Articles | Volume 4, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-655-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-655-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
10 Aug 2016
Research article |
| 10 Aug 2016
The CAIRN method: automated, reproducible calculation of catchment-averaged denudation rates from cosmogenic nuclide concentrations
School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street,
Edinburgh EH8 9XP, UK
Marie-Alice Harel
School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street,
Edinburgh EH8 9XP, UK
Martin D. Hurst
British Geological Survey, Keyworth,
Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
Stuart W. D. Grieve
School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street,
Edinburgh EH8 9XP, UK
Shasta M. Marrero
School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street,
Edinburgh EH8 9XP, UK
Viewed
Total article views: 5,809 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 19 Apr 2016)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,565 | 2,025 | 219 | 5,809 | 228 | 288 |
- HTML: 3,565
- PDF: 2,025
- XML: 219
- Total: 5,809
- BibTeX: 228
- EndNote: 288
Total article views: 5,064 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 10 Aug 2016)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,215 | 1,637 | 212 | 5,064 | 223 | 284 |
- HTML: 3,215
- PDF: 1,637
- XML: 212
- Total: 5,064
- BibTeX: 223
- EndNote: 284
Total article views: 745 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 19 Apr 2016)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 350 | 388 | 7 | 745 | 5 | 4 |
- HTML: 350
- PDF: 388
- XML: 7
- Total: 745
- BibTeX: 5
- EndNote: 4
Cited
56 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Cosmogenic exposure dating reveals limited long-term variability in erosion of a rocky coastline Z. Swirad et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17611-9
- Cosmogenic nuclide techniques J. Schaefer et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-022-00096-9
- Impact of Quaternary Glaciations on Denudation Rates in North Pamir—Tian Shan Inferred From Cosmogenic 10Be and Low‐Temperature Thermochronology A. Kudriavtseva et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JF007193
- Spatio-temporal dynamics of sediment transfer systems in landslide-prone Alpine catchments F. Clapuyt et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1489-2019
- Short communication: Updated CRN Denudation collections in OCTOPUS v2.3 A. Codilean & H. Munack https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-7-113-2025
- Arrested development: Erosional equilibrium in the southern Sierra Nevada, California, maintained by feedbacks between channel incision and hillslope sediment production R. Callahan et al. https://doi.org/10.1130/B35006.1
- Coastal-Cosmo-Model (CCMv1): a cosmogenic nuclide model for rocky coastlines R. Jones https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-989-2026
- Million-year lag times in a post-orogenic sediment conveyor R. Fülöp et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaz8845
- Flexural tectonics and lithological controls on landscape evolution in a forebulge region: Insights from Central India P. Kasana et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.70359
- Hilltop Curvature Increases With the Square Root of Erosion Rate E. Gabet et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JF005858
- MErSiM v1.0: resolving biases in global silicate weathering model with a data-driven surface erosion module J. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-6857-2026
- Quantifying Normal Fault Evolution from River Profile Analysis in the Northern Basin and Range Province, Southwest Montana, USA I. Armstrong et al. https://doi.org/10.2113/2021/7866219
- Geometric disequilibrium of river basins produces long-lived transient landscapes H. Beeson et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.07.010
- Thresholds in the controls of denudation rates: A global analysis of tectonic, climatic and biological factors based on machine learning J. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119750
- Denudation rates and Holocene sediment storage dynamics inferred from in situ14C concentrations in the Feshie basin, Scotland A. Towers et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.70043
- Basinga: A cell‐by‐cell GIS toolbox for computing basin average scaling factors, cosmogenic production rates and denudation rates J. Charreau et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4649
- Magnitude and timing of transient incision resulting from large‐scale drainage capture, Sutlej River, Northwest Himalaya B. Penserini et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5705
- Constraints on what controls millennial-scale basin-wide denudation across mountain belts, Asia Y. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-024-1420-8
- A Vosgian special case: post-glacial evolution of the Cleurie catchment (Lorraine, N-E France) C. Fuchs et al. https://doi.org/10.4000/15udb
- Geomorphic constraints on the development of a blind-thrust induced landform, south-central Mongolia: Insights into foreberg growth C. Lee et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2021.107613
- Erosion of heterogeneous rock drives diversification of Appalachian fishes M. Stokes et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.add9791
- Environmental controls on 10Be‐based catchment‐averaged denudation rates along the western margin of the Peruvian Andes R. Reber et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12274
- Stratigraphic control of landscape response to base-level fall, Young Womans Creek, Pennsylvania, USA R. DiBiase et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2018.10.005
- Exploring exogenous controls on short- versus long-term erosion rates globally S. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-1055-2022
- Global patterns of dust and bedrock nutrient supply to montane ecosystems L. Arvin et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aao1588
- Cosmogenic data about offset uplifted river terraces and erosion rates: implication regarding the central North Anatolian Fault and the Central Pontides A. Hubert-Ferrari et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42990-021-00057-6
- Frost-weathering control on the rate of late Quaternary landscape evolution, western flank of the Taebaek Mountain Range, Korea: a case of passive margin landscape evolution D. Kim et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/04353676.2022.2121998
- Controls on the distribution of cosmogenic 10Be across shore platforms M. Hurst et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-67-2017
- Evolution of sandstone peak‐forest landscapes – insights from quantifying erosional processes with cosmogenic nuclides J. May et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4273
- Beryllium-10-derived denudation rates in the Roda Catchment, Germany L. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-75-19-2026
- Controls on denudation along the East Australian continental margin A. Codilean et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103543
- OCTOPUS: an open cosmogenic isotope and luminescence database A. Codilean et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-2123-2018
- Delayed 10Be dilution in detrital quartz following extensive coseismic landsliding: A 2016 Kaikōura earthquake case study C. Wilkinson et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117392
- Multi-objective optimisation of a rock coast evolution model with cosmogenic 10Be analysis for the quantification of long-term cliff retreat rates J. Shadrick et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-1505-2021
- Pre-development denudation rates for the Great Barrier Reef catchments derived using 10Be A. Mariotti et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112731
- Integrating 10Be analyses and an empirical erosion model to unveil catchment-scale landscape and sediment dynamics in a tectonically active Mediterranean area (Calabria, southern Italy) P. De Cesare et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2026.110329
- Growing topography due to contrasting rock types in a tectonically dead landscape D. Peifer et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-167-2021
- OCTOPUS database (v.2) A. Codilean et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-3695-2022
- RIVERSAND: A NEW TOOL FOR EFFICIENT COMPUTATION OF CATCHMENTWIDE EROSION RATES K. Stübner et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/RDC.2023.74
- Covariation of cross-divide differences in denudation rate and χ: Implications for drainage basin reorganization in the Qilian Shan, northeast Tibet K. Hu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2021.116812
- The slow downwearing of Madagascar: Inferring patterns and controls on long‐term basin‐averaged erosion rates from in situ10Be at the catchment and regional level L. Brosens et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5586
- Late Quaternary–Recent intraplate topographic uplift of the St. Francois Mountains (Ozark Plateau), Missouri (USA), driven by differential density and erosion D. Kim et al. https://doi.org/10.1130/G50585.1
- The Erosional Signature of Drainage Divide Motion Along the Blue Ridge Escarpment M. Stokes et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JF006757
- Cosmogenic and Geological Evidence for the Occurrence of a Ma-Long Feedback between Uplift and Denudation, Chur Region, Swiss Alps E. da Silva Guimarães et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11080339
- Differential erosion and sediment fluxes in the Landquart basin and possible relationships to lithology and tectonic controls G. Glaus et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-019-00344-3
- Post-glacial reshaping of Alpine topography induced by landsliding C. Ariagno et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-1109-2025
- Reduced sediment supply in a fast eroding landscape? A multi-proxy sediment budget of the upper Rhône basin, Central Alps L. Stutenbecker et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2017.12.013
- The influence of erosion and vegetation on soil production and chemical weathering rates in the Southern Alps, New Zealand I. Larsen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118036
- Temporal variability in detrital 10Be concentrations in a large Himalayan catchment E. Dingle et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-611-2018
- Spatio-temporal variability and controlling factors for postglacial denudation rates in the Dora Baltea catchment (western Italian Alps) E. Serra et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-493-2022
- Unsteady migration of Taebaek Mountain drainage divide, Cenozoic extensional basin margin, Korean Peninsula D. Kim et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.107012
- Evolution of eastern Tibetan river systems is driven by the indentation of India Y. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00330-4
- Modeling Cosmogenic Nuclides in Transiently Evolving Topography and Chemically Weathering Soils M. Reed et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JF007201
- Late-Pleistocene catchment-wide denudation patterns across the European Alps R. Delunel et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103407
- Short communication: Increasing vertical attenuation length of cosmogenic nuclide production on steep slopes negates topographic shielding corrections for catchment erosion rates R. DiBiase https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-923-2018
- Evidence for and against landscape transience in the Northern Qinling Mountains, China Y. Wang & S. Mudd https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2021.107890
56 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Cosmogenic exposure dating reveals limited long-term variability in erosion of a rocky coastline Z. Swirad et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17611-9
- Cosmogenic nuclide techniques J. Schaefer et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-022-00096-9
- Impact of Quaternary Glaciations on Denudation Rates in North Pamir—Tian Shan Inferred From Cosmogenic 10Be and Low‐Temperature Thermochronology A. Kudriavtseva et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JF007193
- Spatio-temporal dynamics of sediment transfer systems in landslide-prone Alpine catchments F. Clapuyt et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1489-2019
- Short communication: Updated CRN Denudation collections in OCTOPUS v2.3 A. Codilean & H. Munack https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-7-113-2025
- Arrested development: Erosional equilibrium in the southern Sierra Nevada, California, maintained by feedbacks between channel incision and hillslope sediment production R. Callahan et al. https://doi.org/10.1130/B35006.1
- Coastal-Cosmo-Model (CCMv1): a cosmogenic nuclide model for rocky coastlines R. Jones https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-989-2026
- Million-year lag times in a post-orogenic sediment conveyor R. Fülöp et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaz8845
- Flexural tectonics and lithological controls on landscape evolution in a forebulge region: Insights from Central India P. Kasana et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.70359
- Hilltop Curvature Increases With the Square Root of Erosion Rate E. Gabet et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JF005858
- MErSiM v1.0: resolving biases in global silicate weathering model with a data-driven surface erosion module J. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-6857-2026
- Quantifying Normal Fault Evolution from River Profile Analysis in the Northern Basin and Range Province, Southwest Montana, USA I. Armstrong et al. https://doi.org/10.2113/2021/7866219
- Geometric disequilibrium of river basins produces long-lived transient landscapes H. Beeson et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.07.010
- Thresholds in the controls of denudation rates: A global analysis of tectonic, climatic and biological factors based on machine learning J. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119750
- Denudation rates and Holocene sediment storage dynamics inferred from in situ14C concentrations in the Feshie basin, Scotland A. Towers et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.70043
- Basinga: A cell‐by‐cell GIS toolbox for computing basin average scaling factors, cosmogenic production rates and denudation rates J. Charreau et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4649
- Magnitude and timing of transient incision resulting from large‐scale drainage capture, Sutlej River, Northwest Himalaya B. Penserini et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5705
- Constraints on what controls millennial-scale basin-wide denudation across mountain belts, Asia Y. Yang et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-024-1420-8
- A Vosgian special case: post-glacial evolution of the Cleurie catchment (Lorraine, N-E France) C. Fuchs et al. https://doi.org/10.4000/15udb
- Geomorphic constraints on the development of a blind-thrust induced landform, south-central Mongolia: Insights into foreberg growth C. Lee et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2021.107613
- Erosion of heterogeneous rock drives diversification of Appalachian fishes M. Stokes et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.add9791
- Environmental controls on 10Be‐based catchment‐averaged denudation rates along the western margin of the Peruvian Andes R. Reber et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12274
- Stratigraphic control of landscape response to base-level fall, Young Womans Creek, Pennsylvania, USA R. DiBiase et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2018.10.005
- Exploring exogenous controls on short- versus long-term erosion rates globally S. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-1055-2022
- Global patterns of dust and bedrock nutrient supply to montane ecosystems L. Arvin et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aao1588
- Cosmogenic data about offset uplifted river terraces and erosion rates: implication regarding the central North Anatolian Fault and the Central Pontides A. Hubert-Ferrari et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42990-021-00057-6
- Frost-weathering control on the rate of late Quaternary landscape evolution, western flank of the Taebaek Mountain Range, Korea: a case of passive margin landscape evolution D. Kim et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/04353676.2022.2121998
- Controls on the distribution of cosmogenic 10Be across shore platforms M. Hurst et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-67-2017
- Evolution of sandstone peak‐forest landscapes – insights from quantifying erosional processes with cosmogenic nuclides J. May et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4273
- Beryllium-10-derived denudation rates in the Roda Catchment, Germany L. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-75-19-2026
- Controls on denudation along the East Australian continental margin A. Codilean et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103543
- OCTOPUS: an open cosmogenic isotope and luminescence database A. Codilean et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-2123-2018
- Delayed 10Be dilution in detrital quartz following extensive coseismic landsliding: A 2016 Kaikōura earthquake case study C. Wilkinson et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117392
- Multi-objective optimisation of a rock coast evolution model with cosmogenic 10Be analysis for the quantification of long-term cliff retreat rates J. Shadrick et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-1505-2021
- Pre-development denudation rates for the Great Barrier Reef catchments derived using 10Be A. Mariotti et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112731
- Integrating 10Be analyses and an empirical erosion model to unveil catchment-scale landscape and sediment dynamics in a tectonically active Mediterranean area (Calabria, southern Italy) P. De Cesare et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2026.110329
- Growing topography due to contrasting rock types in a tectonically dead landscape D. Peifer et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-167-2021
- OCTOPUS database (v.2) A. Codilean et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-3695-2022
- RIVERSAND: A NEW TOOL FOR EFFICIENT COMPUTATION OF CATCHMENTWIDE EROSION RATES K. Stübner et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/RDC.2023.74
- Covariation of cross-divide differences in denudation rate and χ: Implications for drainage basin reorganization in the Qilian Shan, northeast Tibet K. Hu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2021.116812
- The slow downwearing of Madagascar: Inferring patterns and controls on long‐term basin‐averaged erosion rates from in situ10Be at the catchment and regional level L. Brosens et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5586
- Late Quaternary–Recent intraplate topographic uplift of the St. Francois Mountains (Ozark Plateau), Missouri (USA), driven by differential density and erosion D. Kim et al. https://doi.org/10.1130/G50585.1
- The Erosional Signature of Drainage Divide Motion Along the Blue Ridge Escarpment M. Stokes et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JF006757
- Cosmogenic and Geological Evidence for the Occurrence of a Ma-Long Feedback between Uplift and Denudation, Chur Region, Swiss Alps E. da Silva Guimarães et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11080339
- Differential erosion and sediment fluxes in the Landquart basin and possible relationships to lithology and tectonic controls G. Glaus et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-019-00344-3
- Post-glacial reshaping of Alpine topography induced by landsliding C. Ariagno et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-1109-2025
- Reduced sediment supply in a fast eroding landscape? A multi-proxy sediment budget of the upper Rhône basin, Central Alps L. Stutenbecker et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2017.12.013
- The influence of erosion and vegetation on soil production and chemical weathering rates in the Southern Alps, New Zealand I. Larsen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118036
- Temporal variability in detrital 10Be concentrations in a large Himalayan catchment E. Dingle et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-611-2018
- Spatio-temporal variability and controlling factors for postglacial denudation rates in the Dora Baltea catchment (western Italian Alps) E. Serra et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-493-2022
- Unsteady migration of Taebaek Mountain drainage divide, Cenozoic extensional basin margin, Korean Peninsula D. Kim et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.107012
- Evolution of eastern Tibetan river systems is driven by the indentation of India Y. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00330-4
- Modeling Cosmogenic Nuclides in Transiently Evolving Topography and Chemically Weathering Soils M. Reed et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JF007201
- Late-Pleistocene catchment-wide denudation patterns across the European Alps R. Delunel et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103407
- Short communication: Increasing vertical attenuation length of cosmogenic nuclide production on steep slopes negates topographic shielding corrections for catchment erosion rates R. DiBiase https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-923-2018
- Evidence for and against landscape transience in the Northern Qinling Mountains, China Y. Wang & S. Mudd https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2021.107890
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 04 Sep 2026
Short summary
Cosmogenic nuclide concentrations are widely used to calculate catchment-averaged denudation rates. Despite their widespread use, there is currently no open source method for calculating such rates, and the methods used to calculate catchment-averaged denudation rates vary widely between studies. Here we present an automated, open-source method for calculating basin averaged denudation rates, which may be used as a stand-alone calculator or as a front end to popular online calculators.
Cosmogenic nuclide concentrations are widely used to calculate catchment-averaged denudation...
