Abstract:In order to determine the temporal and spatial distribution of slope soil erosion and sediment yield under the condition of freeze-thaw cycle, rare earth element (REE) tracing technology was used in the study. Specifically, two gradients (10°, 15°), four initial thawing depths (2, 5, 10 and 15 cm) and four water flows (4.5, 6.5, 8.5 and 10.5 L/min) were designed to analysis the temporal and spatial variation of soil erosion and sediment yields. The results showed that the soil erosion and sediment yield increased with the increase of gradient and flow under the condition of the same initial thawing depth. The harvest soil erosion occurred in the first slope segment, which accounted for 68.24% of the total sediment yield, while the sediment yield was steady in third slope segment. The erosion and sediment yield increased with the increase of initial thawing depth and flow under the same slope gradient. The erosion and sediment yield reduced gradually with the slope and soil depth directions in freeze-thaw slope; In the La element tracer area, the sediment yield increased firstly, and then decreased, in other element tracer areas, the change of sediment yield was basically consistent with that of the La element tracer area.