Articles | Volume 14, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-14-493-2026
© Author(s) 2026. 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-14-493-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Discrete differential geometry of fluvial landscapes
Nathaniel Klema
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Physics and Engineering, Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado 81301, USA
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
Leif Karlstrom
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
Joshua Roering
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA
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Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 1435–1456, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-1435-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-1435-2026, 2026
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Rockfalls are a common hazard in steep mountain valleys, especially near Skagway, Alaska, where recent events have threatened public safety and infrastructure. This study identifies zones prone to rockfall by analyzing rockfall records, rock formations, past rockfall deposits, and computer models predicting how rocks travel downslope. Our findings highlight high-risk areas and provide insights to improve hazard mitigation, helping protect communities and tourism in the region.
Joshua J. Roering, Margaret M. Darrow, Annette I. Patton, and Aaron Jacobs
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 587–610, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-587-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-587-2026, 2026
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A deadly landslide struck Wrangell Island, Alaska, in November 2023, traveling over a kilometer and claiming six lives. Our study shows it was likely triggered by moderate rainfall combined with rapid snowmelt and drainage from a ridgetop wetland, which saturated deep soil deposits on a steep hillslope. The landslide grew unusually large as it entrained abundant soil. Findings highlight the role of storm patterns, geology, and hydrology in driving future landslide hazards in SE Alaska.
Greg Balco, Alan J. Hidy, William T. Struble, and Joshua J. Roering
Geochronology, 6, 71–76, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-6-71-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-6-71-2024, 2024
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We describe a new method of reconstructing the long-term, pre-observational frequency and/or intensity of wildfires in forested landscapes using trace concentrations of the noble gases helium and neon that are formed in soil mineral grains by cosmic-ray bombardment of the Earth's surface.
Annette I. Patton, Lisa V. Luna, Joshua J. Roering, Aaron Jacobs, Oliver Korup, and Benjamin B. Mirus
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 3261–3284, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-3261-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-3261-2023, 2023
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Landslide warning systems often use statistical models to predict landslides based on rainfall. They are typically trained on large datasets with many landslide occurrences, but in rural areas large datasets may not exist. In this study, we evaluate which statistical model types are best suited to predicting landslides and demonstrate that even a small landslide inventory (five storms) can be used to train useful models for landslide early warning when non-landslide events are also included.
William T. Struble and Joshua J. Roering
Earth Surf. Dynam., 9, 1279–1300, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-1279-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-1279-2021, 2021
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We used a mathematical technique known as a wavelet transform to calculate the curvature of hilltops in western Oregon, which we used to estimate erosion rate. We find that this technique operates over 1000 times faster than other techniques and produces accurate erosion rates. We additionally built artificial hillslopes to test the accuracy of curvature measurement methods. We find that at fast erosion rates, curvature is underestimated, raising questions of measurement accuracy elsewhere.
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Short summary
Geomorphology is built on process models that take topographic geometry as inputs. However, many studies calculate these metrics on 2-D projections of topography rather than on true surfaces in 3-D space. In this work we apply classical surface theory to fluvial topography of the Oregon Coast Range, USA. This formal approach improves the accuracy of geometry calculations, extracts more information than standard methods, and sheds light on the organizational structure of landscapes.
Geomorphology is built on process models that take topographic geometry as inputs. However, many...