Articles | Volume 9, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-1073-2021
© Author(s) 2021. 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-9-1073-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
27 Aug 2021
Research article |
| 27 Aug 2021
| 27 Aug 2021
Sediment size on talus slopes correlates with fracture spacing on bedrock cliffs: implications for predicting initial sediment size distributions on hillslopes
Joseph P. Verdian
Department of Earth and Climate Sciences, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94302, USA
Leonard S. Sklar
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Earth and Climate Sciences, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94302, USA
Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, Concordia University, Montreal, H3G1M8, Canada
Clifford S. Riebe
Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
Jeffrey R. Moore
Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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Cited
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Rock properties and sediment caliber govern bedrock river morphology across the Taiwan Central Range J. Carr et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adg6794
- Spatio-temporal distribution of boulders along a debris-flow torrent assessed by UAV photogrammetry S. Dahal et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109757
- Size, shape and orientation matter: fast and semi-automatic measurement of grain geometries from 3D point clouds P. Steer et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-1211-2022
- Sand, Gravel, Cobbles, and Boulders: Detrital Thermochronology Shows that One Size Does Not Tell All C. Lukens et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JF007192
- Grain Size in Landscapes L. Sklar https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-052623-075856
- Impacts of Rainstorm Intensity and Temporal Pattern on Caprock Cliff Persistence and Hillslope Morphology in Drylands Y. Shmilovitz et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JF007478
- An extrapolation algorithm for estimating river bed grain size distributions across basins J. Gilbert https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-1307-2025
- The Impact of Extreme Rainstorms on Escarpment Morphology in Arid Areas: Insights From the Central Negev Desert Y. Shmilovitz et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JF007093
- The story of a summit nucleus: hillslope boulders and their effect on erosional patterns and landscape morphology in the Chilean Coastal Cordillera E. Lodes et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-305-2023
- Influence of particle lithology, size and angularity on rates and products of bedload wear: An experimental study E. Bray et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.6007
- Holocene warming of alpine rockwalls decreased rockwall erosion rates D. Draebing et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118496
- Building a bimodal landscape: bedrock lithology and bed thickness controls on the morphology of Last Chance Canyon, New Mexico, USA S. Anderson et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-995-2023
- Rainfall infiltration in an extremely high rock fragment content geodisaster-prone landscape: Insights from intensive field monitoring J. Wu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134481
- Limited influence of bedrock strength on river profiles: the dominant role of sediment dynamics N. Yamanishi & H. Naruse https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-14-247-2026
- Relative role of rock erodibility and sediment load in setting channel slope of mountain rivers N. Takahashi https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.70017
- Ontogenies of Orogenies and Erodibilities of Landscapes N. Pérez-Consuegra et al. https://doi.org/10.1086/739562
- Breaking down chipping and fragmentation in sediment transport: the control of material strength S. Bodek & D. Jerolmack https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-1531-2021
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Rock properties and sediment caliber govern bedrock river morphology across the Taiwan Central Range J. Carr et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adg6794
- Spatio-temporal distribution of boulders along a debris-flow torrent assessed by UAV photogrammetry S. Dahal et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109757
- Size, shape and orientation matter: fast and semi-automatic measurement of grain geometries from 3D point clouds P. Steer et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-1211-2022
- Sand, Gravel, Cobbles, and Boulders: Detrital Thermochronology Shows that One Size Does Not Tell All C. Lukens et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JF007192
- Grain Size in Landscapes L. Sklar https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-052623-075856
- Impacts of Rainstorm Intensity and Temporal Pattern on Caprock Cliff Persistence and Hillslope Morphology in Drylands Y. Shmilovitz et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JF007478
- An extrapolation algorithm for estimating river bed grain size distributions across basins J. Gilbert https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-1307-2025
- The Impact of Extreme Rainstorms on Escarpment Morphology in Arid Areas: Insights From the Central Negev Desert Y. Shmilovitz et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JF007093
- The story of a summit nucleus: hillslope boulders and their effect on erosional patterns and landscape morphology in the Chilean Coastal Cordillera E. Lodes et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-305-2023
- Influence of particle lithology, size and angularity on rates and products of bedload wear: An experimental study E. Bray et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.6007
- Holocene warming of alpine rockwalls decreased rockwall erosion rates D. Draebing et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118496
- Building a bimodal landscape: bedrock lithology and bed thickness controls on the morphology of Last Chance Canyon, New Mexico, USA S. Anderson et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-995-2023
- Rainfall infiltration in an extremely high rock fragment content geodisaster-prone landscape: Insights from intensive field monitoring J. Wu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134481
- Limited influence of bedrock strength on river profiles: the dominant role of sediment dynamics N. Yamanishi & H. Naruse https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-14-247-2026
- Relative role of rock erodibility and sediment load in setting channel slope of mountain rivers N. Takahashi https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.70017
- Ontogenies of Orogenies and Erodibilities of Landscapes N. Pérez-Consuegra et al. https://doi.org/10.1086/739562
- Breaking down chipping and fragmentation in sediment transport: the control of material strength S. Bodek & D. Jerolmack https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-1531-2021
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 11 Jun 2026
Short summary
River behavior depends on the size of rocks they carry. Rocks are born on hillslopes where erosion removes fragments from solid bedrock. To understand what controls the size of rock fragments, we measured the spacing between cracks exposed in 15 bare-rock cliffs and the size of rocks on the ground below. We found that, for each site, the average rock size could be predicted from the average distance between cracks, which varied with rock type. This shows how rock type can influence rivers.
River behavior depends on the size of rocks they carry. Rocks are born on hillslopes where...
