Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Saptarshi Dey, Bodo Bookhagen, Rasmus C. Thiede, Hella Wittmann, Naveen Chauhan, Vikrant Jain, Manfred R. Strecker
Summary: The study reveals significant variations in erosion rates on the southern flanks of the Dhauladhar Range in the western Himalaya under different climatic forcings. During periods of strong monsoon intensity, both moderately steep and high slope areas experience higher erosion rates, while during weak monsoon periods, the erosion rates are lower. Additionally, lithology also influences erosion.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lionel L. Siame, Lucas Espindola Rosa, Luis Felipe Soares Cherem, Jose Guilherme de Oliveira, Olivier Evrard, Houda Barhoumi, Laetitia Leanni, Adrien Duvivier, Pierre-Henri Blard, Didier L. Bourles, A. S. T. E. R. Team ASTER Team, Sophie Cornu
Summary: Land degradation from continental surface erosion is a global issue caused by unsustainable human activities. The intertropical zone, which is already fragile, will likely be further impacted by climate change, leading to increased aridity and exacerbating soil erosion and land degradation. It is crucial to understand the factors that control the critical zone, including its responses to climate and land use changes, in order to achieve sustainability. The Brazilian Cerrado biome provides an ideal natural laboratory for studying the consequences of intense agricultural activities on continental surface erosion, and our findings indicate that human-induced erosion rates greatly exceed sustainable levels.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Duna C. Roda-Boluda, Taylor F. Schildgen, Hella Wittmann, Stefanie Tofelde, Aaron Bufe, Jeff Prancevic, Niels Hovius
Summary: Examining the links between tectonics and climate, this study finds that temperature-controlled erosion processes at 1,500-2,000 meters above sea level can play a greater role in modulating erosion than precipitation or glaciation. These temperature-controlled erosional processes may be efficient enough to balance the fastest rock-uplift rates on Earth, contributing to the link between tectonics and climate.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Gerald Raab, Wasja Dollenmeier, Dmitry Tikhomirov, Goncalo Vieira, Piotr Migon, Michael E. Ketterer, Marcus Christl, Jamey Stutz, Markus Egli
Summary: There is limited data available on comparing soil erosion rates between surfaces of different ages due to short-term processes frequently masking the longer-term erosion signal. This study used isotopes and the principles of percolation theory to investigate the soil dynamics in two areas of different ages at Serra da Estrela, Portugal. The results showed temporal differences in soil mixing processes and revealed that the formerly glaciated area had lower weathering and carbon content compared to the non-glaciated area.
Article
Geography, Physical
Naoya Takahashi, J. Bruce H. Shyu, Chia -Yu Chen, Shinji Toda
Summary: Studying river responses to active tectonics can help infer rock uplift rates and spatial distribution. Rock erodibility plays a significant role in channel steepness variation. In this study, the authors inferred rock uplift rates based on river morphology across substrates with contrasting erodibility. They found that the effects of different rock types on channel steepness cannot be explained solely by erodibility.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Joel S. Leonard, Kelin X. Whipple
Summary: The study investigates the impact of mountain rainfall patterns on the steady state form and transient evolution of river profiles. Different rainfall patterns lead to complex variations in river profiles in both steady state relationships and transient behaviors, highlighting the importance of understanding the influence of climate change on landscape evolution.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Joanna Beata Kowalska, Markus Egli, Martina Vogtli, Dmitry Tikhomirov, Beata Labaz, Marcus Christl, Jaroslaw Waroszewski
Summary: Loess deposits are important archives for studying deposition and erosion events. Long-term erosion rates are crucial for understanding loess stability and soil evolution. This study used meteoric Be-10 to analyze its distribution, determine erosion rates, and assess soil thickness and stability over time.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Benedikt Ritter, Joel Mohren, Steven A. Binnie, Volker Wennrich, Istvan Dunkl, Richard Albert, Axel Gerdes, Sandro LoBue, Tibor J. Dunai
Summary: The Atacama Desert is a very dry and old desert with extremely low precipitation rates. Surface processes operate at very slow rates over long periods of time. Terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide derived erosion rate estimates can be used to understand the rate of surface processes and age of landscapes in desert environments. In the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert, basin-averaged bedrock erosion rates from channel sediments are extremely low, indicating slow or almost absent fluvial processes. However, erosion rates of channel knickpoints reveal higher rates. These low erosion rates are explained by the rare severe precipitation events that cause erosion in the desert, modulated by local intrinsic processes and conditions.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Clare Wilkinson, Timothy Stahl, Katie Jones, Toshiyuki Fujioka, David Fink, Kevin P. Norton
Summary: Large earthquakes have a significant impact on the topographic evolution of active mountain ranges. In this study, the researchers analyzed in-situ Be-10 concentrations in fluvial sediments to understand the post-earthquake denudation rates of the Conway River catchment in New Zealand. The results showed higher erosion rates at the rangefront compared to the river outlet, and the overall erosion rates were consistent with previous studies.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Yanyan Wang, Sean D. Willett, Datian Wu, Negar Haghipour, Marcus Christl
Summary: The eastern escarpment of Madagascar shows varying erosion rates across different regions, with slower rates on the high plateau and coastal plain, and faster rates in the escarpment basins, particularly in the Alaotra-Ankay Graben basins. The spatial pattern indicates a retreating escarpment landscape, with retreat rates consistent with a model of steady retreat since the time of rifting.
GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Yusuke Yokoyama, Atsunori Nakamura, Gen Nagano, Hideki Maemoku, Yosuke Miyairi, Stephen Obrochta, Hiroyuki Matsuzaki
Summary: In this study, the age of marine terraces along the southern coasts of Shikoku Island and the Kii Peninsula was determined using in-situ terrestrial cosmogenic radionuclides (TCN), 10Be and 26Al, to reconstruct the uplift history of the southwestern coast of Japan. The agreement between the TCN chronology and existing tephrochronology suggests the applicability of this method in mid-latitude coastal areas where erosion is a factor. Measuring TCN on uplifted terraces around Japan can be a promising technique for clarifying uplift rates and the seismic history of the region.
NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH SECTION B-BEAM INTERACTIONS WITH MATERIALS AND ATOMS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Elizabeth N. Orr, Lewis A. Owen, Sourav Saha, Sarah J. Hammer, Marc W. Caffee
Summary: The study examines the periglacial rockwall slope erosion in the Himalayas of northern India, using cosmogenic Be-10 concentrations in sediment to determine erosion rates. The results show that tectonically driven uplift is the primary control on rockwall slope erosion patterns, with precipitation and temperature playing secondary roles.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
V Godard, A. Salgado, L. Siame, J. Fleury
Summary: This study investigated the transient behavior in hillslopes of the Serra do Cipo quartzitic range in SE Brazil over 100-ka timescales. By comparing observations with predictions from hillslope diffusion theory, an acceleration of denudation was observed. The increase in denudation timing could not be conclusively associated with a single climatic event but was consistent with fluctuations in precipitation and erosion during the Middle and Late Pleistocene in the area.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2021)
Article
Geology
Caroline L. Quarrier, Jeffrey S. Kwang, Brendon J. Quirk, Evan A. Thaler, Isaac J. Larsen
Summary: Erosion is detrimental to soil quality and agricultural productivity. Quantifying pre-agricultural and agricultural erosion rates is crucial in assessing the sustainability of farming practices. This study quantified pre-agricultural erosion rates in a major agricultural region in the United States, revealing that the long-term erosion rates are significantly lower than previously measured agricultural erosion rates.
Article
Geography, Physical
Jane Lund Andersen, Annina Margreth, Ola Fredin, Henriette Linge, Bradley W. Goodfellow, Johan C. Faust, Jochen Knies, Terje Solbakk, Edward J. Brook, Thomas Scheiber, Roelant van der Lelij, Valentin Burki, Lena Rubensdotter, Tobias Himmler, Serdar Yesilyurt, Marcus Christl, Christof Vockenhuber, Naki Akcar
Summary: The study investigates three sites along the Norwegian coast with diverse lithologies displaying weathering phenomena, revealing rapid erosion rates in a short period of time and challenging the assumption of preserved surficial weathered landforms during past glacial periods.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Saptarshi Dey, Bodo Bookhagen, Rasmus C. Thiede, Hella Wittmann, Naveen Chauhan, Vikrant Jain, Manfred R. Strecker
Summary: The study reveals significant variations in erosion rates on the southern flanks of the Dhauladhar Range in the western Himalaya under different climatic forcings. During periods of strong monsoon intensity, both moderately steep and high slope areas experience higher erosion rates, while during weak monsoon periods, the erosion rates are lower. Additionally, lithology also influences erosion.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Asfaw Erbello, Daniel Melnick, Gerold Zeilinger, Bodo Bookhagen, Heiko Pingel, Manfred R. Strecker
Summary: This study reveals a north-south gradient of tectonic activity in the transfer zone of southern Ethiopia, with the highest extensional deformation and recent tectonic activity occurring in the southern Chew Bahir Basin. The quantitative geomorphic analysis of river catchments and field work provide valuable insights into the tectono-geomorphic history of this complex kinematic transfer zone.
Article
Geography, Physical
Katharina Wetterauer, Dirk Scherler, Leif S. Anderson, Hella Wittmann
Summary: This study examines the erosion history of the high-alpine rock walls above the Glacier d'Otemma in Switzerland, finding that the Be-10 concentrations in the debris vary systematically over time and indicate increasing erosion rates over the past 200 years. This suggests that the lower Be-10 concentrations in recent debris may reflect deglaciation of the source areas since the Little Ice Age.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Carlos Pena, Sabrina Metzger, Oliver Heidbach, Jonathan Bedford, Bodo Bookhagen, Marcos Moreno, Onno Oncken, Fabrice Cotton
Summary: Megathrust earthquakes can induce changes in stress and pore pressure in the lithosphere-asthenosphere system, which are transiently relaxed during the postseismic period. The relative contributions of afterslip, viscoelasticity, and poroelasticity to observed surface deformation in the early postseismic phase are unclear. By analyzing geodetic data and using a poro-viscoelastic forward model combined with an afterslip inversion, it was found that poroelastic effects better explain the observed surface uplift pattern near the region of maximum coseismic slip. Neglecting poroelasticity can cause significant alterations in the spatial distribution of afterslip. Additionally, shallow crustal aftershocks tend to occur in regions with increased postseismic pore-pressure changes, suggesting a possible mechanical coupling between these processes.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Donovan P. Dennis, Dirk Scherler
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between physical weathering rates in cold, steep bedrock hillslopes and temperature. Using a numerical model, the researchers found that Be-10-derived erosion rates can be used to estimate long-term erosion rates in non-steady state erosion areas. The ratio of C-14 to Be-10 can be used to evaluate erosional stochasticity, while the concentration of He-3 relative to that of Be-10 is unaffected by erosional stochasticity.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Rahmantara Trichandi, Klaus Bauer, Trond Ryberg, Dirk Scherler, Klaus Bataille, Charlotte M. Krawczyk
Summary: This study utilizes seismic methods to investigate the weathering structure in the Santa Gracia National Reserve. By calibrating with borehole results, the boundaries of different rock layers are determined, revealing a complex mechanism controlling the weathering front.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Sofia Viotto, Guillermo Toyos, Bodo Bookhagen
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the sensitivity of the GIS-assisted model LAHARZ to the spatial resolution and quality of the digital elevation models (DEMs) for mapping lahar inundation areas at Volc'an Copahue. The results show that the spatial resolution and quality of DEMs significantly affect the LAHARZ simulations. More research is needed to improve the understanding of lahar deposits and enhance hazard assessment.
JOURNAL OF SOUTH AMERICAN EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
G. Burch Fisher, Lisa V. Luna, William H. Amidon, Douglas W. Burbank, Bas de Boer, Lennert B. Stap, Bodo Bookhagen, Vincent Godard, Michael E. Oskin, Ricardo N. Alonso, Erik Tuenter, Lucas J. Lourens
Summary: Fisher et al. use sediment geochemistry and climate modelling to show the long-term synchrony between erosion rates and orbitally-driven climate oscillations in the tectonically-active southern Central Andes. They provide direct terrestrial field evidence for this synchrony, which is consistent with the hypothesis that modest fluctuations in precipitation can cause synchronous and nonlinear responses in erosion rates. This study highlights the importance of understanding the relationship between climate and erosion in mountainous landscapes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Benjamin Purinton, Ariane Mueting, Bodo Bookhagen
Summary: The generation of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) through stereogrammetry of optical satellite images is popular. The study explores the effects of image texture and different matching algorithms on optical DEMs and proposes image texture as an important indicator for DEM quality. MGM is recommended for geomorphic applications, while the correlation kernel choice depends on local image texture.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Richard F. Ott, Nicolas Perez-Consuegrac, Dirk Scherler, Andres Moraf, Kimberly L. Huppert, Jean Braun, Gregory D. Hoke, Jose R. Sandoval Ruiz
Summary: In this study, erosion rates derived from cosmogenic nuclides in the Northern Andes of Colombia were used to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of uplift along the Central and Eastern Cordillera. The results show variations in erosion rates and sediment export, indicating the importance of considering spatial variations in erosion parameters and climate. The findings also suggest that the dynamic landscape evolution of the Northern Andes is primarily driven by spatiotemporal variations in slab dip, with potential influences from inherited rift structures.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dipro Sarkar, Rajiv Sinha, Bodo Bookhagen
Summary: This study provides guidelines for UAV data acquisition and processing based on several years of field experience. The placement of ground control points is crucial for reducing errors in the generated point clouds. Camera calibration errors significantly impact the accuracy of the point cloud. The study also identifies and analyzes various errors during point cloud processing and suggests mitigation strategies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexander R. Cobb, Rene Dommain, Rahayu S. Sukri, Faizah Metali, Bodo Bookhagen, Charles F. Harvey, Hao Tang
Summary: Tropical peatlands hold significant carbon stocks in the form of peat, with peat domes being the main carbon storage structure. Measuring the subtle topographic relief of these peat domes is challenging, but spaceborne laser altimetry data from satellites like GEDI and ATLAS could provide valuable insights. The study evaluated the accuracy of these data in comparison to airborne lidar data, and found that with spatial filtering, the spaceborne platforms can provide useful altimetry data for tropical peatlands.
SCIENCE OF REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Emma Lodes, Dirk Scherler, Renee van Dongen, Hella Wittmann
Summary: In situ Be-10 cosmogenic radionuclide analysis was used to measure the denudation rates of bedrock, boulders, and soil in three granitic landscapes in Chile. The study found that in humid and semi-arid climates, bedrock and boulders denude more slowly than soil, with denudation rates increasing with fracture density. In a Mediterranean climate, steeper slopes allow for higher denudation rates for both soil and boulders, while bedrock denudation rate remains low. Fracture control on landscape morphology was further examined, showing similar orientations of fractures, faults, and streams.
EARTH SURFACE DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Ugo Nanni, Dirk Scherler, Francois Ayoub, Romain Millan, Frederic Herman, Jean-Philippe Avouac
Summary: Accurate measurement of ice flow is vital for predicting future changes in glaciers and ice caps. While cross-correlation of satellite images can be used for large-scale measurements, accurate glacier velocity retrieval at shorter timescales is still challenging due to noise interference. This study utilized the wide availability of satellite imagery to analyze glacier velocity changes over 10-day intervals for 7 years in the western Pamirs, revealing strong seasonal trends and short-term responses of glaciers to changing meteorological and climatic conditions. The findings indicate significant velocity increases during spring/summer and seldom observed glacier accelerations in autumn, shedding light on the influence of subglacial hydrology efficiency and glacier instabilities on ice dynamics.
Article
Geography, Physical
Deniz Tobias Goek, Dirk Scherler, Leif Stefan Anderson
Summary: In this study, the land surface temperatures and diurnal variability of debris-covered glaciers were measured using UAV. Two approaches for deriving debris-thickness maps were tested, and both resulted in accurate estimates. However, the suitability of the approaches varied depending on the time of the day and availability of field measurements.