Articles | Volume 10, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-209-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-209-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
14 Mar 2022
Research article |
| 14 Mar 2022
| 14 Mar 2022
Comparative analysis of the Copernicus, TanDEM-X, and UAV-SfM digital elevation models to estimate lavaka (gully) volumes and mobilization rates in the Lake Alaotra region (Madagascar)
Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Egmontstraat 5, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Benjamin Campforts
Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
Gerard Govers
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Emilien Aldana-Jague
Earth and Life Institute, Georges Lemaître Centre for Earth and Climate Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Vao Fenotiana Razanamahandry
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Tantely Razafimbelo
Laboratoire des Radio Isotopes, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
Tovonarivo Rafolisy
Laboratoire des Radio Isotopes, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
Liesbet Jacobs
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Ecosystem and Landscape Dynamics, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Subsoils in the tropics are not yet as extensively studied as in temperate regions. In this study, the conversion of forest to agriculture in a subtropical region affected the concentration of stabilized organic carbon (OC) down to 90 cm depth, while no significant differences between 90 cm and 300 cm were detected. Our results suggest that subsoils below 90 cm are unlikely to accumulate additional stabilized OC through reforestation over decadal periods due to declining OC input with depth.
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In order to shed light on possible past vegetation shifts in the Central Highlands of Madagascar, we measured stable isotope ratios of organic carbon in soil profiles along both forested and grassland hillslope transects in the Lake Alaotra region. Our results show that the landscape of this region was more forested in the past: soils in the C4-dominated grasslands contained a substantial fraction of C3-derived carbon, increasing with depth.
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In this paper, we investigate the 28 June 2022 collapse of the Chaos Canyon landslide in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA. We find that the landslide was moving prior to its collapse and took place at peak spring snowmelt; temperature modeling indicates the potential presence of permafrost. We hypothesize that this landslide could be part of the broader landscape evolution changes to alpine terrain caused by a warming climate, leading to thawing alpine permafrost.
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Katrina D. Gelwick, Sean D. Willett, and Rong Yang
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Earth Surf. Dynam., 10, 1211–1232, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-1211-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-1211-2022, 2022
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Elhanan Harel, Liran Goren, Onn Crouvi, Hanan Ginat, and Eitan Shelef
Earth Surf. Dynam., 10, 875–894, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-875-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-875-2022, 2022
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Silvan Ragettli, Tabea Donauer, Peter Molnar, Ron Delnoije, and Tobias Siegfried
Earth Surf. Dynam., 10, 797–815, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-797-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-797-2022, 2022
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Thomas G. Bernard, Dimitri Lague, and Philippe Steer
Earth Surf. Dynam., 9, 1013–1044, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-1013-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-1013-2021, 2021
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Both landslide mapping and volume estimation accuracies are crucial to quantify landscape evolution and manage such a natural hazard. We developed a method to robustly detect landslides and measure their volume from repeat 3D point cloud lidar data. This method detects more landslides than classical 2D inventories and resolves known issues of indirect volume measurement. Our results also suggest that the number of small landslides classically detected from 2D imagery is underestimated.
Mieke Kuschnerus, Roderik Lindenbergh, and Sander Vos
Earth Surf. Dynam., 9, 89–103, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-89-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-89-2021, 2021
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Sandy coasts are areas that undergo a lot of changes, which are caused by different influences, such as tides, wind or human activity. Permanent laser scanning is used to generate a three-dimensional representation of a part of the coast continuously over an extended period. By comparing three unsupervised learning algorithms, we develop a methodology to analyse the resulting data set and derive which processes are dominating changes in the beach and dunes.
Veit Ulrich, Jack G. Williams, Vivien Zahs, Katharina Anders, Stefan Hecht, and Bernhard Höfle
Earth Surf. Dynam., 9, 19–28, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-19-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-19-2021, 2021
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In this work, we use 3D point clouds to detect topographic changes across the surface of a rock glacier. These changes are presented as the relative contribution of surface change during a 3-week period to the annual surface change. By comparing these different time periods and looking at change in different directions, we provide estimates showing that different directions of surface change are dominant at different times of the year. This demonstrates the benefit of frequent monitoring.
Franklin D. Wolfe, Timothy A. Stahl, Pilar Villamor, and Biljana Lukovic
Earth Surf. Dynam., 8, 211–219, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-211-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-211-2020, 2020
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This short communication presents an efficient method for analyzing large fault scarp data sets. The programs and workflow required are open-source and the methodology is easy to use; thus the barrier to entry is low. This tool can be applied to a broad range of active tectonic studies. A case study in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, exemplifies the novelty of this tool by generating results that are consistent with extensive field campaigns in only a few hours at a work station.
Kristen L. Cook and Michael Dietze
Earth Surf. Dynam., 7, 1009–1017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-1009-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-1009-2019, 2019
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UAVs have become popular tools for detecting topographic changes. Traditionally, detecting small amounts of change between two UAV surveys requires each survey to be highly accurate. We take an alternative approach and present a simple processing workflow that produces survey pairs or sets that are highly consistent with each other, even when the overall accuracy is relatively low. This greatly increases our ability to detect changes in settings where ground control is not possible.
Kerry L. Callaghan and Andrew D. Wickert
Earth Surf. Dynam., 7, 737–753, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-737-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-737-2019, 2019
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Lakes and swales are real landscape features but are generally treated as data errors when calculating water flow across a surface. This is a problem because depressions can store water and fragment drainage networks. Until now, there has been no good generalized approach to calculate which depressions fill and overflow and which do not. We addressed this problem by simulating runoff flow across a landscape, selectively flooding depressions and more realistically connecting lakes and rivers.
Erika E. Lentz, Nathaniel G. Plant, and E. Robert Thieler
Earth Surf. Dynam., 7, 429–438, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-429-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-429-2019, 2019
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Our findings examine several data inputs for probabilistic regional sea-level rise (SLR) impact predictions. To predict coastal response to SLR, detailed information on the landscape, including elevation, vegetation, and/or level of development, is needed. However, we find that the inherent relationship between elevation and land cover datasets (e.g., beaches tend to be low lying) is used to reduce error in a coastal response to SLR model, suggesting new applications for areas of limited data.
Boris Gailleton, Simon M. Mudd, Fiona J. Clubb, Daniel Peifer, and Martin D. Hurst
Earth Surf. Dynam., 7, 211–230, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-211-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-211-2019, 2019
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The shape of landscapes is influenced by climate changes, faulting or the nature of the rocks under the surface. One of the most sensitive parts of the landscape to these changes is the river system that eventually adapts to such changes by adapting its slope, the most extreme example being a waterfall. We here present an algorithm that extracts changes in river slope over large areas from satellite data with the aim of investigating climatic, tectonic or geologic changes in the landscape.
Ankit Kumar Verma and Mary Carol Bourke
Earth Surf. Dynam., 7, 45–66, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-45-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-45-2019, 2019
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The article describes the development of a portable triangle control target to register structure-from-motion-derived topographic data. We were able to generate sub-millimetre-resolution 3-D models with sub-millimetre accuracy. We verified the accuracy of our models in an experiment and demonstrated the potential of our method by collecting microtopographic data on weathered Moenkopi sandstone in Arizona. The results from our study confirm the efficacy of our method at sub-millimetre scale.
Niamh Danielle Cullen, Ankit Kumar Verma, and Mary Clare Bourke
Earth Surf. Dynam., 6, 1023–1039, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-1023-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-1023-2018, 2018
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This research article provides a comparison between the traditional method of measuring erosion on rock shore platforms using a traversing micro-erosion meter (TMEM) and a new approach using structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry. Our results indicate that SfM photogrammetry offers several advantages over the TMEM, allowing for erosion measurement at different scales on rock surfaces with low roughness while also providing a means to identify different processes and styles of erosion.
Benjamin Purinton and Bodo Bookhagen
Earth Surf. Dynam., 6, 971–987, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-971-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-971-2018, 2018
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We show a new use for the SRTM-C digital elevation model from February 2000 and the newer TanDEM-X dataset from ~ 2015. We difference the datasets over hillslopes and gravel-bed channels to extract vertical land-level changes. These signals are associated with incision, aggradation, and landsliding. This requires careful correction of the SRTM-C biases using the TanDEM-X and propagation of significant uncertainties. The method can be applied to moderate relief areas with SRTM-C coverage.
Gonzalo Duró, Alessandra Crosato, Maarten G. Kleinhans, and Wim S. J. Uijttewaal
Earth Surf. Dynam., 6, 933–953, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-933-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-933-2018, 2018
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The challenge to measure three-dimensional bank irregularities in a mid-sized river reach can be quickly solved in the field flying a drone with ground-control points and later applying structure from motion photogrammetry. We tested a simple approach that achieved sufficient resolution and accuracy to identify the full bank erosion cycle, including undermining. This is an easy-to-use and quickly deployed survey alternative to measure bank erosion processes along extended distances.
Daniel Wujanz, Michael Avian, Daniel Krueger, and Frank Neitzel
Earth Surf. Dynam., 6, 303–317, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-303-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-303-2018, 2018
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The importance of increasing the degree of automation in the context of monitoring natural hazards or geological phenomena is apparent. A vital step in the processing chain of monitoring deformations is the transformation of captured epochs into a common reference systems. This led to the motivation to develop an algorithm that realistically carries out this task. The algorithm was tested on three different geomorphic events while the results were quite satisfactory.
Guillaume C. H. Goodwin, Simon M. Mudd, and Fiona J. Clubb
Earth Surf. Dynam., 6, 239–255, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-239-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-239-2018, 2018
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Salt marshes are valuable environments that provide multiple services to coastal communities. However, their fast-paced evolution poses a challenge to monitoring campaigns due to time-consuming processing. The Topographic Identification of Platforms (TIP) method uses high-resolution topographic data to automatically detect the limits of salt marsh platforms within a landscape. The TIP method provides sufficient accuracy to monitor salt marsh change over time, facilitating coastal management.
Ellen Schwalbe and Hans-Gerd Maas
Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 861–879, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-861-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-861-2017, 2017
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The simple use of time-lapse cameras as a visual observation tool may already be a great help for environmental investigations. However, beyond that, they have the potential to also deliver precise measurements with high temporal and spatial resolution when applying appropriate processing techniques. In this paper we introduce a method for the determination of glacier motion fields from time-lapse images, but it might also be adapted for other environmental motion analysis tasks.
Wolfgang Schwanghart and Dirk Scherler
Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 821–839, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-821-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-821-2017, 2017
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River profiles derived from digital elevation models are affected by errors. Here we present two new algorithms – quantile carving and the CRS algorithm – to hydrologically correct river profiles. Both algorithms preserve the downstream decreasing shape of river profiles, while CRS additionally smooths profiles to avoid artificial steps. Our algorithms are able to cope with the problems of overestimation and asymmetric error distributions.
François Clapuyt, Veerle Vanacker, Fritz Schlunegger, and Kristof Van Oost
Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 791–806, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-791-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-791-2017, 2017
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This work aims at understanding the behaviour of an earth flow located in the Swiss Alps by reconstructing very accurately its topography over a 2-year period. Aerial photos taken from a drone, which are then processed using a computer vision algorithm, were used to derive the topographic datasets. Combination and careful interpretation of high-resolution topographic analyses reveal the internal mechanisms of the earthflow and its complex rotational structure, which is evolving over time.
Denis Cohen and Massimiliano Schwarz
Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 451–477, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-451-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-451-2017, 2017
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Tree roots reinforce soils on slopes. A new slope stability model is presented that computes root reinforcement including the effects of root heterogeneities and dependence of root strength on tensile and compressive strain. Our results show that roots stabilize slopes that would otherwise fail under a rainfall event. Tension in roots is more effective than compression. Redistribution of forces in roots across the hillslope plays a key role in the stability of the slope during rainfall events.
Ryan A. Kromer, Antonio Abellán, D. Jean Hutchinson, Matt Lato, Marie-Aurelie Chanut, Laurent Dubois, and Michel Jaboyedoff
Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 293–310, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-293-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-293-2017, 2017
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We developed and tested an automated terrestrial laser scanning (ATLS) system with near-real-time change detection at the Séchilienne landslide. We monitored the landslide for a 6-week period collecting a point cloud every 30 min. We detected various slope processes including movement of scree material, pre-failure deformation of discrete rockfall events and deformation of the main landslide body. This system allows the study of slope processes a high level of temporal detail.
Benjamin Purinton and Bodo Bookhagen
Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 211–237, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-211-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-211-2017, 2017
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We evaluate the 12 m TanDEM-X DEM for geomorphometry and compare elevation accuracy (using over 300 000 dGPS measurements) and geomorphic metrics (e.g., slope and curvature) to other modern satellite-derived DEMs. The optically generated 5 m ALOS World 3D is less useful due to high-frequency noise. Despite improvements in radar-derived satellite DEMs, which are useful for elevation differencing and catchment analysis, lidar data are still necessary for fine-scale analysis of hillslope processes.
Céline Longchamp, Antonio Abellan, Michel Jaboyedoff, and Irene Manzella
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 743–755, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-743-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-743-2016, 2016
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The main objective of this research is to analyze rock avalanche dynamics by means of a detailed structural analysis of the deposits coming from data of 3-D measurements. The studied deposits are of different magnitude: (1) decimeter level scale laboratory experiments and (2) well-studied rock avalanches.
Filtering techniques were developed and applied to a 3-D dataset in order to detect fault structures present in the deposits and to propose kinematic mechanisms for the propagation.
Giulia Sofia, John K. Hillier, and Susan J. Conway
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 721–725, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-721-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-721-2016, 2016
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The interdisciplinarity of geomorphometry is its greatest strength and one of its major challenges. This special issue showcases exciting developments that are the building blocks for the next step-change in the field. In reading and compiling the contributions we hope that the scientific community will be inspired to seek out collaborations and share ideas across subject-boundaries, between technique-developers and users, enabling us as a community to gather knowledge from our digital landscape
Stuart W. D. Grieve, Simon M. Mudd, David T. Milodowski, Fiona J. Clubb, and David J. Furbish
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 627–653, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-627-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-627-2016, 2016
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High-resolution topographic data are becoming more prevalent, yet many areas of geomorphic interest do not have such data available. We produce topographic data at a range of resolutions to explore the influence of decreasing resolution of data on geomorphic analysis. We test the accuracy of the calculation of curvature, a hillslope sediment transport coefficient, and the identification of channel networks, providing guidelines for future use of these methods on low-resolution topographic data.
Livia Piermattei, Luca Carturan, Fabrizio de Blasi, Paolo Tarolli, Giancarlo Dalla Fontana, Antonio Vettore, and Norbert Pfeifer
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 425–443, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-425-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-425-2016, 2016
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We investigated the applicability of the SfM–MVS approach for calculating the geodetic mass balance of a glacier and for the detection of the surface displacement rate of an active rock glacier located in the eastern Italian Alps. The results demonstrate that it is possible to reliably quantify the investigated glacial and periglacial processes by means of a quick ground-based photogrammetric survey that was conducted using a consumer grade SRL camera and natural targets as ground control points.
Anette Eltner, Andreas Kaiser, Carlos Castillo, Gilles Rock, Fabian Neugirg, and Antonio Abellán
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 359–389, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-359-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-359-2016, 2016
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Three-dimensional reconstruction of earth surfaces from overlapping images is a promising tool for geoscientists. The method is very flexible, cost-efficient and easy to use, leading to a high variability in applications at different scales. Performance evaluation reveals that good accuracies are achievable but depend on the requirements of the individual case study. Future applications and developments (i.e. big data) will consolidate this essential tool for digital surface mapping.
Sebastiano Trevisani and Marco Cavalli
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 343–358, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-343-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-343-2016, 2016
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The generalization of the concept of roughness implies the need to refer to a family of roughness indices capturing specific aspects of surface morphology. We test the application of a flow-oriented directional measure of roughness based on the geostatistical index MAD (median of absolute directional differences), computed considering gravity-driven flow direction. The use of flow-directional roughness improves geomorphometric modeling and the interpretation of landscape morphology.
Stuart W. D. Grieve, Simon M. Mudd, Martin D. Hurst, and David T. Milodowski
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 309–325, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-309-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-309-2016, 2016
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Relationships between the erosion rate and topographic relief of hillslopes have been demonstrated in a number of diverse settings and such patterns can be used to identify the impact of tectonic plate motion on the Earth's surface. Here we present an open-source software tool which can be used to explore these relationships in any landscape where high-resolution topographic data have been collected.
D. T. Milodowski, S. M. Mudd, and E. T. A. Mitchard
Earth Surf. Dynam., 3, 483–499, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-483-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-483-2015, 2015
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Rock is exposed at the Earth surface when erosion rates locally exceed rates of soil production. This transition is marked by a diagnostic increase in topographic roughness, which we demonstrate can be a powerful indicator of the location of rock outcrop in a landscape. Using this to explore how hillslopes in two landscapes respond to increasing erosion rates, we find that the transition from soil-mantled to bedrock hillslopes is patchy and spatially heterogeneous.
M. T. Melis, F. Mundula, F. DessÌ, R. Cioni, and A. Funedda
Earth Surf. Dynam., 2, 481–492, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-481-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-481-2014, 2014
S. Zhao and W. Cheng
Earth Surf. Dynam., 2, 433–441, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-433-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-433-2014, 2014
S. Hergarten, J. Robl, and K. Stüwe
Earth Surf. Dynam., 2, 97–104, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-97-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-97-2014, 2014
W. Schwanghart and D. Scherler
Earth Surf. Dynam., 2, 1–7, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-1-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-1-2014, 2014
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Short summary
Obtaining accurate information on the volume of geomorphic features typically requires high-resolution topographic data, which are often not available. Here, we show that the globally available 12 m TanDEM-X DEM can be used to accurately estimate gully volumes and establish an area–volume relationship after applying a correction. This allowed us to get a first estimate of the amount of sediment that has been mobilized by large gullies (lavaka) in central Madagascar over the past 70 years.
Obtaining accurate information on the volume of geomorphic features typically requires...
