By taking 5m grid cell DEMs as an experiment basis

the relation between flow accumulation threshold and gully density in the Loess Plateau area

Northern Shaanxi

China

is invest igated quant itat ively and stat ist ica-lly. Experimental results show that a stat istical model could be constructed as a formula. In the formula

the coef f-icient is found to have a strong relat ion w ith terrain complexity and types and play a signif icant role in the model. In the fixed terrain area

a reasonable flow accumulat ion threshold could be derived based on the model

which is of critical significance not only in the theory

but also in application.