Landform Creation Research Articles

Anthropogenic Geomorphology of the Magoye Riverine Landscape, Zambia

Aims: This study sought to investigate the role of humans in modification and creation of landforms in river channels with specific focus on the Magoye River. The objectives of this study were to: document geomorphic characteristics of Magoye River, assess anthropogenic activities and landuse/cover change in the buffer zone and, examine key anthropogenic river landforms. Study Design: This study was inspired by analytic eclecticism research philosophy and adopted mixed methods, particularly concurrent research design. Methodology: The landcover images were analysed using image processing tools in ArcGIS 10.4 for the periods 1990, 2005 and 2020. Descriptive statistics were used to quantitatively visualize the changes in land cover/use. The data was collected using field observation, photography, GPS and a Likert scale tool and, analysed using descriptive statistics, specifically frequency graphs showing mean and standard deviation. Results: The results showed that sand mining and brick moulding accounted for almost 68% of human activities in the 11.48 km2 delineated buffer zone by 2020, compared to 35% in 1990. These punctuated creation of sand conical heaps, stone bunds, pot holes and pools, shallow wells on the river bed, gullies induced by water accessed points, which weakened river banks. Generally, sand mining and brick moulding were the most severe in the buffer zone and they created wide range of deformations riverbanks and beds. The findings further revealed that Magoye River had geomorphologically evolved into Reservoir River covering 80% on the upstream (139.4km) and Sand Bank River accounting 20% on downstream (27.6 km). Conclusion: The study concludes that, the catchment and buffer zone have undergone degradation propelled by anthropogenic activities, which have punctuated channel morphological degradation. Although the Magoye River channel was highly damaged, it was not beyond regeneration if restoration measures, were collaboratively identified and implemented with the local communities.

Morphometric Analysis of Taqtaq Watershed / Koysinjaq District, Iraqi-Kurdistan Region

The goal of this study was to investigate the morphometric analysis of the Taqtaq watershed in the Koysinjaq district, which is in the northeastern portion of Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The watershed has an area of 881 km2. The Digital Elevation Model-Shuttle Radar Topography Mission SRTM-DEM data, as well as Geo-information methodologies, were utilized to determine and analyze morphometric parameters, like lineal, aerial, and relief characteristics in order to achieve the study's goals. To create and producing maps, as well as analyzing and evaluating specific criteria, a variety of functionalities in ArcGIS 10.8 software were utilized. By R2 values (R2 = 0.79 and 0.80 of the sub-basin), the major results revealed a difficult opposing connection between stream order, number, and length in the watershed of the study area. The watershed is elongated in form, with drainage patterns ranging from dendritic to sub-dendritic to parallel to sub-parallel. According to the study's findings, the drainage also has poor drainage, low permeability content, and a slight slope. The creation of landforms and watershed efficiency has been impacted by the research region's structural geology and climatic circumstances. The current study can be beneficial, and significant for watershed preservation and rainfall preparedness.

Особливості формування та поширення зоогенного рельєфу в заплаві річки Остер

During 2015–2020, we carried out a series of field studies of zoogenic relief in the Oster River floodplain. In the process, the method of field route observations, polls, photography, morphological and morphometric analyses were actively used. Mathematical methods and computer technologies were used to process and summarize the obtained data. Based on the field research data, it was established that the natural conditions of the Oster River floodplain are favourable for the emergence of zoogenic relief forms. Zoogenic landforms are common here, and their size and location depend on the animal species which live in the area or constantly migrate through it. The influence of individual representatives of the animal world on the formation of the surface of the studied area is presented. It was shown that some of them simultaneously create both accumulative and negative forms of biogenic relief. Accumulative zoogenic landforms are represented in the Oster floodplain by individual small dams and beaver huts; muskrat huts; earthen anthills and anthills formed from dry grass and twigs; molehills; mice’s soil nano-strands; hamster mounds; pico-humps formed by worms and beetles. Among the negative landforms of zoogenic origin there are burrows and burrow nests; underground galleries of animals and insects; nano-basins of forest and field mice; livestock trails and wildlife migration trails; burrowing of wild pigs; footprints of various animals. Beavers, moles, wild boars and ants are found to cover the highest proportion of landform creation activity within the Oster River floodplain. It was also found that the size of most zoogenic landforms in the studied area have the rank of pico- and nano-relief. Relief microforms are much less common. The lifespan of zoogenic landforms can range from tens or even hundreds of years to several hours. It is discovered that fires significantly affect the landforms of zoogenic origin. As a result of the flames, many of the forms change their shape and size, and some even cease to exist.

Controlling for Landform Age When Determining the Settlement History of the Kuril Islands.

Archaeological investigations of settlement patterns in dynamic landscapes can be strongly biased by the evolution of the Earth's surface. The Kuril Island volcanic arc exemplifies such a dynamic landscape, where landscape-modifying geological forces were active during settlement, including sea-level changes, tectonic emergence, volcanic eruptive processes, coastal aggradation, and dune formation. With all these ongoing processes, in this paper we seek to understand how new landscape formation in the Holocene might bias archaeological interpretations of human settlement in the Kurils. Resolving this issue is fundamental to any interpretation of human settlement history derived from the distribution and age of archaeological sites from the region. On the basis of a comparison of landform ages and earliest archaeological occupation ages on those landforms, we conclude that landform creation did not significantly bias our aggregate archaeological evidence for earliest settlement. Some sections of the archipelago have larger proportions of landform creation dates closer to archaeological evidence of settlement and undoubtedly some archaeological sites have been lost to geomorphic processes. However, comparisons between regions reveal comparable archaeological establishment patterns irrespective of geomorphic antiquity.

The zoogeomorphic characteristics of burrows and burrowing by nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus)

Burrowing animals act like a geomorphic disturbance, changing the environment through soil excavation, landform creation and bioturbation. The potential zoogeomorphic effects of these actions include modification of surficial features, increased soil erosion, changes in the growth and distribution of vegetation, and modifications to soil fertility. The burrowing ninebanded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) migrated to North America prior to the 1850s and has since continued to expand its habitat to the American Southeast and parts of the Midwest. Little data are available on the zoogeomorphic impact of the burrowing nature of this species, making it difficult to predict future implications of this animal as it continues to migrate into new regions. On the University of South Alabama campus, in Mobile, Alabama, armadillos are present on a 35-hectare unprotected forested preserve used by the university community for outdoor activities and research. To understand the potential zoogeomorphic impact of armadillo burrows on the local environment, morphometric measurements were recorded on 187 burrows located in the study area. Using dimensions of burrow entrances and minimum lengths of tunnels in calculations, armadillos excavated approximately 0.029m3 to 0.04m3 of soil from each burrow. The entrances to burrows averaged 33.5° in slope and tended to be located in a microhabitat of a fallen tree, exposed tree roots, or a sideslope. Persistent fall of forest litter and anthropogenic modifications makes positive identification of spoil mounds possible in approximately half of the burrow sites. Surface modification by armadillos is ongoing in the study area with over half of the burrows classified as active during the four-month project. We concluded that, for southern Alabama, armadillos prefer to excavate burrows into sideslopes, and that given the lack of ground cover, sandy soil, and humid climate, armadillos are an important zoogeomorphic agent in the region.

Chapter 2 Desert environments

The majority of hazards to construction in desert regions are driven by geomorphological processes at the surface and geological processes within the near-surface. Most of these processes, such as mass movement or fluvial activity, are not unique to deserts and operate in a wide variety of environments. However, as noted in Chapter 1, some, including aeolian erosion and salt weathering, are much more effective or assume a greater relative importance in an arid zone. Geomorphological processes frequently lead to the creation of landforms, many of which are more prevalent in desert environments (e.g. dunes and playa lakes) and pose specific problems for engineering (Fig. 2.1). Fig. 2.1. Diverse desert environments. ( a ) Transverse dunes and mountain ranges in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile (for scale, note figure on dune to top right). ( b ) Ephemeral river channel in mountains SE of Swakopmund, Namib Desert (channel c . 120 m wide). ( c ) Mountain stream entering the northern edge of Chott el Gharsa, west-central Tunisia (channel in foreground c . 80 m wide). ( d ) Linear dunes ( c . 50 m high) on the margins of the southern Rub’ Al Khali, Oman (all photographs © David J. Nash). Climatic conditions in deserts can also pose significant operational difficulties during the construction process. Major problems are caused by the wide diurnal (i.e. daily) temperature fluctuations experienced in most desert regions, and the quality and quantity of water available during construction (cf. Chapter 9). In addition, high rates of water evaporation make the effective curing of concrete difficult. There are contamination issues caused by the deposition of windborne saline dust, and the introduction of chloride and sulphate salts by capillary rise mechanisms. Such conditions may also lead to the rapid deterioration of concrete, and long-term damage to roads and other engineering structures (Cooke et al. 1982; Fookes …

Landform hierarchy and evolution in Gorgonum and Atlantis basins, Mars

This paper describes the evolution of landforms in Atlantis and Gorgonum basins, using a geomorphologic approach which interprets landform distribution and hierarchy. Rather than looking at the distribution of large-area (>10 6 km 2) geologic sequences, this study focuses on interpreting the local-scale (<10 3 km 2) cratered terrains, tectono-structural basins, and local manifestation of exogenic processes. Specifically, the evolution of fluvio-lacustrine landforms is interpreted as being functionally subordinated to the evolution of the cratered terrains and to the tectono-structural modifications of the landscape. Results show that three major phases of landscape evolution in Atlantis and Gorgonum basins can be identified: (a) major impact cratering during the heavy-bombardment period; (b) tectonic displacements in response to volcano emplacement in the Tharsis region, and simultaneous landform creation by fluvial and lacustrine processes; and (c) exogenic modification of the older landforms through weathering and eolian processes. Our results show that the smaller morphological features, which form on the older geological units, are not necessarily old themselves and can in fact be relatively recent (e.g. Amazonian). The main implication of these results is that martian morphology did not form only during a period immediately following the heavy bombardment, as commonly postulated, but rather that landform evolution continued throughout the entire martian history.

Control of sediment dynamics by vegetation as a key function driving biogeomorphic succession within fluvial corridors

AbstractRiparian vegetation responds to hydrogeomorphic disturbances and environmental changes and also controls these changes. Here, we propose that the control of sediment erosion and deposition by riparian vegetation is a key geomorphological and ecological (i.e. biogeomorphic) function within fluvial corridors. In a 3 year study, we investigated the correlations between riparian vegetation and hydrogeomorphic dynamics along a transverse gradient from the main channel to the floodplain of the River Tech, France. Sediment erosion and deposition rates varied significantly along the transverse gradient as a function of the vegetation biovolume intercepting water flow. These effects, combined with the extremely strong mechanical resistance of pioneer woody structures and strong resilience of pioneer labile herbaceous communities, Populus nigra and Salix spp., explain the propensity of biogeomorphic succession (i.e. the synergy between vegetation succession and landform construction) to progress between destructive floods. This geomorphological function newly identified as an ‘ecosystem function’ per se encompasses the coupling of habitat and landform creation, maintenance and change with fundamental ecosystem structural changes in space and in time. Three different biogeomorphic functions, all related to the concept of ecosystem engineering, were identified: (i) the function of pioneer herbaceous communities to retain fine sediment and diaspores in the exposed zones of the active tract near the water resource, facilitating recruitment of further herbaceous and Salicacea species; (ii) the function of woody vegetation to drive the construction of forested islands and floodplains; and (iii) the function of stabilised riparian forests to act as ‘diversity reservoirs’ which can support regeneration after destructive floods. Overall, this study based on empirical data points to the fundamental importance of sediment flow control by pioneer riparian vegetation in defining fluvial ecosystem and landform organisation in time and in space. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Plants intertwine fluvial landform dynamics with ecological succession and natural selection: a niche construction perspective for riparian systems

ABSTRACTAim To contribute to the development of a macroevolutionary framework for riparian systems, reinforcing conceptual linkages between earth surface processes and biological and ecological processes.Location Riparian systems.Methods Literature review leading to an original proposition for perceiving the functioning of riparian systems in a new and different way.Results Riparian systems provide diverse landforms, habitats and resources for animals and plants. Certain organisms, defined as ‘ecosystem engineers’, significantly create and modify the physical components of riparian systems. Many studies have highlighted such engineering effects by animals on riparian systems, but the identification and understanding of the effects and responses of plants within fluvial corridors have emerged only recently. The modulation of matter, resources and energy flows by engineering plants helps establish characteristic sequences of fluvial landform creation and maintenance associated with synergetic ecological successions. We relate this process to the concept of niche construction, developed mainly by evolutionary biologists. Feedbacks between adaptive responses of riparian plants to flow regime and adjusting effects on biostabilization and bioconstruction are discussed in the context of niche construction at the scale of ecological succession and the evolution of organisms.Main conclusions Our conceptualization forges an integrated approach for understanding vegetated fluvial systems from a macroevolutionary perspective, for elucidating riparian ecosystem dynamics and potentially for establishing long‐term stream conservation and restoration strategies.

Geographical consequences of the surface exploitation of coal on the area of Tuzla basin, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The paper analyses, from a geographical aspect, consequences of the surface exploitation of coal on the area of Tuzla basin, and offers the comparison of the results achieved in the revitalization of exposed territories with some examples (the Rhine basin, Lusatia region etc). The surface exploitation of coal caused significant geomorphological and anthropogenic changes on the area of the Tuzla basin. They can be noticed particularly in the change of scenery by the creation of landforms (open pits, slag heaps etc). Coal surface exploitation also includes the relocation of water flows, destruction of drinking water springs, soil and vegetation degradation, air pollution above the exploitation areas and in their surroundings, etc. Anthropogenic changes can be seen primarily in the relocation of settlements or parts of them, depopulation, relocation of roads, etc. For example, coal surface exploitation in the Tuzla basin so far resulted in the following: 785 million m3 of waste material, 150 million tons of coal, 4400 ha of degraded land, 20 relocated villages or parts of them, 20 new anthropogenic lakes etc. The Law on Mining of the Federal Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Statute on long-term programs and mining projects (which broadly covers the exploitation of mineral resources and the environment protection) have obliged coalmines to re-cultivate the degraded surface. According to these legal regulations the re-cultivation of the degraded soil on the territory of the Tuzla basin started at the end of 1970s and so far around 800 ha have been re-cultivated. .

Dating young geomorphic surfaces using age of colonizing Douglas fir in southwestern Washington and northwestern Oregon, USA

AbstractDating of dynamic, young (&lt;500 years) geomorphic landforms, particularly volcanofluvial features, requires higher precision than is possible with radiocarbon dating. Minimum ages of recently created landforms have long been obtained from tree‐ring ages of the oldest trees growing on new surfaces. But to estimate the year of landform creation requires that two time corrections be added to tree ages obtained from increment cores: (1) the time interval between stabilization of the new landform surface and germination of the sampled trees (germination lag time or GLT); and (2) the interval between seedling germination and growth to sampling height, if the trees are not cored at ground level. The sum of these two time intervals is the colonization time gap (CTG). Such time corrections have been needed for more precise dating of terraces and floodplains in lowland river valleys in the Cascade Range, where significant eruption‐induced lateral shifting and vertical aggradation of channels can occur over years to decades, and where timing of such geomorphic changes can be critical to emergency planning.Earliest colonizing Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) were sampled for tree‐ring dating at eight sites on lowland (&lt;750 m a.s.l.), recently formed surfaces of known age near three Cascade volcanoes – Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood – in southwestern Washington and northwestern Oregon. Increment cores or stem sections were taken at breast height and, where possible, at ground level from the largest, oldest‐looking trees at each study site. At least ten trees were sampled at each site unless the total of early colonizers was less. Results indicate that a correction of four years should be used for GLT and 10 years for CTG if the single largest (and presumed oldest) Douglas fir growing on a surface of unknown age is sampled. This approach would have a potential error of up to 20 years. Error can be reduced by sampling the five largest Douglas fir instead of the single largest. A GLT correction of 5 years should be added to the mean ring‐count age of the five largest trees growing on the surface being dated, if the trees are cored at ground level. This correction would have an approximate error of ±5 years. If the trees are cored at about 1·4 m above the ground surface (breast height), a CTG correction of 11 years should be added to the mean age of the five sampled trees (with an error of about ±7 years). Published in 2006 by John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Geomorphic consequences of urban development and mining activities; an analysis of study areas in Spain and Argentina

An analysis is presented on the contribution of urban and infrastructure development, mining and quarrying to direct and indirect modifications of landforms and transfer of earth materials. The analysis has been carried out in four study areas in Spain and Argentina and is based on data collection on the amounts of materials excavated for those activities and related sediment production. Results obtained show that human activity is presently the main contributor to landform modification and earth material transport in the study areas; mobilisation rates due to construction and mining seem to be 2–4 orders of magnitude greater than natural denudation rates. The ‘human geomorphic footprint”, expressed in terms of new landform creation rate and mobilisation rate is calculated for the study areas. Extrapolation to the global level is made on the basis of data obtained and mineral production data. Comparison with data on erosion rates and world sediment transport indicates that the latter is an order of magnitude less than construction plus mining mobilisation. It is suggested that geomorphic and related changes observed may represent manifestations of a global geomorphic change.