Articles | Volume 7, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-17-2019
© Author(s) 2019. 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-7-17-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Long-profile evolution of transport-limited gravel-bed rivers
Department of Earth Sciences and Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory,
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Taylor F. Schildgen
Helmholtz Zentrum Potsdam, GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ) Potsdam,
14473 Potsdam, Germany
Institut für Erd- und
Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
Related authors
Matias Romero, Shanti B. Penprase, Maximillian S. Van Wyk de Vries, Andrew D. Wickert, Andrew G. Jones, Shaun A. Marcott, Jorge A. Strelin, Mateo A. Martini, Tammy M. Rittenour, Guido Brignone, Mark D. Shapley, Emi Ito, Kelly R. MacGregor, and Marc W. Caffee
Clim. Past, 20, 1861–1883, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-1861-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-1861-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Investigating past glaciated regions is crucial for understanding how ice sheets responded to climate forcings and how they might respond in the future. We use two independent dating techniques to document the timing and extent of the Lago Argentino glacier lobe, a former lobe of the Patagonian Ice Sheet, during the late Quaternary. Our findings highlight feedbacks in the Earth’s system responsible for modulating glacier growth in the Southern Hemisphere prior to the global Last Glacial Maximum.
Kerry L. Callaghan, Andrew D. Wickert, Richard Barnes, and Jacqueline Austermann
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2024-131, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2024-131, 2024
Preprint under review for GMD
Short summary
Short summary
We present the Water Table Model (WTM), which simulates groundwater and lake levels at continental scales over millennia. Our simulations show that North America held more ground- and lake-water at the Last Glacial Maximum than in the present day – enough to lower sea level by 6 cm. We also simulate the changing water table from 21,000 to 16,000 years ago, finding that groundwater storage decreased following reduced precipitation in the model inputs. Open-source WTM code is available on Github.
Andrew D. Wickert, Jabari C. Jones, and Gene-Hua Crystal Ng
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-3118, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-3118, 2024
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
For over a century, scientists have used a simple algebraic relationship to estimate the amount of water flowing through a river (its discharge) from the height of the flow (its stage). Here we add physical realism to this approach by explicitly representing both the channel and floodplain, thereby allowing channel and floodplain geometry and roughness to these estimates. Our proposed advance may improve predictions of floods and water resources, even when the river channel itself changes.
Maximillian Van Wyk de Vries and Andrew D. Wickert
The Cryosphere, 15, 2115–2132, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2115-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2115-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We can measure glacier flow and sliding velocity by tracking patterns on the ice surface in satellite images. The surface velocity of glaciers provides important information to support assessments of glacier response to climate change, to improve regional assessments of ice thickness, and to assist with glacier fieldwork. Our paper describes Glacier Image Velocimetry (GIV), a new, easy-to-use, and open-source toolbox for calculating high-resolution velocity time series for any glacier on earth.
Richard Barnes, Kerry L. Callaghan, and Andrew D. Wickert
Earth Surf. Dynam., 9, 105–121, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-105-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-105-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Existing ways of modeling the flow of water amongst landscape depressions such as swamps and lakes take a long time to run. However, as our previous work explains, depressions can be quickly organized into a data structure – the depression hierarchy. This paper explains how the depression hierarchy can be used to quickly simulate the realistic filling of depressions including how they spill over into each other and, if they become full enough, how they merge into one another.
Richard Barnes, Kerry L. Callaghan, and Andrew D. Wickert
Earth Surf. Dynam., 8, 431–445, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-431-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-431-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Maps of elevation are used to help predict the flow of water so we can better understand landslides, floods, and global climate change. However, modeling the flow of water is difficult when elevation maps include swamps, lakes, and other depressions. This paper explains a new method that overcomes these difficulties, allowing models to run faster and more accurately.
Sara Savi, Stefanie Tofelde, Andrew D. Wickert, Aaron Bufe, Taylor F. Schildgen, and Manfred R. Strecker
Earth Surf. Dynam., 8, 303–322, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-303-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-303-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Fluvial deposits record changes in water and sediment supply. As such, they are often used to reconstruct the tectonic or climatic history of a basin. In this study we used an experimental setting to analyze how fluvial deposits register changes in water or sediment supply at a confluence zone. We provide a new conceptual framework that may help understanding the construction of these deposits under different forcings conditions, information crucial to correctly inferring the history of a basin.
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
Short summary
Short summary
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.
Stefanie Tofelde, Sara Savi, Andrew D. Wickert, Aaron Bufe, and Taylor F. Schildgen
Earth Surf. Dynam., 7, 609–631, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-609-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-609-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We performed seven physical experiments to explore terrace formation and sediment export from a braided alluvial river system that is perturbed by changes in water discharge, sediment supply, or base level. Each perturbation differently affects (1) the geometry of terraces and channels, (2) the timing of terrace formation, and (3) the transient response of sediment discharge. Our findings provide guidelines for interpreting fill terraces and sediment export from fluvial systems.
Andrew D. Wickert, Chad T. Sandell, Bobby Schulz, and Gene-Hua Crystal Ng
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2065–2076, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2065-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2065-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Measuring Earth's changing environment is a critical part of natural science, but to date most of the equipment to do so is expensive, proprietary, and difficult to customize. We addressed this challenge by developing and deploying the ALog, a low-power, lightweight, Arduino-compatible data logger. We present our hardware schematics and layouts, as well as our customizable code library that operates the ALog and helps users to link it to off-the-shelf sensors.
Leila Saberi, Rachel T. McLaughlin, G.-H. Crystal Ng, Jeff La Frenierre, Andrew D. Wickert, Michel Baraer, Wei Zhi, Li Li, and Bryan G. Mark
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 405–425, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-405-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-405-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The relationship among glacier melt, groundwater, and streamflow remains highly uncertain, especially in tropical glacierized watersheds in response to climate. We implemented a multi-method approach and found that melt contribution varies considerably and may drive streamflow variability at hourly to multi-year timescales, rather than buffer it, as commonly thought. Some of the melt contribution occurs through groundwater pathways, resulting in longer timescale interactions with streamflow.
G.-H. Crystal Ng, Andrew D. Wickert, Lauren D. Somers, Leila Saberi, Collin Cronkite-Ratcliff, Richard G. Niswonger, and Jeffrey M. McKenzie
Geosci. Model Dev., 11, 4755–4777, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-4755-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-4755-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The profound importance of water has led to the development of increasingly complex hydrological models. However, implementing these models is usually time-consuming and requires specialized expertise, stymieing their widespread use to support science-driven decision-making. In response, we have developed GSFLOW–GRASS, a robust and comprehensive set of software tools that can be readily used to set up and execute GSFLOW, the U.S. Geological Survey's coupled groundwater–surface-water flow model.
Andrew D. Wickert
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 831–869, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-831-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-831-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The ice sheets that once spread across northern North America dramatically changed the drainage basin areas and discharges of rivers across the continent. As these ice sheets retreated, starting around 19 500 years ago, they sent meltwater to the oceans, influencing climate and building a geologic record of deglaciation. This record can be used to evaluate ice-sheet reconstructions and build an improved history and understanding of past ice-sheet collapse across North America.
A. D. Wickert
Geosci. Model Dev., 9, 997–1017, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-997-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-997-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Earth's lithosphere bends beneath surface loads, such as ice, sediments, and mountain belts. The pattern of this bending, or flexural isostatic response, is a function of both the loads and the spatially variable strength of the lithosphere. gFlex is an easy-to-use program to calculate flexural isostastic response, and may be used to better understand how ice sheets, glaciers, large lakes, sedimentary basins, volcanoes, and other surface loads interact with the solid Earth.
Lingxiao Gong, Peter van der Beek, Taylor F. Schildgen, Edward R. Sobel, Simone Racano, Apolline Mariotti, and Fergus McNab
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 973–994, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-973-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-973-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We choose the large Saryjaz river from South Tian Shan to analyse topographic and fluvial metrics. By quantifying the spatial distribution of major metrics and comparing with modelling patterns, we suggest that the observed transience was triggered by a big capture event during the Plio-Pleistocene and potentially affected by both tectonic and climate factors. This conclusion underlines the importance of local contingent factors in driving drainage development.
Matias Romero, Shanti B. Penprase, Maximillian S. Van Wyk de Vries, Andrew D. Wickert, Andrew G. Jones, Shaun A. Marcott, Jorge A. Strelin, Mateo A. Martini, Tammy M. Rittenour, Guido Brignone, Mark D. Shapley, Emi Ito, Kelly R. MacGregor, and Marc W. Caffee
Clim. Past, 20, 1861–1883, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-1861-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-20-1861-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Investigating past glaciated regions is crucial for understanding how ice sheets responded to climate forcings and how they might respond in the future. We use two independent dating techniques to document the timing and extent of the Lago Argentino glacier lobe, a former lobe of the Patagonian Ice Sheet, during the late Quaternary. Our findings highlight feedbacks in the Earth’s system responsible for modulating glacier growth in the Southern Hemisphere prior to the global Last Glacial Maximum.
Kerry L. Callaghan, Andrew D. Wickert, Richard Barnes, and Jacqueline Austermann
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2024-131, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2024-131, 2024
Preprint under review for GMD
Short summary
Short summary
We present the Water Table Model (WTM), which simulates groundwater and lake levels at continental scales over millennia. Our simulations show that North America held more ground- and lake-water at the Last Glacial Maximum than in the present day – enough to lower sea level by 6 cm. We also simulate the changing water table from 21,000 to 16,000 years ago, finding that groundwater storage decreased following reduced precipitation in the model inputs. Open-source WTM code is available on Github.
Elizabeth Orr, Taylor Schildgen, Stefanie Tofelde, Hella Wittmann, and Ricardo Alonso
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-784, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-784, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Fluvial terraces and alluvial fans in the Toro Basin, NW Argentina record river evolution and global climate cycles over time. Landform dating reveals lower-frequency climate cycles (100-kyr) preserved downstream and higher-frequency cycles (21/40-kyr) upstream, supporting theoretical predications that longer rivers filter out higher-frequency climate signals. This finding improves our understanding of the spatial distribution of sedimentary paleoclimate records within landscapes.
Andrew D. Wickert, Jabari C. Jones, and Gene-Hua Crystal Ng
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-3118, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-3118, 2024
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
For over a century, scientists have used a simple algebraic relationship to estimate the amount of water flowing through a river (its discharge) from the height of the flow (its stage). Here we add physical realism to this approach by explicitly representing both the channel and floodplain, thereby allowing channel and floodplain geometry and roughness to these estimates. Our proposed advance may improve predictions of floods and water resources, even when the river channel itself changes.
Peter van der Beek and Taylor F. Schildgen
Geochronology, 5, 35–49, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-5-35-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/gchron-5-35-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Thermochronometric data can provide unique insights into the patterns of rock exhumation and the driving mechanisms of landscape evolution. Several well-established thermal models allow for a detailed exploration of how cooling rates evolved in a limited area or along a transect, but more regional analyses have been challenging. We present age2exhume, a thermal model that can be used to rapidly provide a synoptic overview of exhumation rates from large regional thermochronologic datasets.
Maximillian Van Wyk de Vries and Andrew D. Wickert
The Cryosphere, 15, 2115–2132, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2115-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2115-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We can measure glacier flow and sliding velocity by tracking patterns on the ice surface in satellite images. The surface velocity of glaciers provides important information to support assessments of glacier response to climate change, to improve regional assessments of ice thickness, and to assist with glacier fieldwork. Our paper describes Glacier Image Velocimetry (GIV), a new, easy-to-use, and open-source toolbox for calculating high-resolution velocity time series for any glacier on earth.
Richard Barnes, Kerry L. Callaghan, and Andrew D. Wickert
Earth Surf. Dynam., 9, 105–121, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-105-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-105-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Existing ways of modeling the flow of water amongst landscape depressions such as swamps and lakes take a long time to run. However, as our previous work explains, depressions can be quickly organized into a data structure – the depression hierarchy. This paper explains how the depression hierarchy can be used to quickly simulate the realistic filling of depressions including how they spill over into each other and, if they become full enough, how they merge into one another.
Richard Barnes, Kerry L. Callaghan, and Andrew D. Wickert
Earth Surf. Dynam., 8, 431–445, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-431-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-431-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Maps of elevation are used to help predict the flow of water so we can better understand landslides, floods, and global climate change. However, modeling the flow of water is difficult when elevation maps include swamps, lakes, and other depressions. This paper explains a new method that overcomes these difficulties, allowing models to run faster and more accurately.
Sara Savi, Stefanie Tofelde, Andrew D. Wickert, Aaron Bufe, Taylor F. Schildgen, and Manfred R. Strecker
Earth Surf. Dynam., 8, 303–322, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-303-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-8-303-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Fluvial deposits record changes in water and sediment supply. As such, they are often used to reconstruct the tectonic or climatic history of a basin. In this study we used an experimental setting to analyze how fluvial deposits register changes in water or sediment supply at a confluence zone. We provide a new conceptual framework that may help understanding the construction of these deposits under different forcings conditions, information crucial to correctly inferring the history of a basin.
Mitch K. D'Arcy, Taylor F. Schildgen, Jens M. Turowski, and Pedro DiNezio
Earth Surf. Dynam., 7, 755–771, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-755-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-755-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The age of formation of sedimentary deposits is often interpreted to record information about past environmental changes. Here, we show that the timing of abandonment of surfaces also provides valuable information. We derive a new set of equations that can be used to estimate when a sedimentary surface was abandoned based on what is known about its activity from surface dating. Estimates of abandonment age can benefit a variety of geomorphic analyses, which we illustrate with a case study.
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
Short summary
Short summary
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.
Stefanie Tofelde, Sara Savi, Andrew D. Wickert, Aaron Bufe, and Taylor F. Schildgen
Earth Surf. Dynam., 7, 609–631, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-609-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-609-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We performed seven physical experiments to explore terrace formation and sediment export from a braided alluvial river system that is perturbed by changes in water discharge, sediment supply, or base level. Each perturbation differently affects (1) the geometry of terraces and channels, (2) the timing of terrace formation, and (3) the transient response of sediment discharge. Our findings provide guidelines for interpreting fill terraces and sediment export from fluvial systems.
Andrew D. Wickert, Chad T. Sandell, Bobby Schulz, and Gene-Hua Crystal Ng
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 2065–2076, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2065-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-2065-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Measuring Earth's changing environment is a critical part of natural science, but to date most of the equipment to do so is expensive, proprietary, and difficult to customize. We addressed this challenge by developing and deploying the ALog, a low-power, lightweight, Arduino-compatible data logger. We present our hardware schematics and layouts, as well as our customizable code library that operates the ALog and helps users to link it to off-the-shelf sensors.
Leila Saberi, Rachel T. McLaughlin, G.-H. Crystal Ng, Jeff La Frenierre, Andrew D. Wickert, Michel Baraer, Wei Zhi, Li Li, and Bryan G. Mark
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 405–425, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-405-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-405-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The relationship among glacier melt, groundwater, and streamflow remains highly uncertain, especially in tropical glacierized watersheds in response to climate. We implemented a multi-method approach and found that melt contribution varies considerably and may drive streamflow variability at hourly to multi-year timescales, rather than buffer it, as commonly thought. Some of the melt contribution occurs through groundwater pathways, resulting in longer timescale interactions with streamflow.
G.-H. Crystal Ng, Andrew D. Wickert, Lauren D. Somers, Leila Saberi, Collin Cronkite-Ratcliff, Richard G. Niswonger, and Jeffrey M. McKenzie
Geosci. Model Dev., 11, 4755–4777, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-4755-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-4755-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The profound importance of water has led to the development of increasingly complex hydrological models. However, implementing these models is usually time-consuming and requires specialized expertise, stymieing their widespread use to support science-driven decision-making. In response, we have developed GSFLOW–GRASS, a robust and comprehensive set of software tools that can be readily used to set up and execute GSFLOW, the U.S. Geological Survey's coupled groundwater–surface-water flow model.
Sara Savi, Stefanie Tofelde, Hella Wittmann, Fabiana Castino, and Taylor Schildgen
Earth Surf. Dynam. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2017-30, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2017-30, 2017
Preprint withdrawn
Short summary
Short summary
When using cosmogenic nuclides to determine exposure ages or denudation rates in rapidly evolving landscapes, challenges arise related to the small number of nuclides that have accumulated in surface materials. Here we describe an approach that defines a lower threshold above which samples with low 10Be content can be statistically distinguished from laboratory blanks. This in turn dictates the meaning and reliability of the samples and their possible use.
Andrew D. Wickert
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 831–869, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-831-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-831-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The ice sheets that once spread across northern North America dramatically changed the drainage basin areas and discharges of rivers across the continent. As these ice sheets retreated, starting around 19 500 years ago, they sent meltwater to the oceans, influencing climate and building a geologic record of deglaciation. This record can be used to evaluate ice-sheet reconstructions and build an improved history and understanding of past ice-sheet collapse across North America.
A. D. Wickert
Geosci. Model Dev., 9, 997–1017, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-997-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-997-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Earth's lithosphere bends beneath surface loads, such as ice, sediments, and mountain belts. The pattern of this bending, or flexural isostatic response, is a function of both the loads and the spatially variable strength of the lithosphere. gFlex is an easy-to-use program to calculate flexural isostastic response, and may be used to better understand how ice sheets, glaciers, large lakes, sedimentary basins, volcanoes, and other surface loads interact with the solid Earth.
Related subject area
Physical: Geomorphology (including all aspects of fluvial, coastal, aeolian, hillslope and glacial geomorphology)
Barchan swarm dynamics from a Two-Flank Agent-Based Model
A landslide runout model for sediment transport, landscape evolution, and hazard assessment applications
Tracking slow-moving landslides with PlanetScope data: new perspectives on the satellite's perspective
Topographic metrics for unveiling fault segmentation and tectono-geomorphic evolution with insights into the impact of inherited topography, Ulsan Fault Zone, South Korea
Acceleration of coastal-retreat rates for high-Arctic rock cliffs on Brøggerhalvøya, Svalbard, over the past decade
The impact of bedrock meander cutoffs on 50 kyr scale incision rates, San Juan River, Utah
How water, temperature, and seismicity control the preconditioning of massive rock slope failure (Hochvogel)
Large structure simulation for landscape evolution models
Terrace formation linked to outburst floods at the Diexi palaeo-landslide dam, upper Minjiang River, eastern Tibetan Plateau
Pliocene shorelines and the epeirogenic motion of continental margins: a target dataset for dynamic topography models
Decadal-scale decay of landslide-derived fluvial suspended sediment after Typhoon Morakot
Role of the forcing sources in morphodynamic modelling of an embayed beach
A machine learning approach to the geomorphometric detection of ribbed moraines in Norway
Overdeepening or tunnel valley of the Aare glacier on the northern margin of the European Alps: Basins, riegels, and slot canyons
Stream hydrology controls on ice cliff evolution and survival on debris-covered glaciers
Time-varying drainage basin development and erosion on volcanic edifices
Geomorphic risk maps for river migration using probabilistic modeling – a framework
Evolution of submarine canyons and hanging-wall fans: insights from geomorphic experiments and morphodynamic models
Riverine sediment response to deforestation in the Amazon basin
Physical modeling of ice-sheet-induced salt movements using the example of northern Germany
Downstream rounding rate of pebbles in the Himalaya
Post-fire Variability in Sediment Transport by Ravel in the Diablo Range
Landscape response to tectonic deformation and cyclic climate change since ca. 800 ka in the southern Central Andes
Examination of Analytical Shear Stress Predictions for Coastal Dune Evolution
A physics-based model for fluvial valley width
Implications for the resilience of modern coastal systems derived from mesoscale barrier dynamics at Fire Island, New York
Quantifying the migration rate of drainage divides from high-resolution topographic data
Validating floc settling velocity models in rivers and freshwater wetlands
Long-term monitoring (1953–2019) of geomorphologically active sections of Little Ice Age lateral moraines in the context of changing meteorological conditions
Coevolving edge rounding and shape of glacial erratics: the case of Shap granite, UK
A simple model for faceted topographies at normal faults based on an extended stream-power law
Dimensionless argument: a narrow grain size range near 2 mm plays a special role in river sediment transport and morphodynamics
Path length and sediment transport estimation from DEMs of difference: a signal processing approach
Influence of cohesive clay on wave–current ripple dynamics captured in a 3D phase diagram
Statistical characterization of erosion and sediment transport mechanics in shallow tidal environments – Part 1: Erosion dynamics
Statistical characterization of erosion and sediment transport mechanics in shallow tidal environments – Part 2: Suspended sediment dynamics
Geomorphological and hydrological controls on sediment export in earthquake-affected catchments in the Nepal Himalaya
Optimization of passive acoustic bedload monitoring in rivers by signal inversion
River suspended-sand flux computation with uncertainty estimation, using water samples and high-resolution ADCP measurements
Stochastic properties of coastal flooding events – Part 2: Probabilistic analysis
Field monitoring of pore water pressure in fully and partly saturated debris flows at Ohya landslide scar, Japan
Analysis of autogenic bifurcation processes resulting in river avulsion
Evidence of slow millennial cliff retreat rates using cosmogenic nuclides in coastal colluvium
Bedload transport fluctuations, flow conditions, and disequilibrium ratio at the Swiss Erlenbach stream: results from 27 years of high-resolution temporal measurements
Stochastic properties of coastal flooding events – Part 1: convolutional-neural-network-based semantic segmentation for water detection
Coexistence of two dune scales in a lowland river
Alpine hillslope failure in the western US: insights from the Chaos Canyon landslide, Rocky Mountain National Park, USA
Using repeat UAV-based laser scanning and multispectral imagery to explore eco-geomorphic feedbacks along a river corridor
Numerical modelling of the evolution of a river reach with a complex morphology to help define future sustainable restoration decisions
Method to evaluate large-wood behavior in terms of the convection equation associated with sediment erosion and deposition
Dominic T. Robson and Andreas C. W. Baas
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 1205–1226, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1205-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1205-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Barchans are fast-moving sand dunes which form large populations (swarms) on Earth and Mars. We show that a small range of model parameters produces swarms in which dune size does not vary downwind – something that is observed in nature but not when using earlier models. We also show how the shape of dunes and the spatial patterns they form are affected by wind direction. This work furthers our understanding of the interplay between environmental drivers, dune interactions, and swarm properties.
Jeffrey Keck, Erkan Istanbulluoglu, Benjamin Campforts, Gregory Tucker, and Alexander Horner-Devine
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 1165–1191, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1165-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1165-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
MassWastingRunout (MWR) is a new landslide runout model designed for sediment transport, landscape evolution, and hazard assessment applications. MWR is written in Python and includes a calibration utility that automatically determines best-fit parameters for a site and empirical probability density functions of each parameter for probabilistic model implementation. MWR and Jupyter Notebook tutorials are available as part of the Landlab package at https://github.com/landlab/landlab.
Ariane Mueting and Bodo Bookhagen
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 1121–1143, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1121-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1121-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates the use of optical PlanetScope data for offset tracking of the Earth's surface movement. We found that co-registration accuracy is locally degraded when outdated elevation models are used for orthorectification. To mitigate this bias, we propose to only correlate scenes acquired from common perspectives or base orthorectification on more up-to-date elevation models generated from PlanetScope data alone. This enables a more detailed analysis of landslide dynamics.
Cho-Hee Lee, Yeong Bae Seong, John Weber, Sangmin Ha, Dong-Eun Kim, and Byung Yong Yu
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 1091–1120, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1091-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1091-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Topographic metrics were used to understand changes due to tectonic activity. We evaluated the relative tectonic activity along the Ulsan Fault Zone (UFZ), one of the most active fault zones in South Korea. We divided the UFZ into five segments, based on the spatial variation in activity. We modeled the landscape evolution of the study area and interpreted tectono-geomorphic history during which the northern part of the UFZ experienced asymmetric uplift, while the southern part did not.
Juditha Aga, Livia Piermattei, Luc Girod, Kristoffer Aalstad, Trond Eiken, Andreas Kääb, and Sebastian Westermann
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 1049–1070, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1049-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1049-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Coastal rock cliffs on Svalbard are considered to be fairly stable; however, long-term trends in coastal-retreat rates remain unknown. This study examines changes in the coastline position along Brøggerhalvøya, Svalbard, using aerial images from 1970, 1990, 2010, and 2021. Our analysis shows that coastal-retreat rates accelerate during the period 2010–2021, which coincides with increasing storminess and retreating sea ice.
Aaron T. Steelquist, Gustav B. Seixas, Mary L. Gillam, Sourav Saha, Seulgi Moon, and George E. Hilley
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 1071–1089, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1071-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1071-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The rates at which rivers erode their bed can be used to interpret the geologic history of a region. However, these rates depend significantly on the time window over which you measure. We use multiple dating methods to determine an incision rate for the San Juan River and compare it to regional rates with longer timescales. We demonstrate how specific geologic events, such as cutoffs of bedrock meander bends, are likely to preserve material we can date but also bias the rates we measure.
Johannes Leinauer, Michael Dietze, Sibylle Knapp, Riccardo Scandroglio, Maximilian Jokel, and Michael Krautblatter
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 1027–1048, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1027-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1027-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Massive rock slope failures are a significant alpine hazard and change the Earth's surface. Therefore, we must understand what controls the preparation of such events. By correlating 4 years of slope displacements with meteorological and seismic data, we found that water from rain and snowmelt is the most important driver. Our approach is applicable to similar sites and indicates where future climatic changes, e.g. in rain intensity and frequency, may alter the preparation of slope failure.
Julien Coatléven and Benoit Chauveau
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 995–1026, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-995-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-995-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The aim of this paper is to explain how to incorporate classical water flow routines into landscape evolution models while keeping numerical errors under control. The key idea is to adapt filtering strategies to eliminate anomalous numerical errors and mesh dependencies, as confirmed by convergence tests with analytic solutions. The emergence of complex geomorphic structures is now driven exclusively by nonlinear heterogeneous physical processes rather than by random numerical artifacts.
Jingjuan Li, John D. Jansen, Xuanmei Fan, Zhiyong Ding, Shugang Kang, and Marco Lovati
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 953–971, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-953-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-953-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we investigated the geomorphology, sedimentology, and chronology of Tuanjie (seven terraces) and Taiping (three terraces) terraces in Diexi, eastern Tibetan Plateau. Results highlight that two damming and three outburst events occurred in the area during the late Pleistocene, and the outburst floods have been a major factor in the formation of tectonically active mountainous river terraces. Tectonic activity and climatic changes play a minor role.
Andrew Hollyday, Maureen E. Raymo, Jacqueline Austermann, Fred Richards, Mark Hoggard, and Alessio Rovere
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 883–905, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-883-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-883-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Sea level was significantly higher during the Pliocene epoch, around 3 million years ago. The present-day elevations of shorelines that formed in the past provide a data constraint on the extent of ice sheet melt and the global sea level response under warm Pliocene conditions. In this study, we identify 10 escarpments that formed from wave-cut erosion during Pliocene times and compare their elevations with model predictions of solid Earth deformation processes to estimate past sea level.
Gregory A. Ruetenik, Ken L. Ferrier, and Odin Marc
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 863–881, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-863-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-863-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Fluvial sediment fluxes increased dramatically in Taiwan during Typhoon Morakot in 2009, which produced some of the heaviest landsliding on record. We analyzed fluvial discharge and suspended sediment concentration data at 87 gauging stations across Taiwan to quantify fluvial sediment responses since Morakot. In basins heavily impacted by landsliding, rating curve coefficients sharply increased during Morakot and then declined exponentially with a characteristic decay time of <10 years.
Nil Carrion-Bertran, Albert Falqués, Francesca Ribas, Daniel Calvete, Rinse de Swart, Ruth Durán, Candela Marco-Peretó, Marta Marcos, Angel Amores, Tim Toomey, Àngels Fernández-Mora, and Jorge Guillén
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 819–839, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-819-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-819-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The sensitivity to the wave and sea-level forcing sources in predicting a 6-month embayed beach evolution is assessed using two different morphodynamic models. After a successful model calibration using in situ data, other sources are applied. The wave source choice is critical: hindcast data provide wrong results due to an angle bias, whilst the correct dynamics are recovered with the wave conditions from an offshore buoy. The use of different sea-level sources gives no significant differences.
Thomas J. Barnes, Thomas V. Schuler, Simon Filhol, and Karianne S. Lilleøren
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 801–818, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-801-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-801-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In this paper, we use machine learning to automatically outline landforms based on their characteristics. We test several methods to identify the most accurate and then proceed to develop the most accurate to improve its accuracy further. We manage to outline landforms with 65 %–75 % accuracy, at a resolution of 10 m, thanks to high-quality/high-resolution elevation data. We find that it is possible to run this method at a country scale to quickly produce landform inventories for future studies.
Fritz Schlunegger, Edi Kissling, Dimitri Tibo Bandou, Guilhem Amin Douillet, David Mair, Urs Marti, Regina Reber, Patrick Fabian Schläfli, and Michael Alfred Schwenk
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-683, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-683, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Overdeepenings are bedrock depressions filled with sediment. We combine the results of a gravity survey with drilling data to explore the morphology of such a depression beneath the city of Bern. We find that the target overdeepening comprises two basins >200 m deep. They are separated by a bedrock riegel that itself is cut by narrow canyons up to 150 m deep. We postulate that these structures formed underneath a glacier, where erosion by subglacial meltwater caused the formation of the canyons.
Eric Petersen, Regine Hock, and Michael G. Loso
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 727–745, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-727-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-727-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Ice cliffs are melt hot spots that increase melt rates on debris-covered glaciers which otherwise see a reduction in melt rates. In this study, we show how surface runoff streams contribute to the generation, evolution, and survival of ice cliffs by carving into the glacier and transporting rocky debris. On Kennicott Glacier, Alaska, 33 % of ice cliffs are actively influenced by streams, while nearly half are within 10 m of streams.
Daniel O'Hara, Liran Goren, Roos M. J. van Wees, Benjamin Campforts, Pablo Grosse, Pierre Lahitte, Gabor Kereszturi, and Matthieu Kervyn
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 709–726, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-709-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-709-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding how volcanic edifices develop drainage basins remains unexplored in landscape evolution. Using digital evolution models of volcanoes with varying ages, we quantify the geometries of their edifices and associated drainage basins through time. We find that these metrics correlate with edifice age and are thus useful indicators of a volcano’s history. We then develop a generalized model for how volcano basins develop and compare our results to basin evolution in other settings.
Brayden Noh, Omar Wani, Kieran B. J. Dunne, and Michael P. Lamb
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 691–708, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-691-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-691-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In this paper, we propose a framework for generating risk maps that provide the probabilities of erosion due to river migration. This framework uses concepts from probability theory to learn the river migration model's parameter values from satellite data while taking into account parameter uncertainty. Our analysis shows that such geomorphic risk estimation is more reliable than models that do not explicitly consider various sources of variability and uncertainty.
Steven Y. J. Lai, David Amblas, Aaron Micallef, and Hervé Capart
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 621–640, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-621-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-621-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study explores the creation of submarine canyons and hanging-wall fans on active faults, which can be defined by gravity-dominated breaching and underflow-dominated diffusion processes. The study reveals the self-similarity in canyon–fan long profiles, uncovers Hack’s scaling relationship and proposes a formula to estimate fan volume using canyon length. This is validated by global data from source-to-sink systems, providing insights into deep-water sedimentary processes.
Anuska Narayanan, Sagy Cohen, and John R. Gardner
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 581–599, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-581-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-581-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates the profound impact of deforestation in the Amazon on sediment dynamics. Novel remote sensing data and statistical analyses reveal significant changes, especially in heavily deforested regions, with rapid effects within a year. In less disturbed areas, a 1- to 2-year lag occurs, influenced by natural sediment shifts and human activities. These findings highlight the need to understand the consequences of human activity for our planet's future.
Jacob Hardt, Tim P. Dooley, and Michael R. Hudec
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 559–579, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-559-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-559-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate the reaction of salt structures on ice sheet transgressions. We used a series of sandbox models that enabled us to experiment with scaled-down versions of salt bodies from northern Germany. The strongest reactions occurred when large salt pillows were partly covered by the ice load. Subsurface salt structures may play an important role in the energy transition, e.g., as energy storage. Thus, it is important to understand all processes that affect their stability.
Prakash Pokhrel, Mikael Attal, Hugh D. Sinclair, Simon M. Mudd, and Mark Naylor
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 515–536, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-515-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-515-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Pebbles become increasingly rounded during downstream transport in rivers due to abrasion. This study quantifies pebble roundness along the length of two Himalayan rivers. We demonstrate that roundness increases with downstream distance and that the rates are dependent on rock type. We apply this to reconstructing travel distances and hence the size of ancient Himalaya. Results show that the ancient river network was larger than the modern one, indicating that there has been river capture.
Hayden L. Jacobson, Danica L. Roth, Gabriel Walton, Margaret Zimmer, and Kerri Johnson
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2694, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2694, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Loose grains travel farther after a fire because no vegetation is left to stop them. This matters since loose grains at the base of a slope can turn into a debris flow if it rains. To find if grass growing back after a fire had different impacts on grains of different sizes on slopes of different steepness, we dropped thousands of natural grains and measured how far they went. Large grains went farther 7 months after the fire than 11 months after, and small grain movement didn’t change much.
Elizabeth Orr, Taylor Schildgen, Stefanie Tofelde, Hella Wittmann, and Ricardo Alonso
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-784, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-784, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Fluvial terraces and alluvial fans in the Toro Basin, NW Argentina record river evolution and global climate cycles over time. Landform dating reveals lower-frequency climate cycles (100-kyr) preserved downstream and higher-frequency cycles (21/40-kyr) upstream, supporting theoretical predications that longer rivers filter out higher-frequency climate signals. This finding improves our understanding of the spatial distribution of sedimentary paleoclimate records within landscapes.
Orie Cecil, Nicholas Cohn, Matthew Farthing, Sourav Dutta, and Andrew Trautz
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-855, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-855, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Using computational fluid dynamics, we analyze the error trends of an analytical shear stress distribution model used to drive aeolian transport for coastal dunes which are an important line of defense against storm related flooding hazards. We find that compared to numerical simulations, the analytical model results in a net overprediction of the landward migration rate. Additionally, two data-driven approaches are proposed for reducing the error while maintaining computational efficiency.
Jens Martin Turowski, Aaron Bufe, and Stefanie Tofelde
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 493–514, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-493-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-493-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Fluvial valleys are ubiquitous landforms, and understanding their formation and evolution affects a wide range of disciplines from archaeology and geology to fish biology. Here, we develop a model to predict the width of fluvial valleys for a wide range of geographic conditions. In the model, fluvial valley width is controlled by the two competing factors of lateral channel mobility and uplift. The model complies with available data and yields a broad range of quantitative predictions.
Daniel J. Ciarletta, Jennifer L. Miselis, Julie C. Bernier, and Arnell S. Forde
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 449–475, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-449-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-449-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We reconstructed the evolution of Fire Island, a barrier island in New York, USA, to identify drivers of landscape change. Results reveal Fire Island was once divided into multiple inlet-separated islands with distinct features. Later, inlets closed, and Fire Island’s landscape became more uniform as human activities intensified. The island is now less mobile and less likely to resist and recover from storm impacts and sea level rise. This vulnerability may exist for other stabilized barriers.
Chao Zhou, Xibin Tan, Yiduo Liu, and Feng Shi
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 433–448, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-433-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-433-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The drainage-divide stability provides new insights into both the river network evolution and the tectonic and/or climatic changes. Several methods have been proposed to determine the direction of drainage-divide migration. However, how to quantify the migration rate of drainage divides remains challenging. In this paper, we propose a new method to calculate the migration rate of drainage divides from high-resolution topographic data.
Justin A. Nghiem, Gen K. Li, Joshua P. Harringmeyer, Gerard Salter, Cédric G. Fichot, Luca Cortese, and Michael P. Lamb
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-524, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-524, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Fine sediment grains in freshwater can cohere into faster settling particles called flocs, but floc settling velocity theory has not been fully validated. Data from the Wax Lake Delta verify a semi-empirical model relying on turbulence and geochemical factors. We showed that the representative grain diameter within flocs relies on floc structure and that floc internal flow follows a model in which flocs consist of permeable grain clusters, thus improving a physics-based settling velocity model.
Moritz Altmann, Madlene Pfeiffer, Florian Haas, Jakob Rom, Fabian Fleischer, Tobias Heckmann, Livia Piermattei, Michael Wimmer, Lukas Braun, Manuel Stark, Sarah Betz-Nutz, and Michael Becht
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 399–431, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-399-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-399-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We show a long-term erosion monitoring of several sections on Little Ice Age lateral moraines with derived sediment yield from historical and current digital elevation modelling (DEM)-based differences. The first study period shows a clearly higher range of variability of sediment yield within the sites than the later periods. In most cases, a decreasing trend of geomorphic activity was observed.
Paul A. Carling
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 381–397, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-381-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-381-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Edge rounding in Shap granite glacial erratics is an irregular function of distance from the source outcrop in northern England, UK. Block shape is conservative, evolving according to block fracture mechanics – stochastic and silver ratio models – towards either of two attractor states. Progressive reduction in size occurs for blocks transported at the sole of the ice mass where the blocks are subject to compressive and tensile forces of the ice acting against a bedrock or till surface.
Stefan Hergarten
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-336, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-336, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Faceted topographies are impressing footprints of active tectonics in geomorphology. This paper investigates the evolution of faceted topographies at normal faults and its interaction with the river network theoretically and numerically. As a main result beyond several relations for the the geometry of facets, the horizontal displacement associated to normal faults is crucial for the dissection of initially polygonal facets into triangular facets bounded by almost parallel rivers.
Gary Parker, Chenge An, Michael P. Lamb, Marcelo H. Garcia, Elizabeth H. Dingle, and Jeremy G. Venditti
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 367–380, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-367-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-367-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
River morphology has traditionally been divided by the size 2 mm. We use dimensionless arguments to show that particles in the 1–5 mm range (i) are the finest range not easily suspended by alluvial flood flows, (ii) are transported preferentially over coarser gravel, and (iii), within limits, are also transported preferentially over sand. We show how fluid viscosity mediates the special status of sediment in this range.
Lindsay Marie Capito, Enrico Pandrin, Walter Bertoldi, Nicola Surian, and Simone Bizzi
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 321–345, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-321-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-321-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We propose that the pattern of erosion and deposition from repeat topographic surveys can be a proxy for path length in gravel-bed rivers. With laboratory and field data, we applied tools from signal processing to quantify this periodicity and used these path length estimates to calculate sediment transport using the morphological method. Our results highlight the potential to expand the use of the morphological method using only remotely sensed data as well as its limitations.
Xuxu Wu, Jonathan Malarkey, Roberto Fernández, Jaco H. Baas, Ellen Pollard, and Daniel R. Parsons
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 231–247, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-231-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-231-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The seabed changes from flat to rippled in response to the frictional influence of waves and currents. This experimental study has shown that the speed of this change, the size of ripples that result and even whether ripples appear also depend on the amount of sticky mud present. This new classification on the basis of initial mud content should lead to improvements in models of seabed change in present environments by engineers and the interpretation of past environments by geologists.
Andrea D'Alpaos, Davide Tognin, Laura Tommasini, Luigi D'Alpaos, Andrea Rinaldo, and Luca Carniello
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 181–199, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-181-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-181-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Sediment erosion induced by wind waves is one of the main drivers of the morphological evolution of shallow tidal environments. However, a reliable description of erosion events for the long-term morphodynamic modelling of tidal systems is still lacking. By statistically characterizing sediment erosion dynamics in the Venice Lagoon over the last 4 centuries, we set up a novel framework for a synthetic, yet reliable, description of erosion events in tidal systems.
Davide Tognin, Andrea D'Alpaos, Luigi D'Alpaos, Andrea Rinaldo, and Luca Carniello
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 201–218, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-201-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-201-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Reliable quantification of sediment transport processes is necessary to understand the fate of shallow tidal environments. Here we present a framework for the description of suspended sediment dynamics to quantify deposition in the long-term modelling of shallow tidal systems. This characterization, together with that of erosion events, allows one to set up synthetic, yet reliable, models for the long-term evolution of tidal landscapes.
Emma L. S. Graf, Hugh D. Sinclair, Mikaël Attal, Boris Gailleton, Basanta Raj Adhikari, and Bishnu Raj Baral
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 135–161, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-135-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-135-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Using satellite images, we show that, unlike other examples of earthquake-affected rivers, the rivers of central Nepal experienced little increase in sedimentation following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake. Instead, a catastrophic flood occurred in 2021 that buried towns and agricultural land under up to 10 m of sediment. We show that intense storms remobilised glacial sediment from high elevations causing much a greater impact than flushing of earthquake-induced landslides.
Mohamad Nasr, Adele Johannot, Thomas Geay, Sebastien Zanker, Jules Le Guern, and Alain Recking
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 117–134, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-117-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-117-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Hydrophones are used to monitor sediment transport in the river by listening to the acoustic noise generated by particle impacts on the riverbed. However, this acoustic noise is modified by the river flow and can cause misleading information about sediment transport. This article proposes a model that corrects the measured acoustic signal. Testing the model showed that the corrected signal is better correlated with bedload flux in the river.
Jessica Laible, Guillaume Dramais, Jérôme Le Coz, Blaise Calmel, Benoît Camenen, David J. Topping, William Santini, Gilles Pierrefeu, and François Lauters
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2348, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2348, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Suspended-sand fluxes in rivers vary with time and space, complicating their measurement. The proposed method captures the vertical and lateral variations of suspended-sand concentration throughout a river cross section. It merges water samples taken at various positions throughout the cross section with high-resolution acoustic velocity and discharge measurements. The method also determines the sand flux uncertainty and can be easily applied to other sites using the available open-source code.
Byungho Kang, Rusty A. Feagin, Thomas Huff, and Orencio Durán Vinent
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 105–115, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-105-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-105-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We provide a detailed characterization of the frequency, intensity and duration of flooding events at a site along the Texas coast. Our analysis demonstrates the suitability of relatively simple wave run-up models to estimate the frequency and intensity of coastal flooding. Our results validate and expand a probabilistic model of coastal flooding driven by wave run-up that can then be used in coastal risk management in response to sea level rise.
Shunsuke Oya, Fumitoshi Imaizumi, and Shoki Takayama
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 67–86, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-67-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-67-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The monitoring of pore water pressure in fully and partly saturated debris flows was performed at Ohya landslide scar, central Japan. The pore water pressure in some partly saturated flows greatly exceeded the hydrostatic pressure. The depth gradient of the pore water pressure in the lower part of the flow was generally higher than the upper part of the flow. We conclude that excess pore water pressure is present in many debris flow surges and is an important mechanism in debris flow behavior.
Gabriele Barile, Marco Redolfi, and Marco Tubino
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 87–103, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-87-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-87-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
River bifurcations often show the closure of one branch (avulsion), whose causes are still poorly understood. Our model shows that when one branch stops transporting sediments, the other considerably erodes and captures much more flow, resulting in a self-sustaining process. This phenomenon intensifies when increasing the length of the branches, eventually leading to branch closure. This work may help to understand when avulsions occur and thus to design sustainable river restoration projects.
Rémi Bossis, Vincent Regard, Sébastien Carretier, and Sandrine Choy
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-3020, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-3020, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The erosion of rocky coasts occurs episodically through wave action and landslides, constituting a major natural hazard. Documenting the factors that control the coastal retreat rate over millennia is fundamental to evidencing any change in time. However, the known rates to date are essentially representative of the last few decades. Here, we present a new method using the concentration of an isotope, 10Be in sediment eroded from the cliff to quantify its retreat rate averaged over millennia.
Dieter Rickenmann
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 11–34, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-11-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-11-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Field measurements of the bedload flux with a high temporal resolution in a steep mountain stream were used to analyse the transport fluctuations as a function of the flow conditions. The disequilibrium ratio, a proxy for the solid particle concentration in the flow, was found to influence the sediment transport behaviour, and above-average disequilibrium conditions – associated with a larger sediment availability on the streambed – substantially affect subsequent transport conditions.
Byungho Kang, Rusty A. Feagin, Thomas Huff, and Orencio Durán Vinent
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 1–10, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Coastal flooding can cause significant damage to coastal ecosystems, infrastructure, and communities and is expected to increase in frequency with the acceleration of sea level rise. In order to respond to it, it is crucial to measure and model their frequency and intensity. Here, we show deep-learning techniques can be successfully used to automatically detect flooding events from complex coastal imagery, opening the way to real-time monitoring and data acquisition for model development.
Judith Y. Zomer, Bart Vermeulen, and Antonius J. F. Hoitink
Earth Surf. Dynam., 11, 1283–1298, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-1283-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-1283-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Secondary bedforms that are superimposed on large, primary dunes likely play a large role in fluvial systems. This study demonstrates that they can be omnipresent. Especially during peak flows, they grow large and can have steep slopes, likely affecting flood risk and sediment transport dynamics. Primary dune morphology determines whether they continuously or intermittently migrate. During discharge peaks, the secondary bedforms can become the dominant dune scale.
Matthew C. Morriss, Benjamin Lehmann, Benjamin Campforts, George Brencher, Brianna Rick, Leif S. Anderson, Alexander L. Handwerger, Irina Overeem, and Jeffrey Moore
Earth Surf. Dynam., 11, 1251–1274, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-1251-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-1251-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
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.
Christopher Tomsett and Julian Leyland
Earth Surf. Dynam., 11, 1223–1249, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-1223-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-1223-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Vegetation influences how rivers change through time, yet the way in which we analyse vegetation is limited. Current methods collect detailed data at the individual plant level or determine dominant vegetation types across larger areas. Herein, we use UAVs to collect detailed vegetation datasets for a 1 km length of river and link vegetation properties to channel evolution occurring within the study site, providing a new method for investigating the influence of vegetation on river systems.
Rabab Yassine, Ludovic Cassan, Hélène Roux, Olivier Frysou, and François Pérès
Earth Surf. Dynam., 11, 1199–1221, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-1199-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-1199-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Predicting river morphology evolution is very complicated, especially for mountain rivers with complex morphologies such as the Lac des Gaves reach in France. A 2D hydromorphological model was developed to reproduce the channel's evolution and provide reliable volumetric predictions while revealing the challenge of choosing adapted sediment transport and friction laws. Our model can provide decision-makers with reliable predictions to design suitable restoration measures for this reach.
Daisuke Harada and Shinji Egashira
Earth Surf. Dynam., 11, 1183–1197, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-1183-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-1183-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This paper proposes a method for describing large-wood behavior in terms of the convection equation and the storage equation, which are associated with active sediment erosion and deposition. Compared to the existing Lagrangian method, the proposed method can easily simulate the behavior of large wood in the flow field with active sediment transport. The method is applied to the flood disaster in the Akatani River in 2017, and the 2-D flood flow computations are successfully performed.
Cited articles
Acosta, V. T., Schildgen, T. F., Clarke, B. A., Scherler, D., Bookhagen, B.,
Wittmann, H., von Blanckenburg, F., and Strecker, M. R.: Effect of
vegetation cover on millennial-scale landscape denudation rates in East
Africa, Lithosphere, 7, 408–420, https://doi.org/10.1130/L402.1, 2015. a
Aguirre-Pe, J. and Fuentes, R.: Resistance to Flow in Steep Rough Streams,
J. Hydraul. Eng., 116, 1374–1387,
https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(1990)116:11(1374), 1990. a
Ashmore, P.: Channel Morphology and Bed Load Pulses in Braided, Gravel-Bed
Streams, Geogr. Ann. A, 73, 37–52, https://doi.org/10.2307/521212, 1991. a
Attal, M. and Lavé, J.: Pebble abrasion during fluvial transport:
Experimental results and implications for the evolution of the sediment load
along rivers, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 114, 1–22,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JF001328, 2009. a, b
Attal, M., Mudd, S. M., Hurst, M. D., Weinman, B., Yoo, K., and Naylor, M.:
Impact of change in erosion rate and landscape steepness on hillslope and
fluvial sediments grain size in the Feather River basin (Sierra Nevada,
California), Earth Surf. Dynam., 3, 201–222,
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-201-2015, 2015. a, b, c, d, e
Beard, D. C. and Weyl, P. K.: Influence of Texture on Porosity and
Permeability of Unconsolidated Sand, AAPG Bulletin, 57, 349–369,
https://doi.org/10.1306/819A4272-16C5-11D7-8645000102C1865D, 1973. a
Birnir, B., Smith, T. R., and Merchant, G. E.: The scaling of fluvial
landscapes, Comput. Geosci., 27, 1189–1216,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0098-3004(01)00022-X, 2001. a
Blom, A., Viparelli, E., and Chavarrías, V.: The graded alluvial
river: Profile concavity and downstream fining, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43,
6285–6293, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068898, 2016. a, b, c, d
Blom, A., Arkesteijn, L., Chavarrías, V., and Viparelli, E.: The
equilibrium alluvial river under variable flow and its channel-forming
discharge, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 122, 1924–1948,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JF004213, 2017. a, b, c, d
Bolla Pittaluga, M., Luchi, R., and Seminara, G.: On the equilibrium
profile of river beds, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 119, 317–332,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JF002806, 2014. a
Bradley, D. N. and Tucker, G. E.: Measuring gravel transport and dispersion
in a mountain river using passive radio tracers, Earth Surf. Proc. Land.,
37, 1034–1045, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3223, 2012. a
Brasington, J., Rumsby, B. T., and McVey, R. A.: Monitoring and modelling
morphological change in a braided gravel-bed river using high resolution
GPS-based survey, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 25, 973–990,
https://doi.org/10.1002/1096-9837(200008)25:9<973::AID-ESP111>3.0.CO;2-Y, 2000. a
Brasington, J., Langham, J., and Rumsby, B.: Methodological sensitivity of
morphometric estimates of coarse fluvial sediment transport, Geomorphology,
53, 299–316, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-555X(02)00320-3, 2003. a
Cantelli, A., Paola, C., and Parker, G.: Experiments on upstream-migrating
erosional narrowing and widening of an incisional channel caused by dam
removal, Water Resour. Res., 40, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003WR002940, 2004. a
Carretier, S., Regard, V., Vassallo, R., Aguilar, G., Martinod, J., Riquelme,
R., Christophoul, F., Charrier, R., Gayer, E., Farías, M., Audin, L.,
and Lagane, C.: Differences in10Be concentrations between river sand, gravel
and pebbles along the western side of the central Andes, Quat. Geochronol.,
27, 33–51, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2014.12.002, 2015. a
Chatanantavet, P. and Parker, G.: Physically based modeling of bedrock
incision by abrasion, plucking, and macroabrasion, J. Geophys. Res., 114,
F04018, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JF001044, 2009. a
Church, M.: Bed Material Transport and the Morphology of Alluvial River
Channels, Annu. Rev. Earth Pl. Sc., 34, 325–354,
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.earth.33.092203.122721, 2006. a, b
Clifford, N. J., Robert, A., and Richards, K. S.: Estimation of flow
resistance in gravel-bedded rivers: A physical explanation of the multiplier
of roughness length, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 17, 111–126,
https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3290170202, 1992. a, b
Dingle, E. H., Attal, M., and Sinclair, H. D.: Abrasion-set limits on
Himalayan gravel flux, Nature, 544, 471–474, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature22039,
2017. a, b, c
Dubinski, I. M. and Wohl, E.: Relationships between block quarrying, bed
shear stress, and stream power: A physical model of block quarrying of a
jointed bedrock channel, Geomorphology, 180–181, 66–81,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.09.007, 2013. a
Duvall, A.: Tectonic and lithologic controls on bedrock channel profiles and
processes in coastal California, J. Geophys. Res., 109, F03002,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JF000086, 2004. a
Eke, E., Parker, G., and Shimizu, Y.: Numerical modeling of erosional and
depositional bank processes in migrating river bends with self-formed width:
Morphodynamics of bar push and bank pull, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 119,
1455–1483, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JF003020, 2014. a, b
Exner, F. M.: Zur physik der dünen, Akad. Wiss. Wien Math. Naturwiss.
Klasse, 129, 929–952, 1920. a
Exner, F. M.: Über die wechselwirkung zwischen wasser und geschiebe in
flüssen, Akad. Wiss. Wien Math. Naturwiss. Klasse, 134, 165–204, 1925. a
Fathel, S. L., Furbish, D. J., and Schmeeckle, M. W.: Experimental evidence
of statistical ensemble behavior in bed load sediment transport, J. Geophys.
Res.-Earth, 120, 2298–2317, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JF003552, 2015. a
Faulkner, D. J., Larson, P. H., Jol, H. M., Running, G. L., Loope, H. M., and
Goble, R. J.: Autogenic incision and terrace formation resulting from abrupt
late-glacial base-level fall, lower Chippewa River, Wisconsin, USA,
Geomorphology, 266, 75–95, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.04.016, 2016. a
Furbish, D. J., Haff, P. K., Roseberry, J. C., and Schmeeckle, M. W.: A
probabilistic description of the bed load sediment flux: 1. Theory, J.
Geophys. Res.-Earth, 117, F03031, https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JF002352, 2012. a, b
Garcin, Y., Schildgen, T. F., Torres Acosta, V., Melnick, D., Guillemoteau,
J., Willenbring, J., and Strecker, M. R.: Short-lived increase in erosion
during the African Humid Period: Evidence from the northern Kenya Rift,
Earth Planet. Sc. Lett., 459, 58–69, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2016.11.017, 2017. a
Gasparini, N. M. and Brandon, M. T.: A generalized power law approximation
for fluvial incision of bedrock channels, J. Geophys. Res., 116, 1–16,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JF001655, 2011. a
Gasparini, N. M., Bras, R. L., and Whipple, K. X.: Numerical modeling of
non-steady river profile evolution using a sediment-flux-dependent incision
model, Geol. S. Am. S., 398, 127–141, https://doi.org/10.1130/2006.2398(08), 2006. a, b, c
Gasparini, N. M., Whipple, K. X., and Bras, R. L.: Predictions of steady
state and transient landscape morphology using sediment-flux-dependent river
incision models, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 112, 1–20,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JF000567, 2007. a, b
Gomez, B. and Church, M.: An assessment of bed load sediment transport
formulae for gravel bed rivers, Water Resour. Res., 25, 1161–1186,
https://doi.org/10.1029/WR025i006p01161, 1989. a, b
Gomez, B., Rosser, B. J., Peacock, D. H., Murray Hicks, D., and Palmer,
J. A.: Downstream fining in a rapidly aggrading gravel bed river, Water
Resour. Res., 37, 1813–1823, https://doi.org/10.1029/2001WR900007, 2001. a
Gray, D. M.: Interrelationships of watershed characteristics, J. Geophys.
Res., 66, 1215–1223, https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ066i004p01215, 1961. a
Hack, J.: Studies of longitudinal stream profiles in Virginia and Maryland,
US Government Printing Office, Washington, 1957. a
Harel, M. A., Mudd, S. M., and Attal, M.: Global analysis of the stream
power law parameters based on worldwide10Be denudation rates, Geomorphology,
268, 184–196, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.05.035, 2016. a
Hey, R. D. and Thorne, C. R.: Stable Channels with Mobile Gravel Beds, J.
Hydraul. Eng., 112, 671–689, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(1986)112:8(671),
1986. a
Hilley, G. E. and Strecker, M. R.: Processes of oscillatory basin filling
and excavation in a tectonically active orogen: Quebrada del Toro Basin, NW
Argentina, B. Geol. Soc. Am., 117, 887–901, https://doi.org/10.1130/B25602.1, 2005. a
Hobley, D. E., Sinclair, H. D., Mudd, S. M., and Cowie, P. A.: Field
calibration of sediment flux dependent river incision, J. Geophys.
Res.-Earth, 116, 1–18, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JF001935, 2011. a
Howard, A. D.: Thresholds in river regimes, in: The Concept of Geomorphic
Thresholds, edited by: Coates, D. R. and Vitek, J. D., Allen and Unwin,
Boston, 227–258, 1980. a
Howard, A. D. and Kerby, G.: Channel changes in badlands, Geol. Soc. Am.
B., 94, 739–752, https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1983)94<739:CCIB>2.0.CO;2, 1983. a, b, c, d
Huang, X. and Niemann, J. D.: Simulating the impacts of small convective
storms and channel transmission losses on gully evolution, GSA Rev.
Eng. Geol., 22, 131–145, https://doi.org/10.1130/2014.4122(13), 2014. a
Ikeda, S., Parker, G., and Kimura, Y.: Stable width and depth of straight
gravel rivers with heterogeneous bed materials, Water Resour. Res., 24,
713–722, https://doi.org/10.1029/WR024i005p00713, 1988. a
James, L. A.: Legacy sediment: Definitions and processes of episodically
produced anthropogenic sediment, Anthropocene, 2, 16–26,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ancene.2013.04.001, 2013. a
Johnson, J. P. and Whipple, K. X.: Feedbacks between erosion and sediment
transport in experimental bedrock channels, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 32,
1048–1062, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1471, 2007. a
Johnson, J. P. L., Whipple, K. X., Sklar, L. S., and Hanks, T. C.: Transport
slopes, sediment cover, and bedrock channel incision in the Henry Mountains,
Utah, J. Geophys. Res., 114, F02014, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JF000862, 2009. a, b
Keulegan, G. H.: Laws of turbulent flow in open channels, J. Res. Nat. Bur.
Stand., 21, 707–741, https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.021.039, 1938. a, b
Komar, P. D.: Selective Grain Entrainment by a Current from a Bed of Mixed
Sizes: A Reanalysis, J. Sediment. Petrol., 57, 203–211,
https://doi.org/10.1306/212F8AE4-2B24-11D7-8648000102C1865D, 1987. a, b
Lacey, G.: Stable channels in alluvium, Minutes of the Proceedings of the
Institution of Civil Engineers, 229, 259–292,
https://doi.org/10.1680/imotp.1930.15592, 1930. a, b, c, d
Lamb, M. P., Dietrich, W. E., and Venditti, J. G.: Is the critical Shields
stress for incipient sediment motion dependent on channel-bed slope?, J.
Geophys. Res.-Earth, 113, 1–20, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JF000831, 2008. a, b, c
Liébault, F. and Piégay, H.: Assessment of channel changes due
to long term bedload supply decrease, Roubion River, France, Geomorphology,
36, 167–186, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-555X(00)00044-1, 2001. a
Limerinos, J. T.: Determination of the Manning Coefficient From Measured Bed
Roughness in Natural Channels, USGS Water-Supply Paper 1898-B, p. 53, 1970. a
Maritan, A., Rinaldo, A., Rigon, R., Giacometti, A., Rodriguez-Iturbe, I.,
and Rodríguez-Iturbe, I.: Scaling laws for river networks, Phys. Rev.
E, 53, 1510–1515, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.53.1510, 1996. a
Millar, R. G.: Theoretical regime equations for mobile gravel-bed rivers
with stable banks, Geomorphology, 64, 207–220,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2004.07.001, 2005. a
Milly, P. C. D. and Eagleson, P. S.: Effect of storm scale on surface runoff
volume, Water Resour. Res., 24, 620–624, https://doi.org/10.1029/WR024i004p00620,
1988. a
Moglen, G. E. and Bras, R. L.: The importance of spatially heterogeneous
erosivity and the cumulative area distribution within a basin evolution
model, Geomorphology, 12, 173–185, https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-555X(95)00003-N,
1995. a
Murphy, B. P., Johnson, J. P. L., Gasparini, N. M., and Sklar, L. S.:
Chemical weathering as a mechanism for the climatic control of bedrock river
incision, Nature, 532, 223–227, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature17449, 2016. a
Nikuradse, J.: Strömungsgesetze in Rauhen Rohren, 361, 1933. a
O'Connor, J. E. and Costa, J. E.: Spatial distribution of the largest
rainfall-runoff floods from basins between 2.6 and 26,000 km2 in the
United States and Puerto Rico, Water Resour. Res., 40, W01107,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2003WR002247, 2004. a, b
Paola, C. and Mohrig, D.: Palaeohydraulics revisited: palaeoslope estimation
in coarse-grained braided rivers, Basin Res., 8, 243–254,
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2117.1996.00253.x, 1996. a, b
Paola, C. and Voller, V. R.: A generalized Exner equation for sediment mass
balance, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 110, F04014, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JF000274,
2005. a
Paola, C., Parker, G., Mohrig, D., and Whipple, K.: The influence of
transport fluctuations on spatially averaged topography on a sandy, braided
fluvial fan, Numerical Experiments in Stratigraphy: Recent Advances in
Stratigraphicand Sedimentologic Computer Simulations, 62, 211–218,
https://doi.org/10.2110/pec.99.62.0211, 1999. a
Parker, G.: Downstream variation of grain size in gravel rivers: Abrasion
versus selective sorting, in: Fluvial Hydraulics of Mountain Regions, edited
by Armanini, A. and Di Silvio, G., vol. 37, Lecture Notes in Earth
Sciences, Springer, 345–360, https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0011201,
1991. a, b, c, d, e
Parker, G., Klingeman, P. C., and McLean, D. G.: Bedload and size
distribution in paved gravel-bed streams, J. Hydr. Eng. Div.-ASCE, 108,
544–571, 1982. a
Parker, G., Paola, C., Whipple, K. X., and Mohrig, D.: Alluvial Fans Formed
by Channelized Fluvial and Sheet Flow. I: Theory, J. Hydraul. Eng., 124,
985–995, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(1998)124:10(985), 1998. a, b
Pelletier, J. D., Brad Murray, A., Pierce, J. L., Bierman, P. R.,
Breshears, D. D., Crosby, B. T., Ellis, M., Foufoula-Georgiou, E., Heimsath,
A. M., Houser, C., Lancaster, N., Marani, M., Merritts, D. J., Moore, L. J.,
Pederson, J. L., Poulos, M. J., Rittenour, T. M., Rowland, J. C., Ruggiero,
P., Ward, D. J., Wickert, A. D., and Yager, E. M.: Forecasting the response
of Earth's surface to future climatic and land-use changes: A review of
methods and research needs, Earth's Future, 3, 220–251,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2014EF000290, 2015. a
Pingel, H., Alonso, R. N., Mulch, A., Rohrmann, A., Sudo, M., and Strecker,
M. R.: Pliocene orographic barrier uplift in the southern Central Andes,
Geology, 42, 691–694, https://doi.org/10.1130/G35538.1, 2014. a
Pitlick, J., Mueller, E. R., and Segura, C.: Relation between flow,
surface-layer armoring and sediment transport in gravel-bed rivers, Earth
Surf. Proc. Land., 33, 1192–1209, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1607, 2008. a
Roering, J. J., Kirchner, J. W., and Dietrich, W. E.: Evidence for
nonlinear, diffusive sediment transport on hillslopes and implications for
landscape morphology, Water Resour. Res., 35, 853–870,
https://doi.org/10.1029/1998WR900090, 1999. a
Savenije, H. H.: The width of a bankfull channel; Lacey's formula
explained, J. Hydrol., 276, 176–183, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(03)00069-6,
2003. a
Savi, S., Schildgen, T. F., Tofelde, S., Wittmann, H., Scherler, D., Mey, J.,
Alonso, R. N., and Strecker, M. R.: Climatic controls on debris-flow
activity and sediment aggradation: The Del Medio fan, NW Argentina, J.
Geophys. Res.-Earth, 121, 2424–2445, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JF003912, 2016. a
Schildgen, T. F., Robinson, R. A. J., Savi, S., Phillips, W. M., Spencer, J.
Q. G., Bookhagen, B., Scherler, D., Tofelde, S., Alonso, R. N., Kubik, P. W.,
Binnie, S. A., and Strecker, M. R.: Landscape response to late Pleistocene
climate change in NW Argentina: Sediment flux modulated by basin geometry and
connectivity, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 121, 392–414,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JF003607, 2016. a
Shobe, C. M., Tucker, G. E., and Anderson, R. S.: Hillslope-derived blocks
retard river incision, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43, 5070–5078,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069262, 2016. a, b
Simpson, G. and Castelltort, S.: Model shows that rivers transmit
high-frequency climate cycles to the sedimentary record, Geology, 40,
1131–1134, https://doi.org/10.1130/G33451.1, 2012. a
Singh, V. P.: On the theories of hydraulic geometry, Int. J. Sediment Res.,
18, 196–218, 2003. a
Sklar, L. and Dietrich, W. E.: River longitudinal profiles and bedrock
incision models: Stream power and the influence of sediment supply, in:
Rivers Over Rock: Fluvial Processes in Bedrock Channels, edited by: Tinkler,
K. J. and Wohl, E. E., vol. 107, Geoph. Monog. Series, 237–260, https://doi.org/10.1029/GM107p0237, 1998. a, b
Sklar, L. S. and Dietrich, W. E.: Sediment and rock strength controls on
river incision into bedrock, Geology, 29, 1087–1090, 2001. a
Sklar, L. S. and Dietrich, W. E.: A mechanistic model for river incision
into bedrock by saltating bed load, Water Resour. Res., 40, 1–22,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2003WR002496, 2004. a, b
Sklar, L. S. and Dietrich, W. E.: The role of sediment in controlling
steady-state bedrock channel slope: Implications of the saltation-abrasion
incision model, Geomorphology, 82, 58–83, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2005.08.019, 2006. a, b
Sklar, L. S. and Dietrich, W. E.: Implications of the saltation–abrasion
bedrock incision model for steady-state river longitudinal profile relief
and concavity, Earth Surf. Process. Land., 33, 1129–1151, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1689, 2008. a, b, c
Sklar, L. S., Riebe, C. S., Lukens, C. E., and Bellugi, D.: Catchment power
and the joint distribution of elevation and travel distance to the outlet,
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 799–818, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-799-2016,
2016. a
Slack, J. R. and Landwehr, J. M.: Hydro-climatic data network (HCDN),
Geological Survey streamflow data set for the United States for the study of
climate variations, 1874–1988, US Geological Survey, 1992. a
Snow, R. S. and Slingerland, R. L.: Mathematical Modeling of Graded River
Profiles, J. Geol., 95, 15–33, https://doi.org/10.1086/629104, 1987. a, b
Snyder, N. P., Whipple, K. X., Tucker, G. E., and Merritts, D. J.: Stream
profiles in the Mendocino triple junction region, northern California, GSA
Bulletin, 112, 1250–1263,
https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2000)112<1250:lrttfd>2.3.co;2, 2000. a
Strahler, A. N.: Quantitative Geomorphology of drainage basin and channel
Networks, in: Handbook of Applied Hydrology, edited by: Chow, V. T.,
McGraw-Hill, 4–76, 1964. a
Sullivan, T. U. F. S. and Lucas, W. U. F. S.: Chronic Misapplication of the
Relationship between Magnitude and Frequency in Geomorphic Processes, As
Illustrated in: Fluvial Processes in Geomorphology, by: Leopold, Wolman and
Miller (1964), 4–6, 2007. a
Tomkin, J. H., Brandon, M. T., Pazzaglia, F. J., Barbour, J. R., and Willett,
S. D.: Quantitative testing of bedrock incision models for the Clearwater
River, NW Washington State, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 108, 2308,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2001JB000862, 2003. a
Tucker, G. E. and Slingerland, R.: Drainage basin responses to climate
change, Water Resour. Res., 33, 2031–2047, https://doi.org/10.1029/97wr00409, 1997. a
Whipple, K. K. X.: Fluvial landscape response time: How plausible is
steady-state denudation?, Am. J. Sci., 301, 313–325,
https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.301.4-5.313, 2001. a
Whipple, K. X.: Bedrock Rivers and the Geomorphology of Active Orogens,
Annu. Rev. Earth Pl. Sc., 32, 151–185,
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.earth.32.101802.120356, 2004. a, b
Whipple, K. X., Hancock, G. S., and Anderson, R. S.: River incision into
bedrock: Mechanics and relative efficacy of plucking, abrasion, and
cavitation, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 112, 490–503,
https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2000)112<490:RIIBMA>2.0.CO;2, 2000. a
Whittaker, A. C., Duller, R. A., Springett, J., Smithells, R. A., Whitchurch,
A. L., and Allen, P. A.: Decoding downstream trends in stratigraphic grain
size as a function of tectonic subsidence and sediment supply, Bull. Geol.
Soc. Am., 123, 1363–1382, https://doi.org/10.1130/B30351.1, 2011. a
Wickert, A. D.: Reconstruction of North American drainage basins and river
discharge since the Last Glacial Maximum, Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 831–869,
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-831-2016, 2016. a
Wilcock, P. R. and Crowe, J. C.: Surface-based Transport Model for
Mixed-Size Sediment, J. Hydraul. Eng., 129, 120–128,
https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(2003)129:2(120), 2003. a
Willgoose, G., Bras, R. L., and Rodriguez-Iturbe, I.: A coupled channel
network growth and hillslope evolution model: 1. Theory, Water Resour. Res.,
27, 1671–1684, https://doi.org/10.1029/91WR00935, 1991. a
Wolman, M. G.: A method of sampling coarse river bed material, T. Am.
Geophys. Un., 35, 951–956, https://doi.org/10.1029/TR035i006p00951, 1954. a
Wolman, M. G. and Miller, J. P.: Magnitude and frequency of forces in
geomorphic processes, J. Geol., 68, 54–74, 1960. a
Download
The requested paper has a corresponding corrigendum published. Please read the corrigendum first before downloading the article.
- Article
(3541 KB) - Full-text XML
Short summary
Rivers can raise or lower their beds by depositing or eroding sediments. We combine equations for flow, channel/valley geometry, and gravel transport to learn how climate and tectonics shape down-valley profiles of river-bed elevation. Rivers steepen when they receive more sediment (relative to water) and become straighter with tectonic uplift. Weathering and breakdown of gravel is needed to produce gradually widening river channels with concave-up profiles that are often observed in the field.
Rivers can raise or lower their beds by depositing or eroding sediments. We combine equations...