近日，比利时鲁汶大学Matthias Vanmaercke团队研究了刚果民主共和国的城市沟壑测绘。这一研究成果发表在2025年8月27日出版的《自然》杂志上。

大型城市沟壑对全球南部的许多热带城市造成了破坏。它们可能是由于城市规划不当和基础设施不足，无法在已经对土壤侵蚀高度敏感的环境中安全储存和疏散降雨造成的。尽管它们可能造成巨大的破坏和社会影响，如人口流离失所，但这种地质水文灾害的严重程度仍然没有得到很好的记录和理解。 

研究组对刚果民主共和国（DRC）规模的城市沟壑的范围和影响进行了评估。通过测绘，他们确定了26个城市的2922条城市沟壑。通过将其形成和增长率与人口密度数据相结合，研究组估计在2004年至2023年期间，约有118600人（不确定性范围： ± 44400 人）因城市沟壑而流离失所。 

研究组发现，平均流离失所率从2020年前约每年4650人增加到约每年12200人（2020年后）。 2010年至2023年间，生活在城市沟壑潜在扩张区的人数翻了一番，从160万（±0.6）人增加到320万（±130）人，由于城市扩张和气候变化，更有可能暴露在沟壑中。研究组建议需要工具和策略来预防和减轻这种危害。

附：英文原文

Title: Mapping urban gullies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Author: Mawe, Guy Ilombe, Landu, Eric Lutete, Dujardin, Elise, Imwangana, Fils Makanzu, Bielders, Charles, Hubert, Aurlia, Michellier, Caroline, Nzolang, Charles, Poesen, Jean, Dewitte, Olivier, Vanmaercke, Matthias

Issue&Volume: 2025-08-27

Abstract: Large urban gullies cause damage in many tropical cities across the Global South1,2. They can result from inappropriate urban planning and insufficient infrastructure to safely store and evacuate rainfall in environments that are already highly sensitive to soil erosion1,3,4. Although they can cause large destruction and societal impacts such as population displacement1,2,5, the magnitude of this geo-hydrological hazard remains poorly documented and understood6,7. Here we provide an assessment of the extent and impact of urban gullies at the scale of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Through mapping, we identify 2,922 urban gullies across 26 cities. By combining their formation and growth rates with population density data8, we estimate that around 118,600 people (uncertainty range:±44,400 people) have been displaced by urban gullies over the period 2004–2023. We find that average displacement rates increased from about 4,650 personsyr1 (pre-2020) to about 12,200 personsyr1 (post-2020). Between 2010 and 2023, the number of people living in the potential expansion zone of urban gullies doubled from 1.6 (±0.6) to 3.2 (±1.3) million, with more likely to be exposed due to urban sprawl9,10 and climate change11. We suggest that there is a need for tools and strategies to prevent and mitigate this hazard.

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09371-7

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09371-7