to climatic changes were traced.