Articles | Volume 13, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-571-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-571-2025
Research article
 | 
21 Jul 2025
Research article |  | 21 Jul 2025

Spatiotemporal denudation rates of the Swabian Alb escarpment (southwestern Germany) dominated by anthropogenic impact, lithology, and base-level lowering

Mirjam Schaller, Daniel Peifer, Alexander B. Neely, Thomas Bernard, Christoph Glotzbach, Alexander R. Beer, and Todd A. Ehlers

Related authors

Comparison of soil production, chemical weathering, and physical erosion rates along a climate and ecological gradient (Chile) to global observations
Mirjam Schaller and Todd A. Ehlers
Earth Surf. Dynam., 10, 131–150, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-131-2022,https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-131-2022, 2022
Short summary
Comparison of regolith physical and chemical characteristics with geophysical data along a climate and ecological gradient, Chilean Coastal Cordillera (26 to 38° S)
Mirjam Schaller, Igor Dal Bo, Todd A. Ehlers, Anja Klotzsche, Reinhard Drews, Juan Pablo Fuentes Espoz, and Jan van der Kruk
SOIL, 6, 629–647, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-629-2020,https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-629-2020, 2020
Short summary

Cited articles

Abel, T., Hinderer, M., and Sauter, M.: Karst genesis of the Swabian Alb, south Germany, since the Pliocene, Acta Geol. Pol., 52, 43–54, 2002. 
Agster, G.: Ein- und Austrag sowie Umsatz gelöster Stoffe in den Einzugsgebieten des Schönbuchs, in: Das landschaftsökologische Forschungsprojekt Naturpark Schönbuch, VCH, Weinheim, DFG-Forschungsbericht, 343–356, 1986. 
Ahnert, F.: Functional relationships between denudation, relief, and uplift in large, mid-latitude drainage basins, Am. J. Sci., 268, 243–263, https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.268.3.243, 1970. 
Bauer, M.: Wasserhaushalt, aktueller und holozäner Lösungsabtrag im Wutachgebiet (Südschwarzwald), Dissertation Universität Tübingen, Tübinger Geowiss. Arbeiten (TGA), Reihe C, 14–121, 1993. 
BGR: Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, Geologische Übersichtskarte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland 1:250 000 (GÜK250, WMS), Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), UUID 1780a06-69b6-44b0-855e-dc0f8da9a1d4, 2019. 
Download
Short summary
This study reports chemical weathering, physical erosion, and denudation rates from river load data in the Swabian Alb, southwestern Germany. Tributaries to the Neckar River draining to the north show higher rates than tributaries draining to the southeast into the Danube River, causing a retreat of the Swabian Alb escarpment. Observations are discussed in light of anthropogenic impact, lithology, and topography. The data are further compared to other rates over space and time and to global data.
Share