Creeping soil

Abstract

Research Article| February 01, 2002 Creeping soil Arjun M. Heimsath; Arjun M. Heimsath 1Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John Chappell; John Chappell 2Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Nigel A. Spooner; Nigel A. Spooner 2Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Danièle G. Questiaux Danièle G. Questiaux 2Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2002) 30 (2): 111–114. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0111:CS>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 05 Jul 2001 rev-recd: 17 Oct 2001 accepted: 22 Oct 2001 first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Arjun M. Heimsath, John Chappell, Nigel A. Spooner, Danièle G. Questiaux; Creeping soil. Geology 2002;; 30 (2): 111–114. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0111:CS>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Soil creep is the most widespread and perhaps the least understood process of erosion on soil-mantled hillslopes. Soil is slowly “stirred” by burrowing creatures, and particles are displaced in wetting-drying cycles. These actions can cause downslope creep by processes analogous to particle diffusion. Other possible transport mechanisms include shear and viscous-like creep, such that precise characterization of the entire process appears to require the tracing of labeled soil grains. Here we use natural quartz grains in a mature soil to determine grain movements from the time elapsed since each grain last visited the ground surface, measured by single-grain optical dating. Downslope flux is calculated from soil production by rock weathering at the soil base, measured with in situ–produced cosmogenic nuclide concentrations (10Be and 26Al). Results show that grains throughout the soil profile repeatedly visit the surface, and give the first quantitative characterization of grain-scale transport processes within creeping soil. These unique field data are interpreted with a Monte Carlo simulation to suggest that soil creep involves independent movements of mineral grains throughout the soil body and that grains are reburied or eroded by overland flow upon reaching the surface. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.