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Scientists Locate Origin of Sediments in Yellow River
Chinese water control experts have found that grit in the middle reaches of the Yellow River is mainly to blame for the accumulation of sediments in this China's second longest river.
Based on four years' field study and intensive analysis of data collected, the water control experts concluded that most of the sediments in the Yellow River come from the 78,600-sq-km gritty area in the middle reaches of the river. The discovery would pave the way for effective sediments-control in the future, they said.
The Yellow River is known as the most sandy river in the world. Of the river sediments, about 400 million tons of grit are too big in size and heavy to be carried by the river water into the sea, which accumulated and thereby resulted in the elevation of the river banks in the lower reaches at an annual rate of ten centimeters.
"As long as we find the major source of sediments in the river, we can intensify efforts against soil erosion in the area which will greatly reduce the piling-up of sediments in the lower reaches," said a water control expert on the research panel.
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