Influence of precipitation and runoff on human-induced land subsidence in the Yellow River Delta

Land subsidence in river deltas, particularly in the Yellow River Delta (YRD), represents an urgent environmental concern driven by both human activities and natural factors. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of land subsidence in the YRD region from 2019 to 2022 using multi-temporal InSA...

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Main Authors: Yaoshen Fan, Guangzhou Wang, Shentang Dou, Chao Jiang, Hongyu Ji, Shenliang Chen, Xiaokang Du, Shoubing Yu, Yan Wu, Shaohua Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Quaternary Science Advances
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666033425000243
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author Yaoshen Fan
Guangzhou Wang
Shentang Dou
Chao Jiang
Hongyu Ji
Shenliang Chen
Xiaokang Du
Shoubing Yu
Yan Wu
Shaohua Zhang
author_facet Yaoshen Fan
Guangzhou Wang
Shentang Dou
Chao Jiang
Hongyu Ji
Shenliang Chen
Xiaokang Du
Shoubing Yu
Yan Wu
Shaohua Zhang
author_sort Yaoshen Fan
collection DOAJ
description Land subsidence in river deltas, particularly in the Yellow River Delta (YRD), represents an urgent environmental concern driven by both human activities and natural factors. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of land subsidence in the YRD region from 2019 to 2022 using multi-temporal InSAR data from Sentinel-1A. Results reveal that the maximum annual subsidence rate in the YRD exceeds 200mm/a, with the primary subsidence area located in the northeastern part of the delta, forming a subsidence funnel of approximately 200 km2 and displaying distinct spatial heterogeneity. Human activities, especially saltwater extraction and oil exploitation, are the main drivers of land subsidence. Areas heavily influenced by human activities show significantly greater subsidence than well-protected ecological zones. The study reveals pronounced seasonal variations in land subsidence across the YRD, with subsidence rates in summer being substantially lower than those in spring, autumn, and winter. By introducing the concept of equivalent precipitation, the research confirms that runoff exerts a regulatory effect on land subsidence, although its impact is considerably weaker than that of precipitation. This study proposes a novel explanatory mechanism: the expansion-contraction properties of surface soil explain how seasonal hydrological conditions influence subsidence patterns. During rainy summers, surface soil absorbs water and expands, partially offsetting subsidence caused by deep extraction. These findings provide valuable insights into the interactions between human activities and natural factors in complex deltaic systems, offering a scientific basis for subsidence monitoring and sustainable resource management in the YRD region.
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spelling doaj-art-8c8fc755a78c434db2ba093e522c20c32025-08-20T03:56:04ZengElsevierQuaternary Science Advances2666-03342025-09-011910028810.1016/j.qsa.2025.100288Influence of precipitation and runoff on human-induced land subsidence in the Yellow River DeltaYaoshen Fan0Guangzhou Wang1Shentang Dou2Chao Jiang3Hongyu Ji4Shenliang Chen5Xiaokang Du6Shoubing Yu7Yan Wu8Shaohua Zhang9Key Laboratory of Yellow River Lower Channel and Estuary Regulation of the Ministry of Water Resources, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou, 450003, China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou, 450003, ChinaKey Laboratory of Yellow River Lower Channel and Estuary Regulation of the Ministry of Water Resources, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou, 450003, China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou, 450003, ChinaKey Laboratory of Yellow River Lower Channel and Estuary Regulation of the Ministry of Water Resources, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou, 450003, China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou, 450003, China; Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of Yellow River Lower Channel and Estuary Regulation of the Ministry of Water Resources, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.School of Urban and Planning, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, 224007, China; Corresponding author.National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Dalian, 116023, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, ChinaKey Laboratory of Yellow River Lower Channel and Estuary Regulation of the Ministry of Water Resources, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou, 450003, China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou, 450003, ChinaKey Laboratory of Yellow River Lower Channel and Estuary Regulation of the Ministry of Water Resources, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou, 450003, China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou, 450003, ChinaKey Laboratory of Yellow River Lower Channel and Estuary Regulation of the Ministry of Water Resources, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou, 450003, China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou, 450003, ChinaKey Laboratory of Yellow River Lower Channel and Estuary Regulation of the Ministry of Water Resources, Yellow River Institute of Hydraulic Research, Zhengzhou, 450003, China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou, 450003, ChinaLand subsidence in river deltas, particularly in the Yellow River Delta (YRD), represents an urgent environmental concern driven by both human activities and natural factors. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of land subsidence in the YRD region from 2019 to 2022 using multi-temporal InSAR data from Sentinel-1A. Results reveal that the maximum annual subsidence rate in the YRD exceeds 200mm/a, with the primary subsidence area located in the northeastern part of the delta, forming a subsidence funnel of approximately 200 km2 and displaying distinct spatial heterogeneity. Human activities, especially saltwater extraction and oil exploitation, are the main drivers of land subsidence. Areas heavily influenced by human activities show significantly greater subsidence than well-protected ecological zones. The study reveals pronounced seasonal variations in land subsidence across the YRD, with subsidence rates in summer being substantially lower than those in spring, autumn, and winter. By introducing the concept of equivalent precipitation, the research confirms that runoff exerts a regulatory effect on land subsidence, although its impact is considerably weaker than that of precipitation. This study proposes a novel explanatory mechanism: the expansion-contraction properties of surface soil explain how seasonal hydrological conditions influence subsidence patterns. During rainy summers, surface soil absorbs water and expands, partially offsetting subsidence caused by deep extraction. These findings provide valuable insights into the interactions between human activities and natural factors in complex deltaic systems, offering a scientific basis for subsidence monitoring and sustainable resource management in the YRD region.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666033425000243Land subsidenceYellow river deltaHuman activitiesPrecipitationRunoffSeasonal variations
spellingShingle Yaoshen Fan
Guangzhou Wang
Shentang Dou
Chao Jiang
Hongyu Ji
Shenliang Chen
Xiaokang Du
Shoubing Yu
Yan Wu
Shaohua Zhang
Influence of precipitation and runoff on human-induced land subsidence in the Yellow River Delta
Quaternary Science Advances
Land subsidence
Yellow river delta
Human activities
Precipitation
Runoff
Seasonal variations
title Influence of precipitation and runoff on human-induced land subsidence in the Yellow River Delta
title_full Influence of precipitation and runoff on human-induced land subsidence in the Yellow River Delta
title_fullStr Influence of precipitation and runoff on human-induced land subsidence in the Yellow River Delta
title_full_unstemmed Influence of precipitation and runoff on human-induced land subsidence in the Yellow River Delta
title_short Influence of precipitation and runoff on human-induced land subsidence in the Yellow River Delta
title_sort influence of precipitation and runoff on human induced land subsidence in the yellow river delta
topic Land subsidence
Yellow river delta
Human activities
Precipitation
Runoff
Seasonal variations
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666033425000243
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