Solid Earth, 8, 721–736, 2017 https://doi.org/10.5194/se-8-721-2017 © Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Soil erosion evolution and spatial correlation analysis in a typical karst geomorphology using RUSLE with GIS Cheng Zeng1,2,3, Shijie Wang1,3, Xiaoyong Bai1,3, Yangbing Li2, Yichao Tian1,3, Yue Li4, Luhua Wu1,3, and Guangjie Luo3,5 1State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 99 Lincheng West Road, Guiyang 550081, Guizhou Province, PR China 2School of Geographyical and Environmental Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China 3Puding Karst Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Puding 562100, Guizhou Province, PR China 4Key Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China 5Institute of Agricultural Ecology and Rural Development, Guizhou Normal College, Guiyang 550018, China Correspondence to: Xiaoyong Bai (
[email protected]) Received: 6 January 2017 – Discussion started: 16 January 2017 Revised: 27 May 2017 – Accepted: 30 May 2017 – Published: 3 July 2017 Abstract. Although some scholars have studied soil erosion soil erosion significantly differ among the various lithologi- in karst landforms, analyses of the spatial and temporal evo- cal distribution belts. (4) The soil erosion rate decreased in lution of soil erosion and correlation analyses with spatial the rocky desertification regions, to below moderate levels, elements have been insufficient. The lack of research has led but increased in the severe rocky desertification areas. The to an inaccurate assessment of environmental effects, espe- temporal and spatial variations in soil erosion gradually de- cially in the mountainous area of Wuling in China.