Landform Evolution Research Articles

Holocene environmental evolution and its relationship with human culture in the Luoyang area, Central China

As a key region for the origin and development of Chinese civilization, the relationship between the Holocene environment and human culture in the Luoyang area has garnered significant attention. However, the lack of long-term and multi-factor studies impedes our understanding of the overall characteristics of environmental systems and their interactions with human cultures. Based on extensive field investigations, we conducted a comprehensive study of the BZ profile, which exhibits continuous sedimentation and abundant paleoenvironmental information. The Holocene evolution of climate, deposition, hydrology, and landforms was analyzed, and the human-environment interaction was also examined. The findings demonstrate that the regional Holocene climate also exhibits fluctuations, albeit within a relatively narrow range. The regional sediment was predominantly composed of aeolian loess-paleosols during the early to middle Holocene, while the process of alluviation gradually intensified in the late Holocene. The moderate climatic fluctuations have facilitated the sustainable development of ancient cultures. The intensification of anthropogenic activities may contribute to the increased alluviation during the late Holocene. Ancient humans effectively adapted to this adverse condition by constructing city walls with flood control functions. Our study is significant for enhancing the comprehension of the operational characteristics inherent in human ecological systems.

The organization of subglacial drainage during the demise of the Finnish Lake District Ice Lobe

Abstract. Unknown basal characteristics limit our ability to simulate the subglacial hydrology of rapidly melting contemporary ice sheets. Sediment-based landforms generated beneath Late Pleistocene ice sheets, together with detailed digital elevation models, offer a valuable means of testing basal hydrology models, which describe the flow and dynamics of water in the subglacial system. However, to date no work has evaluated how well process-based subglacial hydrology models represent the hypothesized conditions associated with glaciofluvial landform formation in the palaeo setting. Previous work comparing model output to geomorphological evidence has typically done so using models that do not resolve subglacial processes and instead express likely subglacial water pathways. Here, we explore the ability of the Glacier Drainage System model (GlaDS), a process-based subglacial hydrology model, to represent the genesis conditions associated with a specific glaciofluvial landform termed “murtoos”. Distinctive triangular landforms found throughout Finland and Sweden, murtoos are hypothesized to form 40–60 km from the former Fennoscandian Ice Sheet margin within a “semi-distributed” system at the onset of channelized drainage in small cavities where water pressure is equal to or exceeds ice overburden pressure. Concentrating within a specific ice lobe of the former Fennoscandian Ice Sheet and using digital elevation models with a simulated former ice surface geometry, we forced GlaDS with transient surface melt and explored the sensitivity of our model outcomes to parameter decisions such as the system conductivity and bed topography. Our model outputs closely match the general spacing, direction, and complexity of eskers and mapped assemblages of features related to subglacial drainage in “meltwater routes”. Many of the predictions for murtoo formation are produced by the model, including the location of water pressure equal to ice overburden, the onset of channelized drainage, the transition in drainage modes, and importantly the seasonal sequence of drainage conditions inferred from murtoo sedimentology. These conclusions are largely robust to a range of parameter decisions, and we explore seasonal and inter-annual drainage behaviour associated with murtoo zones and meltwater pathways. Our results demonstrate that examining palaeo basal topography alongside subglacial hydrology model outputs holds promise for the mutually beneficial analyses of palaeo and contemporary ice sheets to assess the controls of hydrology on ice dynamics and subglacial landform evolution.

Clockwise extrusion of the Sichuan‒Yunnan block toward the Red River Fault in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau

The Xiaojiang Fault and the Red River Fault, which are located on the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, are the eastern and southern boundaries of the Sichuan–Yunnan Block, respectively. The relationship between these two faults is highly important for the study on the tectonic evolution and seismic risk of the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Using the digital elevation model (DEM) data, we extracted and analyzed the maximum elevation, peak steepness index, maximum slope, and relatively flat surface of the Ailaoshan Shear Zone on the southwest side of the Red River Fault. The results revealed that the geomorphic indices result around Yuanjiang were significantly lower than those on the northern and southern sides of Yuanjiang. On the basis of lithology, climate and tectonics, it is inferred that tectonic activity is the main factor controlling landform development. On the basis of existing geophysical and geomorphic survey results in this area, a geodynamic model of this area was constructed: in the mid-Miocene, tectonic inversion of the Red River Fault occurred, and material from the Tibetan Plateau flowed into the Sichuan‒Yunnan Block around the East Himalayan Syntax. The resulting extrusion caused the Red River Fault to bend of ∼50 km; in the early Pliocene, the middle and lower crust broke through the barrier and entered the interior of the Ailaoshan Shear Zone. Because of the extrusion of the middle and lower crust, the role of the Red River Fault as the boundary has weakened.

Quantification of geomorphodiversity and its spatial distribution with the flood inundation areas for Assam, India.

Assam, located in the Northeast of India, is highly flood-prone, and the erosional and depositional processes highly influence the landforms. The formation and development of landforms are directly related to the geology, geomorphology, drainage basin characteristics, and soil types of the region. In the present study, a remote sensing and GIS-based geomorphodiversity index (GMI) assessment of Assam is performed using three sub-indices: geodiversity, morphometric diversity, and drainage diversity index. Sixty-six potential geomorphosites are identified with their geological, geomorphological, and GMI classes. With the help of a flood inundation map, the inundated area of each GMI class is calculated. According to the result, 27.02%, 10.76%, and 3.7% of the total area of Assam fall under moderate, high, and very high GMI classes, respectively. Barak Valley and Central Assam region exhibit high to very high GMI values. Geology and geomorphology have a strong influence on GMI values. About 22.32%, 28.33%, 37.18%, 38.25%, and 35.37% of areas with low, moderate, high, and very high GMI are inundated, respectively. This study determined that areas having high GMI can increase the geomorphological heritage value of the region and can play a significant role in promoting geotourism with an increase in the scientific, educational, and aesthetic value of geomorphosites. This study can also help the local governing authorities to conduct and implement better management and conservation policies for vulnerable locations.

Geo-spatial assessment of geomorphic characteristics of Swat Valley, Pakistan

Morphometric analysis is essential for understanding drainage networks and landform evolution, particularly in complex mountainous regions like the Swat Valley. Accurate characterization of these features aids in water resource management and mitigating climate-induced challenges. The study employed GIS and remote sensing technologies, utilizing SRTM-30m DEM data to perform a comprehensive morphometric and hypsometric analysis. Key morphometric parameters such as basin size, stream order, bifurcation ratio, drainage density, circularity ratio, and elongation ratio were calculated by using Whitebox tool. Additionally, three-dimensional parameters including basin relief, roughness number, ruggedness index, and slope were analyzed. Hypsometric analysis was conducted to examine area-elevation relationships, using empirical formulas and contour data. The basin was found to be irregularly shaped, with an elongation ratio of 6.97 and a circulatory ratio of 0.3091, indicating an elongated form. Flow accumulation data highlighted areas of rapid and moderate water flow. Hypsometric analysis showed that 14 sub-basins were in an erosional stage, 8 were mature, and the remainder were older and more resistant to erosion. The overall hypsometric integral (HI) of 0.406 reflects moderate elevation variation across the basin. The study provides critical insights into the geomorphometric controls of the Swat Valley's drainage system, contributing to improved water resource management strategies. Understanding morphometric and hypsometric characteristics is vital for adapting to climate-induced risks and safeguarding water resources in mountainous landscapes.

Aeolian dust dynamics in southern Central Asia revealed by the multi-timescale loess records in southern Tajikistan

Dust activities in Central Asia (CA) hold significant scientific interest due to their broad social and environmental impacts. Loess deposits in CA serve as crucial natural archives, recording regional atmospheric characteristics and dust dynamics. The oldest loess in CA has been discovered in southern Tajikistan. However, debates persist regarding the wind dynamics of the Tajikistan loess deposition, which motivates our current study. By analyzing grain sizes of the last glacial loess and previous loess records since 800 ka, we determined that the Tajikistan loess consisted of post-storm floating dust and fine-grained dust transported by the westerlies. The reduced grain sizes may indicate less frequent dust storms. Our results provided evidence for the influence of global ice volume changes on the dust dynamics in southern Tajikistan, primarily by modulating sea-level pressure differences between the Caspian Sea and Hindu Kush/Pamirs. These ice volume changes also intensified rapid atmospheric fluctuations in CA, suggesting a sensitive response of the latter to glacial boundary conditions. Moreover, although precipitation variations may influence dust activities, their impact appears to be minimal. Collectively, our findings offer vital insights into the formation of loess strata and the development of extensive modern loess landforms in southern CA.

Delineating the climate change impacts on urban environment along with heat stress in the Indian tropical city

India experiences significant levels of temperature variance as a result of urbanization, deforestation, and industrial growth, all of which contribute to a progressive increase in heat island effects. Significant landform change has occurred in Bhubaneswar City, Odisha, in recent decades as a result of major plant loss and temperature unpredictability. Thus, during the summer and winter months, an examination of the long-term heat island impacts is essential for Bhubaneswar. The evolution of landforms and heat island impacts in Bhubaneswar are evaluated using Landsat images from 1991 to 2021 datasets and correlation analysis of heat islands and geospatial variables. Between 1991 and 2021 with a 10-year gap, the landforms studied showed an increase in built-up land (38.009 km2), a decrease in vegetation (13.875 km2), bare ground (16.306 km2), and water bodies (7.828 km2). The annual temperature variance in Bhubaneswar was 0.124 °C (summer), and 0.293 °C (winter). Surface temperatures varied by about 3.71 °C (summer) and 8.80 °C (winter). During the study years, heat islands increased from 2.89 to 4.27 (summer) and 2.30 to 3.87 (winter). In Bhubaneswar, there was an increase in ecological variation of 0.092 (summer), and 0.071 (winter). There is a statistically significant negative correlation between the R2 values and the temperature and the built-up indices. Using this dataset, administrative and development authorities can choose which measures to take to counteract the effects of variations in thermal variation. Finding out how man-made land use structures, industrial zones, and other areas contribute to the built-up area a direct consequence of heat islands was the aim of this study.

Morphometric and morphotectonic characteristics of a Tropical River Basin, North Kerala, India using geospatial technology

ABSTRACT This study delves into morphometric and morphotectonic analyses to unveil the evolutionary trajectory of Kerala's Korapuzha river basin. Employing advanced GIS and remote-sensing techniques, we explore the basin's geomorphological evolution and landform development. Our approach integrates data from a 1:50,000 scale toposheet and a 30 m resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM), facilitating a detailed evaluation of basin characteristics. Through subdivision into KB-1 and KB-2 sub-basins, distinct morphometric patterns and morphotectonic features are discerned. The elongated basin configuration suggests ongoing tectonic activity, profoundly shaping its unique geomorphic evolution. To unravel tectonic influences, we employ morphometric indices, including the Relative Active Tectonic Index (IRAT), revealing neo-tectonic activity and dynamic landscape changes. Our study enriches our understanding of the Korapuzha river basin's evolution, illuminating the interplay between tectonic forces and geomorphic processes. Offering insights into tropical river systems, it contributes to broader landscape dynamic comprehension and informs sustainable land management practices. The IRAT calculation for the Korapuzha basin is based on the average of five geomorphic index classes, with resulting classifications indicating varying levels of tectonic activity. KB-1 and KB-2 sub-basins’ IRAT values enumerated as 2.2 and 2, respectively hence fall into classes 4 and 3, indicating low and moderate tectonic activity, respectively. The presence of tectonism in the study area revealed from geomorphic indices and IRAT, was acknowledged and evinced precisely by following the analysis of the SL index and GLA index method.

Analysis of spatio-temporal development of mining landforms using aerial photographs: Case study from the Ostrava–Karviná mining district

Abstract The anthropogenic relief transformations of the mining landscape are characterised by high dynamics of changes over time that can be effectively mapped on a large scale using aerial images. The Karviná part of the Ostrava-Karviná mining district, which stands for significant hard coal mining area in the Czech Republic, has been selected to analyse the spatio-temporal development of anthropogenic landforms. Anthropogenic landforms were visually identified from the aerial images from 1947, 1966, 1971, 1985, 1994, 2009, and 2018. Specific anthropogenic landforms were analysed along with their spatio-temporal changes based on obtained vector data. The total extent and number of anthropogenic landforms increased the most during the periods 1947–1966 and 1971–1985. The same anthropogenic landforms occurred on circa 24 hectares in the entire period 1947–2018. The most anthropogenic landforms remained preserved in the last observed period 2009–2018. The multi-temporal analysis of aerial photographs and overlay operations in GIS enabled to map the age of specific landforms and to identify changed or unchanged anthropogenic landforms. This method is suitable for the study of landform dynamics at mining sites and is particularly relevant for the planning challenges in post-mining reclamation.

Mapping and Monitoring of Landforms Evolution. Case study: Breasta Landslide (Southwestern Romania)

Mapping and Monitoring of Landforms Evolution. Case study: Breasta Landslide (Southwestern Romania)

Wetting-induced collapse of loess: Tracing microstructural evolution

Loess is a silt-dominated, clastic yellow-to-yellowish brown aeolian sediment with high porosity and low density. The metastable microstructure of loess makes it highly susceptible to collapse, which plays a major role in landform evolution, geohazard development and engineering damages, particularly the widespread occurrences of settlement, deformation and cracking of civil engineering structures. Differing from the existing investigations based on pre- and post-collapse comparison, the present study is to report the microstructural changes during the collapse process and to determine how each microstructural constitutive element participates in this process. A series of laboratory tests was conducted on undisturbed loess specimens to simulate and capture snapshots of microstructure at five representative points during the entire collapse process. Results show that the loess microstructure becomes more homogeneous as the outstanding macropores are crushed into smaller (meso- and mini-pores) pores, the number of pores is dramatically increased, and the pore throats become narrower. The pore shapes have no obvious changes and remain elongated and rough-edged morphology from the point of view of statistic. Regarding solids, the pre-collapse unstable point-to-point contacts tend to transform into relatively stable edge (edge-edge or point-edge) type contacts, whilst coarse particles tend to reorient along the horizonal direction. XRD, SEM and EDS analysis indicates that these changes in the nature and distribution of pores and particles result from (1) the breakage and disintegration of moderately to highly weathered particles, (2) the disintegration of the matrix due to the swelling of clay minerals and the dissolution of calcium carbonates, (3) the consequential modifications of the microscopic forces which lead to slipping, rotation and therefore dislocation of particles, and (4) the collapse of mesoscale force chains along particles, reforming on smaller scales with larger numbers, shorter lengths and horizontal alignments.

Quantifying mine waste rock physical weathering rate and processes for improved geomorphic post-mining landforms

Erodibility of landform surfaces depends on several factors and numerical methods are needed to predict erosion and landform evolution particularly for post-mining landscapes. Surface armouring caused by immobile coarse particles tends to reduce the erosion potential of landform surfaces significantly. However, the breakdown of such material through weathering could destabilise this armour and lead to high erosion rates. Hence, the surface erodibility of newly constructed landforms (here we focus on post-mining landforms) can rapidly change over a few years to decades. At present, it is difficult to predict with certainty the rate, or in some cases the dominant processes and pathways, of soil erodibility and soil production over post-mining landscape design lifetimes (typically 100–1000 years). To improve our understandings of soil evolution and its relationship to soil erosion, data is needed to determine the rate at which fine transportable material is produced from the weathering of larger, non-transportable particles, the resultant fragment size distribution together, and how that distribution evolves over time.Here, laboratory weathering experiments were conducted for four different materials from a single coal mine in the Bowen Basin, Queensland, Australia. Wetting and drying cycles were found to rapidly weather all materials. After 32 wet and dry cycles, all materials had a less coarse particle size distribution than at the start. Heating and cooling had no measurable influence on weathering. Due to the rapid reduction of particle sizes caused by high weathering rates, the materials examined would not provide surface armour capability. A new mathematical methodology was developed to determine the weathering parameters for an existing numerical model based on the weathering mechanism and particle size-dependent weathering rate. Although the materials were collected from the same geographical location, they undergo weathering through different mechanisms and rates. Size dependent weathering rate analysis showed that most samples have high weathering rates for large particles and lower weathering rates for smaller particles. The methods used here are simple and inexpensive and can be easily employed to assess mine rehabilitation materials' weathering and armour potential.

Landform evolution of the Qilian Shan since 120 Ma revealed by apatite fission track data

The Cenozoic uplift of the Qilian Shan mountain range is intimately connected with the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, although the mechanism of deformation is still unclear due to the large distance between the Qilian Shan and the plate collision boundary. The first requirement if we are to determine this mechanism is to obtain the uplift process of the Qilian Shan range, which remains a matter of debate. We compiled apatite fission track data from previous studies of the Qilian Shan range to investigate the spatial and temporal disparities or similarities of the exhumation process. Most of the age-evolution profiles and thermo-modelling results show a low exhumation rate from 80 to 20 Ma, corresponding to shorter apatite fission track lengths, indicating a lower rate of erosion and lower relief across the whole Qilian Shan region. The results also reveal two stages of rapid exhumation: during the Cretaceous (120–80 Ma) and since the Miocene (20–0 Ma). The exhumation history of the Qilian Shan range shows no significant spatial difference and outward growth was limited at the southern and northern edges after 5 Ma. This temporal and spatial pattern for the exhumation of the Qilian Shan range suggests that there was probably no obvious uplift at the time of the initial collision of the Indian–Tibetan plates and support the proposal that the whole Qilian range has uplifted synchronously since 20 Ma.

Geomorphology, morphodynamic, and surficial material of the Orosi Valley, Costa Rica

The Orosi Valley in Costa Rica holds significant geomorphological importance due to its diverse landscapes shaped by tectonic activity, river systems, erosion processes, and rich biodiversity. Moreover, this valley is important for agriculture, tourism, water reservoirs, and hydroelectricity production. This study presents a comprehensive geomorphological mapping of the Orosi Valley in Costa Rica. Six distinct geomorphological units have been identified and classified through a combination of field surveys, topographic data analysis, and remote sensing techniques. These units include hillslopes, alluvial fans, terraces at the valley margins, volcanic landforms, colluvial deposits, landslide scars, and fluvial landforms. The results provide valuable insights into the geomorphological processes and landform evolution within the Orosi Valley, contributing to scientific knowledge, land use planning, natural hazard assessment, and environmental management in the region. This study holds global importance by deepening the understanding of how geomorphology, disaster risk, and socio-economic development are interconnected. It informs worldwide initiatives to create resilient communities in response to evolving environmental hazards.

Constraints of geomorphic indices on the expansion mode of the southeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau

The growth and expansion of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau remain contentious. Positioned as one of the regions characterized by the most robust tectonic activities on the plateau, the southeastern edge provides a distinctive setting for investigating plateau uplift and landform evolution. This study focuses on the southeastern margin of the plateau in the Three Rivers Region, conducting comprehensive analyses of slope, relief, hypsometric integral (HI), and channel steepness index (ksn). We use this new dataset to highlight the more significant role of tectonic activities in shaping the landform compared to climate and lithology. By examining the spatiotemporal characteristics of long-term and short-term rock exhumation rates, derived from low-temperature thermochronology and cosmogenic nuclide 10Be analysis, we establish a correlation between erosion rates and ksn, slope, and terrain undulation. Integrating this information with geophysical evidence and GPS data, we support the model for the expansion of the southeastern edge—the steady-state terrain crustal flow model. According to this model, there is an equilibrium achieved between rock uplift and surface erosion on the southeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Despite ongoing southeastward extrusion of plateau material, the overall plateau morphology remains unaltered due to intense erosion along the plateau’s edge. Consequently, the large-scale topographic expansion of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau has effectively halted.

A dataset of high-resolution digital elevation models of the Skeiðarársandur kettle holes, Southern Iceland

In studies of the relief evolution of smaller landforms, up to several dozen meters in width/diameter, digital elevation models (DEMs) freely accessible in different repositories may be insufficient in terms of resolution. Existing geophysical or photogrammetric equipment is not always available due to costs, conditions and regulations, especially for students or young researchers. An alternative may be the handy-held ground-based Structure from Motion technique. It allows us to obtain free high-resolution DEMs (~0.05 m) using open-source software. The method was tested on kettle holes of the glacial flood origin on Skeiðarársandur (S Iceland). The material was collected in 2022 at two outwash levels of different ages and vegetation cover. The dataset is available in the Zenodo repository; the first part is data processed in point clouds and DEMs, and the second includes original videos in MOV format. The data can be used as a reference to assess changes in the kettle hole relief in subsequent research seasons, as a methodological study for other projects, or for didactic purposes.

Seasonal landscape variability advances Lantian hominin's recognition capacity to strategically adapt to changing environments

Environmental Variability Selection (EVS) is hypothesized for the emergence of early Homo (H.) sapiens with small lithic tools in Africa. Yet, it is unclear how the EVS works when a special hominin group with advanced small lithic tools evolved from the Asian H. erectus with expedient core and flake industry. Lantian loessland in southern Chinese Loess Plateau in North China preserves continuous and concentrated hominin fossil, faunal, pollen, stone tool, paleoclimate, and landform records for last 2 million years (Ma) and is an ideal place to test this hypothesis. We reanalyzed δ13C values of soil organic and inorganic carbon from 2 Lantian loess-paleosol records to partition seasonal climate and habitat changes with synthesized lithic, faunal, and pollen data to seek cluses. We found that Lantian Gongwangling and Chenjiawo H. erectus adapts to woodland-forest habitats, manufacturing Mode 1 stone artifacts foraging subtropical animals in warm and Paleoarctic animals in cool seasons on the low and medium-high rolling loessland, while more advanced Dali hominins adapt to certain steppe-shrubland habitats manufacturing diverse small-sized lithic tools to forage more open-habitat animals in all seasons on hilly landforms. We propose that co-evolution of seasonal habitat variability and changing local landforms in 2.0–0.2 Ma advances Dali hominin's cognitive capacity for strategically using landform morphology for subsistence and manufacture small stone tools for intercepting high fluxes of seasonal resources on highly variable loessland. Seasonal landscape variability and landform evolution is the key in the EVS for the evolution from Asian H. erectus to a more advanced hominin group or species.

Palaeolake Jeinimeni and ice-marginal geomorphology of the central Patagonian Lago General Carrera/Buenos Aires ice-lobe (46.5°S)

Robust geomorphological interpretations of ice-marginal glacial, meltwater and palaeolake landforms are needed to constrain models of landform evolution that can be used to underpin high-resolution geochronologies of deglaciation. The Lago General Carrera/Bueno Aires (LGCBA) ice lobe of the former Patagonian Ice Sheet is one of the most researched in Patagonia, yet there remain contrasting landform evolution models partly because the spatiotemporal relationships between landforms in the LGCBA basin and tributary valleys have not been fully investigated. To this end we present a detailed, high-resolution glacial geomorphological map of the Los Antiguos sector of the LGCBA basin, and the tributary Río Jeinimeni valley, alongside sediment-landform assemblages from a broad suite of ice-marginal, subglacial, glaciolacustrine, glaciofluvial and paraglacial landforms. We introduce evidence for a previously unmapped ice-dammed lake within the Jeinimeni valley, which may have existed during the Last Glacial Maximum. Multiple isolated, ice-marginal proglacial lakes, which formed during the recession of the LGCBA ice lobe, were also mapped. The landform evidence is synthesised into a refined landscape evolution model for the LGCBA basin and Jeinimeni valley during the Last Glacial Interglacial Transition. The data presented demonstrate that previously reconstructed high LGCBA lake-level stands above 500 m asl were likely glaciolacustrine landforms created by ice-marginal lakes dammed by the LGCBA ice lobe. The mapping in the Jeinimeni valley highlights the potential for renewed dating investigations of landforms in tributary valleys to provide maximum limiting ages for the retreat of their associated glaciers. Furthermore, the identification of glaciolacustrine varved sediments associated with palaeolake Jeinimeni and the Los Antiguos sector of the LGCBA palaeolake, highlights the potential of these annually-resolved archives to infer spatiotemporal dynamics of main ice-lobe/tributary glaciers to improve palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstructions in the region.

Landsystem analysis of temperate non‐surging glaciers on the Mýrdalsjökull Ice Cap, southern Iceland

Glacial deposits are important sources of palaeoclimatic information but not all deposits are formed by processes that reflect the overall climatic conditions of a region; surge‐type glaciers undergo periodic episodes of rapid ice movement, often unrelated to ambient climatic conditions. This study examines the glacier forefields of Öldufellsjökull and western Sléttjökull, two outlet glaciers of the Mýrdalsjökull Ice Cap in southern Iceland, to identify landform characteristics indicative of past episodes of fast flow. Previous studies suggest episodes of fast flow at these glaciers in the past century. Remotely sensed data and field investigations were combined to complete a landsystem analysis of the forefields of these glaciers and an uncrewed aerial vehicle was used to collect high‐resolution imagery of areas of particular interest. Two assemblages of landsystems are identified on each forefield, which pass from streamlined landforms containing abundant flutes close to the glacier to spatially restricted bands of arcuate moraines with associated glaciofluvial and glaciolacustrine deposits more distally. This distribution of landsystem tracts has limited similarity to the current surge‐type glacier landsystem model, suggesting that other processes are controlling the development of landform–sediment assemblages. Using a high‐resolution digital elevation model of an area within the 1984 ice margin, two distinct landform types were identified that were not apparent on the coarse resolution imagery: hummocky moraine and a circular feature hypothesized to have formed as a result of water escape caused by changing hydrological regimes. The forefields of Öldufellsjökull and western Sléttjökull lack many of the characteristics typical of surge‐type landsystems and instead are more similar to the active temperate landsystem common in Iceland.

AeoLiS: Numerical modelling of coastal dunes and aeolian landform development for real-world applications

The formation and evolution of coastal dunes result from a complex interplay of eco-morphodynamic processes. State-of-the-art models can simulate aeolian transports and morphological dune evolution under certain conditions. However, a model combining these processes for coastal engineering applications was not yet available. This study aims to develop a predictive tool for dune development to inform coastal management decisions and interventions. The aeolian sediment transport model AeoLiS is extended with functionalities that allow for simulations of coastal landforms. The added functionalities include the effect of topographic steering on wind shear, avalanching of steep slopes and vegetation processes in the form of growth and wind shear reduction. The model is validated by simulating four distinct coastal landforms; barchan-, parabolic-, embryo dunes and blowouts. Simulations, based on real-world conditions, replicate the landform formation, migration rates and seasonal variability.