Effect of large dams and irrigation in the upper reaches of the Yellow River of China, and the geohazards burden

摘要

The geomorphology of the upper reaches of the Yellow River of China is composed by a sequence of fluvial terraces that were formed following phases of neotectonic uplift and subsequent river downward incision. Most of the terraces are covered by thick loess deposits. These quaternary deposits are characterized with high void ratio, vertical joint development, easy to collapse. This is particularly problematic along the terrace edge risers in the high relative relief terrain described here.