A river erosion estimate on the Loess Plateau: A case study from Luohe River, a second-order tributary of the Yellow River

Based on fieldwork and terrace ages, which were determined using ¹⁴C, TL and paleosol stratigraphy, a general model was established for the development of the Yellow River terrace system. The ages for the terraces and valley flats of the Yellow River system are T₆ - 1.67-0.85 Ma BP, T₅ - 0.85-0.47 Ma BP, T₄ - 0.47-0.10 Ma BP, T₃ - 0.10-0.007 Ma BP, T₂ - 7.0-0.7 ka BP, T ₁ - 0.7-0.3 ka BP, the higher valley flat - 0.3-0.15 ka BP and the lower valley flat 0.15-0 ka BP, respectively. Each terrace or valley flat and corresponding paleo-valley represents a river erosion/deposition cycle. Using this model and selected geomorphic parameters of terraces and paleo-valleys from 10 typical cross sections of Luohe River, a tributary of the Yellow River, an attempt is made here to estimate paleo-river erosion since the Pleistocene on the Loess Plateau.