Articles | Volume 9, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-1279-2021
© 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-9-1279-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
20 Sep 2021
Research article |
| 20 Sep 2021
| 20 Sep 2021
Hilltop curvature as a proxy for erosion rate: wavelets enable rapid computation and reveal systematic underestimation
Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
85721, USA
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
97403, USA
Joshua J. Roering
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
97403, USA
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Cited
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Constraining the global variations in denudation rates associated with the last post‐glacial transition V. Godard et al. 10.1002/esp.70181
- Large-Window Curvature Computations for High-Resolution Digital Elevation Models A. Denton et al. 10.1109/TGRS.2022.3200354
- Tan DEM‐X Preserves the Relationship Between Hilltop Curvature and Erosion Rate in the Qilian Shan Y. Zhang et al. 10.1029/2023JF007118
- Insights on the multi-scale topographic features of Mt. Etna volcano (Italy) S. Scudero & G. Groppelli 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2025.108443
- Debris‐Flow Process Controls on Steepland Morphology in the San Gabriel Mountains, California W. Struble et al. 10.1029/2022JF007017
- Investigation of the use of topographic data derived from Pléiades imagery for high-resolution hillslope-scale morphometry V. Pellegrino et al. 10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109162
- Soil organic and inorganic carbon pools in the Loess Plateau: New estimation, change and trade-offs J. Wu et al. 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2025.104951
- Soil organic and inorganic carbon distribution driven by erosion at various spatial scales on the Loess Plateau of China Y. Yao et al. 10.1016/j.agee.2025.109708
- The influence of erosion and vegetation on soil production and chemical weathering rates in the Southern Alps, New Zealand I. Larsen et al. 10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118036
- Geomorphic controls on the abundance and persistence of soil organic carbon pools in erosional landscapes B. Hunter et al. 10.1038/s41561-023-01365-2
- Badland distribution as a marker of rapid tectonic activity C. Yang et al. 10.1038/s41598-025-00795-9
- Quantifying erosion rates and weathering pathways that maximize soil organic carbon storage J. Roering et al. 10.1007/s10533-023-01054-7
- Complex landslide patterns explained by local intra-unit variability of stratigraphy and structure: Case study in the Tyee Formation, Oregon, USA S. LaHusen & A. Grant 10.1016/j.enggeo.2023.107387
- Optimising global landscape evolution models with 10Be G. Ruetenik et al. 10.5194/esurf-11-865-2023
- Regional-scale, high-resolution measurements of hilltop curvature reveal tectonic, climatic, and lithologic controls on hillslope morphology W. Struble et al. 10.1016/j.epsl.2024.119044
- Gully characteristics across linear troughs in the southern Daliangshan, and its implications for debris mitigation K. Li et al. 10.1007/s10064-023-03293-2
- Measuring landscape evolution from inception to maturity: Insights from a coastal dune system N. Patton et al. 10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117448
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Constraining the global variations in denudation rates associated with the last post‐glacial transition V. Godard et al. 10.1002/esp.70181
- Large-Window Curvature Computations for High-Resolution Digital Elevation Models A. Denton et al. 10.1109/TGRS.2022.3200354
- Tan DEM‐X Preserves the Relationship Between Hilltop Curvature and Erosion Rate in the Qilian Shan Y. Zhang et al. 10.1029/2023JF007118
- Insights on the multi-scale topographic features of Mt. Etna volcano (Italy) S. Scudero & G. Groppelli 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2025.108443
- Debris‐Flow Process Controls on Steepland Morphology in the San Gabriel Mountains, California W. Struble et al. 10.1029/2022JF007017
- Investigation of the use of topographic data derived from Pléiades imagery for high-resolution hillslope-scale morphometry V. Pellegrino et al. 10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109162
- Soil organic and inorganic carbon pools in the Loess Plateau: New estimation, change and trade-offs J. Wu et al. 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2025.104951
- Soil organic and inorganic carbon distribution driven by erosion at various spatial scales on the Loess Plateau of China Y. Yao et al. 10.1016/j.agee.2025.109708
- The influence of erosion and vegetation on soil production and chemical weathering rates in the Southern Alps, New Zealand I. Larsen et al. 10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118036
- Geomorphic controls on the abundance and persistence of soil organic carbon pools in erosional landscapes B. Hunter et al. 10.1038/s41561-023-01365-2
- Badland distribution as a marker of rapid tectonic activity C. Yang et al. 10.1038/s41598-025-00795-9
- Quantifying erosion rates and weathering pathways that maximize soil organic carbon storage J. Roering et al. 10.1007/s10533-023-01054-7
- Complex landslide patterns explained by local intra-unit variability of stratigraphy and structure: Case study in the Tyee Formation, Oregon, USA S. LaHusen & A. Grant 10.1016/j.enggeo.2023.107387
- Optimising global landscape evolution models with 10Be G. Ruetenik et al. 10.5194/esurf-11-865-2023
- Regional-scale, high-resolution measurements of hilltop curvature reveal tectonic, climatic, and lithologic controls on hillslope morphology W. Struble et al. 10.1016/j.epsl.2024.119044
- Gully characteristics across linear troughs in the southern Daliangshan, and its implications for debris mitigation K. Li et al. 10.1007/s10064-023-03293-2
- Measuring landscape evolution from inception to maturity: Insights from a coastal dune system N. Patton et al. 10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117448
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Short summary
We used a mathematical technique known as a wavelet transform to calculate the curvature of hilltops in western Oregon, which we used to estimate erosion rate. We find that this technique operates over 1000 times faster than other techniques and produces accurate erosion rates. We additionally built artificial hillslopes to test the accuracy of curvature measurement methods. We find that at fast erosion rates, curvature is underestimated, raising questions of measurement accuracy elsewhere.
We used a mathematical technique known as a wavelet transform to calculate the curvature of...
