Abstract
The morphology of marine and lacustrine terraces has been largely used to measure past sea- and lake-level positions and estimate vertical deformation in a wealth of studies focused on climate and tectonic processes. To obtain accurate morphometric assessments of terrace morphology we present TerraceM-2, an improved version of our Matlab® graphic-user interface that provides new methodologies for morphometric analyses as well as landscape evolution and fault-dislocation modelling. The new version includes novel routines to map the elevation and spatial distribution of terraces, to model their formation and evolution, and to estimate fault-slip rates from terrace deformation patterns. TerraceM-2 has significantly improves its processing speed and mapping capabilities, and includes separate functions for developing customised workflows beyond the graphic-user interface. We illustrate these new mapping and modelling capabilities with three examples: mapping lacustrine shorelines in the Dead Sea to estimate deformation across the Dead Sea Fault, landscape evolution modelling to estimate a history of uplift rates in southern Peru, and dislocation modelling of deformed marine terraces in California. These examples also illustrate the need to use topographic data of different resolutions. The new modelling and mapping routines of TerraceM-2 highlight the advantages of an integrated joint mapping and modelling approach to improve the efficiency and precision of coastal terrace metrics in both marine and lacustrine environments.
Highlights
Marine and lacustrine wave-cut terraces are geomorphic markers largely used to estimate past sea- and lake-level positions (e.g., Zeuner, 1952; James et al, 1971), from which surface deformation rates may be assessed (e.g., Bradley and Griggs, 1976; Strecker et al, 1986; Bloom and Yonekura, 1990; Padgett et al, 2019)
KP compiled a worldwide database of marine terraces included in this version of TerraceM-2 and actively participated in the development of the manuscript and in the discussion of marine terrace concepts
MS actively assisted in the development of this manuscript, the discussion of marine terrace concepts, and quantitative mapping methods
Summary
Marine and lacustrine wave-cut terraces are geomorphic markers largely used to estimate past sea- and lake-level positions (e.g., Zeuner, 1952; James et al, 1971), from which surface deformation rates may be assessed (e.g., Bradley and Griggs, 1976; Strecker et al, 1986; Bloom and Yonekura, 1990; Padgett et al, 2019). The swath profile mapping interface includes different methods (see TerraceM in Jara-Muñoz et al (2016) for further details): (a) Staircase analysis, which is based on the intersection between paleo-platform and cliff, (b) the Fixed cliff analysis, which includes the option of adding field measurements to calibrate the paleo-cliff slope, and (c) the Stack analysis, to determine the shoreline angle in rough coastal areas comprising sea stacks, and (d) the Cliff diffusion analysis, determines the geometry of the colluvium wedge to reconstruct the original terrace profile as well as determining the geomorphic age of the terrace scarp (e.g., Hanks et al, 1984). TerraceM-2 LEM provides various outputs including the evolution of the coastline position, time series of cliff erosion rate (Figures 6A,B), synthetic topographic profiles, synthetic shoreline angle elevations for each modeled terrace level, and chronology of the marine terrace sequences (Figure 6C).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
