Evaluation of freeze-thaw wind erosion and analysis of influencing factors on the Tibetan Plateau based on the improved RWEQ

Freeze-thaw wind erosion refers to the process in which temperature fluctuations cause changes in the surface structure, significantly impacting on the formation of surface landform and soil properties. However, due to the particularity and complexity of the Tibetan Plateau, the study of freeze-thaw wind erosion has not received widespread attention. Due to the relative scarcity of quantitative studies on the freeze-thaw wind erosion on the Tibetan Plateau, this study utilizes a Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ) that incorporates a freezing N-factor to analyze the distribution characteristics of freeze-thaw wind erosion on the Tibetan Plateau in 2022. The study also categorizes the intensity of freeze-thaw wind erosion across the Tibetan Plateau. The results indicate: (1) The freeze-thaw wind erosion modulus on the Qinghai- Tibet Plateau ranges from 8.90×10⁸ to 4.95×10⁵ (t·km⁻²·a⁻¹), with a total erosion amount of 2.87×10¹³ t and a total affected area of 2.41×10 km²; (2) Moderate or greater freeze-thaw wind erosion accounts for 84.26% of the total affected area, indicating that light and mild erosion are predominant. (3) The significance tests of the five factors were all significant, and the influence of the freezing-thawing wind erosion modulus on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was ranked as meteorological factors > soil crust factors > soil erodibility factors > surface roughness factors>vegetation coverage factors. This study not only provides foundational data and practical references for environmental protection and sustainable development in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, but also offers a diverse range of methods and experiences for studying freeze-thaw wind erosion in other regions with similar climatic and geographical characteristics through the application of the model.