Articles | Volume 9, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-629-2021
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-629-2021
Research article
 | 
16 Jun 2021
Research article |  | 16 Jun 2021

Rarefied particle motions on hillslopes – Part 4: Philosophy

David Jon Furbish and Tyler H. Doane

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AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision
AR by David J. Furbish on behalf of the Authors (27 Mar 2021)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (07 Apr 2021) by Eric Lajeunesse
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (07 Apr 2021)
ED: Publish as is (23 Apr 2021) by Eric Lajeunesse
ED: Publish as is (29 Apr 2021) by Douglas Jerolmack (Editor)
AR by David J. Furbish on behalf of the Authors (30 Apr 2021)
Short summary
Using analyses of particle motions on steep hillslopes in three companion papers (Furbish et al., 2021a, 2021b, 2021c), we offer philosophical perspective on the merits of a statistical mechanics framework for describing sediment particle motions and transport, and the implications of rarefied versus continuum transport conditions. We highlight the mechanistic yet probabilistic nature of the approach, and the importance of tailoring the style of thinking to the process and scale of interest.