Vegetation of beach sand ridges and geomorphological processes in the valley of the Upper Myall River, New South Wales.

In the geothermal zones of modern volcanic areas, geomorphological processes are considerably influenced by numerous gas-hydrothermal outcrops, which may dramatically change rock properties and, consequently, denudation peculiarities and rates. The activity of processes on the slopes of Kamchatka river valleys under conditions of gas-hydrothermal occurrences (Geysernaya river valley) and without them (Shumnaya river valley) has been studied and comparatively analyzed. For the most correct separation and comparison of the valley regions which differ in the conditions of development of the modern slope processes, ArcticDEM digital elevation model and a series of morphometric maps (slope steepness, exposition, elementary watersheds) built on its basis, as well as geological maps, results of thermal survey of different detail level and field observation data were used. Interpretation of high spatial resolution images (0.5–5 m) for the mid-1960s (KeyHole-4 CORONA) and modern images for the period 2016–2021 from different survey systems was carried out. As a result of decoding, quantitative assessments of slope conditions within the selected valley fragments selected on the basis of morphometry were obtained for two time slices separated by 55 years. It is established that under conditions of gas-hydrothermal manifestations development, the share of the total area of the slope’s sections affected by active processes, with other conditions being equal, is significantly higher than the same in the areas without gas-hydrotherms. For 55 years the share of the areas with slope processes activation on the background areas practically has not changed, and on the territories affected by gas-hydrothermal influence has increased by 10–17 %. The conducted studies allow us to conclude that gas-hydrothermal manifestations are the most powerful driver of modern geomorphological processes on slopes in the studied region.

Dunes, above and beyond : The interactions between ecological and geomorphological processes during early dune development

In 2013-2015 within the frames of Cross-border Cooperation Programme Poland-BelarusUkraine a project to develop the Geo-Karpaty (Geo-Carpathians) cross-border tourist route in the Ukrainian and Polish Carpathians was implemented. The route length is 700 km and it includes 28 geo-tourist sites. Its attractive base consists of scientifically, educationally, scenically and aesthetically valuable geological outcrops, relief forms and manifestations of modern dynamic processes. The majority of objects located along the Ukrainian-Polish geotourist route is presented by geomorphosites, i.e. objects of geomorphological heritage (rocks, river valleys, anthropogenic forms, geomorphological processes). In the present study the geotourist analysis of Geo-Karpaty route specific rock complexes is performed: Rocks of the Kamieniec Castle in Odrzykon, rocks in the Przadki Reserve, Kamień Leski (Baszta Kmity) from the Polish side, Spaskyi (Sokoliv) Stone, the Urych Rocks, the Dovbush Rocks from the Ukrainian side. It includes a detailed description of geological structure and morphological features, historical and cultural assessment, modern tourist-aimed usage and infrastructure facilities. Solutions on preservation and protection of the Geo-Karpaty route rock geomorphosites and their utilization in educational tourism are given. Key words: geotourism, route, Geo-Karpaty, rock geotourist objects, geomorphosites, infrastructure.

The effect of fragmentation on the distribution of hillslope rock size and abundance: Insights from contrasting field and model data

Transport network infrastructure interacts with the earth’s surface because they often share common spaces (e.g. river valleys), such that transport is an anthropogenic pressure that can affect geomorphological processes and outcomes. Since having its profound effect worldwide, the systematic study on the effect of transportation infrastructures (TIs) on the alteration of geomorphological forms and processes has been less focused than on any other anthropogeomorphic driver. The present review provides a multidimensional overview based on the available literature and data on the effect of TIs in changing hillslope and fluvial geomorphology to sustain a peaceful harmony between the transport network and its surrounding landscapes. The study underlines the effect of major TIs like trails, roads, railways, tunnels, causeways, waterways and airports on the alteration of different geomorphological processes on hillslope and fluvial landscapes like the movement of earth material, geomorphic connectivity, slope instability, sediment production, gully initiation and surface runoff. For instance, the global level proximity analysis shows ~40% of landslides happen within the 500 m of any major roads only, while at the regional scale it becomes ~65% irrespective of the degree of seismicity. Due to the fast development of TIs, the mountain regions are more prone to slope instability because of the alteration of surface hydrology by increasing runoff, road and ditch guided concentrated flow, rills and gully formation by reducing drainage area to cross the critical threshold limit. The plain regions are primarily facing the problem of fluvial (dis)connectivity because of the close proximity between river and transport networks and undersized causeways. For sustainable TIs development, factors like the practice of bio-engineering for roadside slope management, de-culverting, 100-year flood return for causeway construction, mapping of river corridors, road water harvesting should be incorporated for less effect on hillslope and fluvial geomorphology.

Late Weichselian and Holocene record of the paleoenvironmental changes in a small river valley in Central Poland

Disaster floods on the Carpathian rivers and surrounding areas as a result of radial and lateral erosion have predetermined to significant changes in geomorphological levels: the rivers bottom in some areas deepened to 100 cm or more, the coastline has shifted to 15–20 m, landslide processes first of all on the shores was invigorated. Due to the flooding in 2008 the soil and vegetation cover of the floodplains was completely destroyed, where the surface alluvial sediments and, often, the bedrock of the river valley went out. To prevent the river influence on the floodplain, the floodplain has become a terrace, so from this moment the alluvial soils have changed their place in the classification system. Pedogenesis in the river valley is certainly correlates with the specified geological and geomorphological processes, and therefore one question arises: in which taxonomic of soil classification the soil is, which now is located outside of floodplain, but the time that has passed from this moment is too short for the genesis of the first terrace soil (formed before our eyes). Shall we talk about the ancient age of alluvial deposits if they were formed in the last 100–1000 years? It is apparently that we need to consider the simultaneous genesis of thesediments, the landforms and the soils under the influence of the geological processes. We have studied the valley of the river Lyuchka, belonging to Prut River basin. We have described the soils that are placed on the ecotopes that have a direct contact with a coastline of the river, on different height levels above the top of watercourse, as well as the cuts of zonal soils which were not under the influence of the river during of the historical time. Soil samples for analytical studies have also been selected. We have studied the cuts of such soils: 1) В-6, К-1 and К-2 – zonal; 2) В-1, В-2, В-5 and В-7 – soils placed on the first terrace; 3) В-3, В-4, В-2а and В-3а – soils placed on the floodplains. The results obtained are summarized as follows. Soils of Lyuchka valley are developing on the alluvial deposits under which the bedrock are placed that in the area of research is clayey flysch; all these soils are on the development stage. Soils of the first terraces are Fluvisols on the complex alluvial deposits, mostly they have the average thickness and the soils are characterized of such morphometric features: humus horizon is from 33 to 66 % of the thickness of profile and transitional horizon is from 34 to 67 % of the thickness of profile. The problem of their selection is establishing of the age, because for alluvium is not specified definitions of "old, ancient". It really could be aged of alluvial deposits are a hundred-thousand years or even as whole Holocene. Another problem is a quick output time of the floodplain from the influence of the river and the formation of the first terrace. This requires a change of the name of the soil (maybe the output from Fluvisols). It remains an open question whether this change of belonging of classification reflects the inner essence, and whether all the soils of river valleys should be admitted young, genetically related (monogenesis) and therefore whether they should occupy one position in the classification system.

Составлена карта геоморфологического районирования территории Москвы в новых границах. На основании проведенного авторами геоморфологического анализа и, используя данные предшествующих исследователей, территория Москвы разделена на геоморфологические области, районы и подрайоны, представляющие собой разноранговые формы рельефа, отражающие новейшие структуры. Они различаются геологическим строением, в том числе генезисом, составом и мощностью четвертичного покрова, набором морфогенетических и возрастных комплексов рельефа, характером новейших тектонических движений. Все эти особенности влияют на развитые в их пределах геолого-геоморфологические процессы, особенно осложняющие хозяйственное освоение территории. В категорию самого высокого ранга входят две крупные геоморфологические области, резко отличающиеся по морфологии рельефа и новейшему тектоническому строению. 1. Смоленско-Московская возвышенность, в пределы которой, как районы входят Клинско-Дмитровская возвышенность и Москворецко-Окская равнина. 2. В Мещерскую низменность входят Центрально-Московская возвышенность, Лосиноостровско-Измайловская и Москворецко-Яузская равнины. Они, в свою очередь, разделены на районы и подрайоны. Долинный комплекс рельефа выделен как самостоятельный и развит во всех областях. Это долины наиболее крупных рек - Москвы восточнее Звенигорода, Десны, Пахры и Мочи. Практически все они приурочены к новейшим эрозионно-тектоническим понижениям, возможно, разрывным зонам и зонам трещиноватости. Карта может быть использована для изучения новейшей структуры и современной активности тектонических движений, а также в инженерно-геологических целях.

Application of laser scanning data in the analysis of the changes in vegetation vertical structure and changes in a semi-natural section of the Vistula valley Changes in vegetation cover are one of the features affecting the functioning of river valleys. Vegetation influences the geomorphological and hydrological processes within a water basin. Controlling the quality and quantity of vegetation is crucial for keeping the eco- and geosystem balance. Until now the methods applied in controlling vegetation were not efficient (field work) or were not providing enough information about the vertical structure of plant communities (i.e. analyses based on data obtained from optical remote sensing do not allow precise determination of vegetation height). The aim of this study was to determine the changes in the extent and vertical structure of the vegetation within a semi-natural section of the Vistula river valley in Krakow between 2006 and 2012 using airborne laser scanning. The application of such data in this type of research was also evaluated. The study revealed that, in spite of spite of maintenance work, the extent of vegetation cover increased during the monitoring period. Data verification indicated high precision and suitability of these data in the determination of the vegetation cover changes at the local scale. A wider access to data obtained from airborne laser scanning should soon result in the proliferation of studies conducted using airborne laser scanning which will positively impact the cost and quality of such research.

Geomorphological processes following the construction of an offshore artificial island in the radial sand ridges of the South Yellow Sea

The simple concept of contradictory endogenous and exogenous forces has become insufficient for the present geomorphology. The relationships are very complicated, both forces acting often in the same direction. Some new concepts appeared recently, e. g. the concept of the lithodynamic flow and the concept of the endodynamics. The complexity of the whole problem is well shown in this paper discussing the importance of gravitation, impact craters, the genesis of kaolins, accumulations of angular debris, and the origin of river valleys.

Palaeoclimatic reconstructions in central China often rely on proxy information, obtained from single palaeoenvironmental archives at a distinct study site, such as lake sediments. Although they provide a high temporal resolution of information, their context within the acting depositional and geomorphological processes in a distinct landscape unit often is difficult to ascertain. The nature of lake systems strongly depends on catchment processes in addition to direct responses to climate forcing. In the scope of palaeoclimatic studies on the northern Tibetan Plateau and its foreland, we investigate the complex interaction of landscape evolution in response to monsoon dynamics. Our approach follows a source-to-sink approach along sediment cascades, to infer palaeoclimatic responses and to decipher internal non-climatic dynamics of the landscape system. Lake sediments represent the final and mostly complete sedimentary products, while adjacent landforms and offshore deposits provide insights into the spatial dimension of palaeoenvironmental change. The approach of concerted geomorphological and limnogeological research was successfully demonstrated at Lake Donggi Cona on the NE Tibetan Plateau at 4,090 m elevation. The 30 km long, 8 km wide, and 90 m deep lake occupies a pull-apart basin. Sub-bottom profiling revealed the presence of tectonic structures as well as subaquatic terraces and ancient fan systems from former low lake stands, draped by younger lake sediments. A prominent moraine arc in the vicinity of the lake can be attributed to a glacial advance during an early stage of the last glacial cycle. Several terrace levels and fossil lake sediments of early to mid-Holocene age around the lake shore document former stages of higher lake level of about 10 m above present level. In addition to alluvial processes, dunes and loess-like sediments in the catchment of the lake give evidence of differing stages in the intensity of aeolian sediment mobilisation or fixation. Lake development is documented by multi-proxy data in a series of sediment cores across the lake basin. The oldest recovered sediments, younger than 18 ka BP, comprise siliciclastic laminates and lateglacial saline shallow-lake sediments, overlying basal sands. The deposition of fine-grained marls and enhanced biological production characterized the deep lacustrine environment of the Holocene. A switch from a closed lake basin with brackish conditions towards an open oligotrophic fresh-water basin after 6.8 ka BP is indicated by ostracod assemblages and changes in carbonate chemistry. This change in hydrology likely was triggered by tectonic pulses along the Kunlun Fault, an area with severe earthquake activity. Pollen records exhibit climate signals and indicate moist conditions in the early Holocene. During the same time, loess sediments have been preserved from a period from 10.5 to 7.5 ka BP, related to the strengthening of the insolation-driven Asian summer monsoons. This time was characterized by wetter and warmer climate and supported the trapping of dust. A dry and cooler climate resulted in the reactivation of dune sands from 3 ka to present, possibly in combination with stronger human influence.

Today identification of altitudinal zones of landscapes in local areas, especially in mountainous areas, is inextricably linked with the creation of digital terrain models and their geoinformation interpretation. We have considered the altitudinal zonation of landscapes on the Mamai model testing area, located on the Northern macroslope of the Khamar-Daban Ridge and in the Tankhoi coastal plain of the Baikal Lake. The special geoinformation software, partially modernized during the works, was used. Landscapes were studied by their main components: relief and geomorphological processes, soils and soil-forming processes, vegetation. The landscapes of the testing area are represented by three main groups: 1) goltsy altitudinal and mountain-taiga landscapes of the Khamar-Daban Ridge on the crystalline metamorphic rocks of the khungurul series of the lower Proterozoic age and granites of the Khamar-Daban and Sayan intrusive complexes of the upper Proterozoic and lower Paleozoic, respectively; 2) taiga and meadow-marsh landscapes of the Tankhoi plain on loose sediments of the Late Pliocene and Quaternary ages; 3) intrazonal landscapes within transverse mountain river valleys on the Late Pleistocene and Neo-Pleistocene and modern loose sediments. The base of the identification of altitudinal zones of the landscape is layers of a relief. But the relief is a fairly static component of the landscape, its invariant structure change for tens or hundreds of thousands of years. To determine a more detailed and dynamic structure of the altitudinal zonation, we use other components: soils and vegetation. Changes in the invariant structure of the soil cover occur for thousands or tens of thousands of years, and of the vegetation cover – for hundreds or thousands of years. Features of the landscapes structure and characteristics of their main components allowed us to allocate six altitudinal zones in the testing area: goltsy altitudinal, subgoltsy altitudinal, low-mountain, foothill, foothill-plain, and coastal-plain. The intrazonal landscapes of transverse mountain river valleys, which violate the normal structure of the altitudinal zonation, are singled out as a separate type.

The center of Moscow has a lengthy and complex evolution. One of its characteristics is a dense network of underground communications of different ages (including manifolds of small rivers). Comparison between the “Leveling plan of the Moscow city” (1888) and the topographic map of Moscow (1984) doesn’t show significant changes of the city center’s relief whose absolute level’s rise hasn’t exceed 0.6 m at an average. Studying small underground rivers, such as Neglinnaya, Presnya, Chichera and Zolotoy Rozhok reveals that since the late 19th century till present time, anthropogenic changes have reduced the density of the drainage network nearly to zero and enlarged the subhorizontal surfaces. Geomorphologic processes have ceased in small urban river valleys on the surface, but suffusion-subsidence phenomena, flooding and deformation of buildings and structures intensify around rivers hidden in collectors, which causes significant damage to the urban economy. The structure and morphometry of watersheds has been simplified, and a significant part of their area has become impermeable. Therefore, despite the reduction in the slope of the terrain, flow velocity, power of the streams, and their erosive potential increased. A threat of rainfall floods still remains.

Leaf litter and woody debris are important sources of carbon for stream ecosystems, but the patterns of such inputs are variable. To clarify the processes that may lead to such variations, we modified a computer simulation model of forest dynamics to record the production, transport, and decomposition of leaf litter and woody debris given conditions found on a floodplain. The species chosen represent those of floodplains in the central Mississippi River valley, United States. We examined differences in model results when the conditions simulated were (i) a floodplain forest interior or a riparian cutbank edge, (ii) high or low flood regimes, and (iii) with or without the direct removal of material by flood flows. Projections of productivity of floodplain interior sites were similar to those observed in other studies in comparable areas. The inclusion of edge effects increased litter and debris production significantly. There were differences in how material produced was apportioned: there was a greater input to the river that had edge effects and, trivially, flood removal; there was greater on-site storage otherwise. Interaction effects were found because of the dependence on initial productivity. This simulation indicates that the particular local effects of hydrological and geomorphological processes will affect the fate of carbon on floodplains and reveals the importance of a spatially explicit conceptualization of forest dynamics.