Landform Transformation Research Articles

The Effects of Land Use and Landform Transformation on the Vertical Distribution of Soil Nitrogen in Small Catchments

The diversity of land use and consolidation is fundamental to ensuring sustainable development. However, the impact of diverse land uses and consolidation on the well-known shallow accumulation pattern of soil nitrogen (N) remains unclear. This existence of this knowledge gap severely constrains the sustainable production of newly created farmland. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of land use and gully land transformation on the vertical distribution of soil N in agricultural and nature catchments. Methodologically, soil nitrate (NO3−), ammonium (NH4+) and total nitrogen (TN) were measured to a depth of 100 cm in the hillslope forestland, grassland and gully cropland areas of the treated (gully landform reshaping) and untreated (natural gully) catchments on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). The results indicated that soil N in the hillslope forestland and grassland exhibited a shallow accumulation pattern, while the vertical distribution of soil N in the gully cropland areas displayed a homogeneous, random or deep accumulation pattern. In the hillslope areas, vegetable cover was the dominant factor controlling N variation in the topsoil. In contrast, in the gully areas, the interaction of landform transformation and hydrology was the primary factor influencing the distribution of soil N. In the treated catchment, soil NO3− exhibited a significant deep accumulation pattern in the newly created farmland through gully landform reshaping. In the untreated catchment, soil NH4+ showed a significant deep accumulation pattern in the undisturbed natural gully. This study provides valuable insights into how land use and gully landform transformation affect the soil N profile. This information is crucial for the sustainable development and scientific management of valley agriculture at the catchment scale.

Evolution of sedimentary environment in the Eastern Henan Basin since the Late Pliocene

The Eastern Henan Basin is situated within the downstream alluvial plain of the Yellow River, harboring an impressive accumulation of over 500 m of fluviolacustrine strata since the Pliocene. However, the evolutionary characteristics and driving factors of the sedimentary environment in this region remain unclear due to a lack of reliable chronological constraints on the sedimentary sequence. Here, two cores were retrieved from Hangkonggang (HKG, 303.5 m) and Baisha (BS, 320.2 m) in the Eastern Henan Basin for comprehensive analyses of chronology and sedimentology. A combination of paleomagnetism, electron spin resonance (ESR), and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating results indicates that sediments of two boreholes were accumulated spanning the last ∼3.48 Ma. Grain size distributions (GSDs) of typical sedimentary facies show that the boreholes predominantly encompass three types of sedimentary facies: riverbed, levee, and floodplain. Downcore variations of mean grain size (MGS) reveal that the sedimentary environment in this basin evolved from a dominant riverbed setting during the late Pliocene (3.48–2.72 Ma) to alternations between the floodplain and levee facies during the early Pleistocene (2.72–1.25 Ma) and subsequently between the riverbed, levee, and floodplain after 1.25 Ma. It was closely associated with the decrease in East Asian monsoon precipitation at ∼2.72 Ma and the increase at 1.25 Ma. Notably, the abrupt coarsening of MGS after ∼1.25 Ma was synchronized with the formation of the Sanmenxia terraces, implying the significant influence of the evolution of the Yellow River. Our results suggest that the sedimentary environment of the Eastern Henan Basin was predominantly affected by the stepwise evolution of the East Asian monsoon since ∼3.48 Ma and complementary landform transformation of the Yellow River since at least ∼1.25 Ma.

The paraglacial adjustment of an Alpine lateral moraine, Bas Glacier d’Arolla, Switzerland

ABSTRACT Within Alpine catchments, glacial landforms are subject to post-depositional reworking during and following deglaciation. Ice-marginal moraines are thought to rapidly stabilise within ~200 years in this topographic context, although ice-proximal slopes are particularly prone to alteration by debris flows and solifluction. This study investigates landform transformation, documenting geomorphological change at the Bas Glacier d’Arolla, Switzerland. Gully development on a moraine slope was assessed using archive image sets obtained in 1977, 1988 and 2009 to derive historical elevation models. Raster differencing suggests that the mean rate of surface lowering on the upper moraine slope was 7.15 ± 1.83 m (± minimum level of detection) over the observation period (1977–2009), a rate of 0.22 m yr−1. The erosion of the landform resulted in an incontiguous moraine crestline. Whilst some landforms may undergo limited transformation upon deglaciation, selected sites are subject to rapid geomorphologic change, involving crestline retreat via the initial dissection by gullies, followed by the removal of inter-gully slopes.

Transformation of accumulative landforms in the area of the Selenga river delta under the influence of changes in Baikal level

Transformation of accumulative landforms in the area of the Selenga river delta under the influence of changes in Baikal level

Endowment, investment, and the transforming coast: Long-term human-environment interactions and territorial proprietorship in the Prince Rupert Harbour, Canada

We propose connections between long-term persistent use of landscapes, anthropogenic landform modifications, and the production of systems of territorial ownership/proprietorship. Exploring the case of the socio-politically complex cultures of the Northwest Coast, we argue that while tenure and proprietorship were mediated by historical precedent of use (proprietorship-through-endowment), investments in places through physical engagement with or transformation of coastal landforms could be used to make explicit these endowed rights or to assert or negotiate new rights (proprietorship-through-investment). A key ingredient in negotiating proprietorship was an engagement with the dynamic coast itself, an active agent in landscape transformation perceived as being spiritually powerful. Using the archaeological landscape of the Prince Rupert Harbour area, we assess the timing and tempo of measurable investments in the physical landscape at village sites and the occurrence of independent archaeological proxies for restricted or unequal access to territory or resources. Systems of territorial proprietorship existed there by at least the mid-Holocene, though we document increasingly institutionalized proprietorship systems coincident with increased investments into the built environment beginning ~3000 years ago. Our approach has broad applicability, and encourages archaeologists to explore the role of human engagement with dynamic landscapes in the generation of senses of identity and social or political organization.

Effects of valley reshaping and damming on surface and groundwater nitrate on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Remote rural areas, which are generally the source regions for drinking water in small towns in China, experience nitrate pollution due to intensive agricultural activities. However, little is known about the nitrate sources of these waterbodies and how human activities affect the water quality in these rural areas. Here, a pair of rural watersheds on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) were selected for study. One of the watersheds, which provides drinking water for local villages and a nearby small town, has experienced valley reshaping, damming and agricultural land consolidation, whereas the other one was not affected by human activities. Water chemistry monitoring and environmental isotope analysis were combined to identify the nitrate sources of the surface and groundwater in the dammed and natural watersheds and to assess the effects of landform transformation and agricultural and living activities on water quality. The results demonstrated that nitrate concentrations in both watersheds were lower than 10 mg L−1. However, the seasonal nitrate contents in the surface (0.42–0.52 mg L−1) and groundwater (1.86–3.65 mg L−1) of the dammed watershed were significantly lower than those of the natural watershed (surface water: 0.92–2.07 mg L−1; groundwater: 2.73–8.21 mg L−1). Isotope analysis demonstrated that nitrate fertilizer, soil ammonium, and manure and septic waste were the main sources of nitrate in the surface water of the two watersheds, while the nitrate in the groundwater mainly originated from the nitrification of soil ammonium and manure and septic waste. Compared to the natural watershed, the dammed watershed had increased inputs of agricultural fertilizers in the surface water. However, there was no significant difference in the groundwater nitrate sources between the two watersheds. The results also demonstrated that denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) probably occurred in the groundwater during the wet season, while nitrification likely occurred during the dry and snowmelt seasons. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) showed that there were strong interactions between the surface runoff and the reservoir water in the dammed watershed, while in the natural watershed, streamflow had a close relationship with the groundwater. We concluded that valley reshaping, damming and agricultural land consolidation increased the nitrate input from mineral fertilizers in the watershed, but decreased the nitrate concentrations in the surface water through changing the transformation and transportation processes of nitrate. However, these activities had little influence on the groundwater, while the time lag between land consolidation and the groundwater quality response should be considered in the future. This study aids in developing strategies for the comprehensive management of watershed and drinking water sources in rural regions.

地形改変のタイプと規模からみた人工土壌形成の動向( 人工改変土壌の実態と分類-第30回ペドロジスト・シンポジウム-)

地形改変のタイプと規模からみた人工土壌形成の動向( 人工改変土壌の実態と分類-第30回ペドロジスト・シンポジウム-)

Landform transformation and long-term sediment budget for a Chernozem-dominated lowland agricultural catchment

Abstract The loess hilly lands of the South-West Foreland of the West Carpathians are characterized by favorable climatic conditions, smooth topography, fertile soils and a long settlement history. For the first time, we document changes to human-induced landforms in a small zero-order dry valley (0.28 km2) with Calcic Chernozem soils and develop a long-term sediment budget. The original surface was reconstructed based on interpreting records of erosion and deposition from 185 soil cores and six valley cross-sections. The topography inherited from the Pleistocene was transformed through lowering of hillslope ridges and convexities, along with infilling of shallow depressions within the original valley bottom. On convex-convex landforms had an average net erosion of − 0.32 ± 0.01 m, while average net accumulation in the valley bottom was estimated at 0.20 ± 0.01 m. The correlation between change in soil profile depth with profile curvature (− 0.51, p < 0.01) was stronger than with slope (− 0.42, p < 0.01). The sediment budget was calculated using the Average Per Unit (APU) approach. When slope classes were used in calculating net soil loss from catchments was 143·103 Mg·km− 2, whereas 154·103 Mg·km− 2 was estimated when morphometric forms of hillslopes were used instead. Both values are < 60% of estimates for similar loess catchments in Central and Western Europe. Prior to 1949, the landscape structure was characterized by small and narrow fields and vegetative field barriers that limited water and aeolian sediment fluxes in the direction of the thalweg and main wind directions. The landscape structure favoured the low-intensity tillage, erosion and accumulation within fields, and short-distance sheet and rill erosion on hillslopes. The land-use changes in the 1950′s caused removal of barriers for water and aeolian sediment transport, and changed the direction of sediment fluxes of tillage erosion. Past landscape structures should thus be considered when establishing and interpreting sediment budgets for lowland agricultural catchments.

土地改変のテクノロジーと環境保全 : 「臨海都市と地形環境 : つくる・いきる・かえる」 : 1991年度秋季学術大会シンポジウム

土地改変のテクノロジーと環境保全 : 「臨海都市と地形環境 : つくる・いきる・かえる」 : 1991年度秋季学術大会シンポジウム

Anthropogenic Disturbance by Domestic Extraction of Construction Minerals in Japan

SummaryAccompanying the huge amount of material accumulation in the socioeconomic sphere is anthropogenic disturbance, namely, artificial landform transformation attributed to mining, soil excavation, construction, and physical development. Anthropogenic disturbance impacts the natural environment and is strongly related to hidden material flow (HMF). However, only few studies have considered anthropogenic disturbance as the starting point of material transfer in the ecosphere. The objectives of the present study are: (1) to spatially quantify the impact of humans on the natural environment by estimating the anthropogenic disturbance attributed to mining and (2) to contribute to the knowledge of HMF by examining the phenomenon using the relatively unexplored methodology of assessing the relationship between anthropogenic disturbance and material transfer by means of a geographical information system and digital elevation model. Statistical data obtained by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan were used to account for domestic extraction. By comparing the respective results of bottom‐up and top‐down accountings, we estimated the potential HMF. The database developed in this study not only reflects the amount of anthropogenic disturbance and potential HMF, but also reveals their destructive effect on the environment and the spatial distribution of anthropogenic disturbance.

Effects of urban development with landform transformation on flooding patters in peri-urban Bangkok

Effects of urban development with landform transformation on flooding patters in peri-urban Bangkok

The origin and construction of pre-Hispanic mounds in the Upper Delta of the Paraná River (Argentina)

Pre-Hispanic mounds, known as “cerritos,” “cerritos de indios,” or “aterros” across southeastern South America, are one of the most conspicuous and well-studied cultural manifestations in lowlands archaeology. Nevertheless, in the Upper Delta of the Parana River, mounds are rarely studied, and even their anthropic origin is under debate. This could be related to the fact that anthropogenic mounds are located on a floodplain where other “mound-like” natural geoforms (generated by fluvial processes) are also present. In addition to this, the natural geoforms also contain evidence of Holocene human occupation (sherds, bones, charcoal, humans burials, etc.), which can lead to interpretive errors of their origin and formation. Thus, this project set out to determine the genesis and evolution of these mounds and also to identify the cultural occupation and transformation of natural landforms found in the area. In this article, natural and anthropogenic systems and processes were identified and characterized through the application of proxy record analysis (i.e., sediment composition, stratigraphy, micromorphology, silica bodies and chronological analysis) at the Los Tres Cerros archaeological locality in the Upper Delta of the Parana River of Victoria County, Entre Rios Province, Argentina. This analysis allowed for the recognition of natural anthropogenic interfaces, such as the “pre-mound” occupation as well as evidence of cultural activities such as mound construction, between 1,000 and 500 14C years bp. These findings were integrated into current research on the variability of mound construction during the Late Holocene in the lowlands of South America.

Cosmogenic surface exposure dating the last deglaciation in Denmark: Discrepancies with independent age constraints suggest delayed periglacial landform stabilisation

Cosmogenic nuclide surface exposure ages are determined from in situ10Be and 36Cl analysis of 38 rock surfaces found in different glacial landforms in Denmark. Dating of erratic boulders and adjacent ice-sculpted bedrock on the island of Bornholm in the western Baltic Sea reveals almost identical values. This suggests that little if any inherited nuclides are present in the sampled boulders. West of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ice margin in Denmark ages reflect exposure from the Middle Weichselian. East of the LGM margin exposure ages from 35 samples show Late Weichselian ages in a range between 20.6–11.9 ka. To test to what extent these dates reflect the onset of deglaciation immediately after cessation of active glacier flow, surface exposure ages are evaluated against independent chronologies of Late Weichselian ice-sheet fluctuations in southwestern Scandinavia. The Bornholm dates agree with the independent age model, however, in the data set for eastern Denmark only less than half the surface exposure ages lie within the expected age envelope. This apparent mismatch is most likely due to post-glaciation shielding and delayed surface stabilisation compared to the timing of ice-margin retreat. Thus ages from boulders resting in dead-ice moraines and mass wasting landscapes underestimate deglaciation by 3–6 thousand years. The results quantify the impact of exhumation and landform stabilisation on cosmogenic surface exposure ages on millennial scales. We conclude, that interpretation of cosmogenic exposure ages should include careful evaluation of possible post-depositional landform transformation in attempts to fine tune ages of e.g. end moraine features. With reference to independent age models we critically evaluate glacier advance – retreat scenarios from regions around the southern Baltic that alone are based on weighted average ages of cosmogenic exposure dating.

Using VHR multispectral remote sensing and LIDAR data to determine the geomorphological effects of overbank flow on a floodplain (the Vistula River, Poland)

At the bottoms of river valleys, there can be found landforms developed by overbank flow such as crevasse channels and crevasse splays, usually cut off from the main river channel by the natural levées. Humans construct embankments — artificial levées which completely divide integrated parts of the river valley and thus gain new areas for agriculture and settlement purposes. However, during extremely high water stages these areas suffer from flooding, very often caused by levée breach.The objective of the study is to answer the research question: Can we use geomorphological analysis of the floodplain to predict extreme flood effects in a large river valley with an artificial levée system? The study has been conducted in a reach of the Vistula River (60km downstream from Warsaw, Poland) that was affected by catastrophic flood event in May and June 2010. Specific emphasis has been put on using Very High Resolution (VHR) Multispectral Remote Sensing and LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging) data. Work is divided into three stages: (1) Identification of floodplain landforms from palaeofloods on the VHR multispectral satellite imagery; (2) Outline of the 2010 flood event (on the basis of river stage data and Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler measurements) and a detailed study of its geomorphologic effects on the floodplain (on the basis of aerial imagery and LIDAR data); (3) Comparison of landforms created in palaeofloods and in the 2010 flood event.The results of the study show that geomorphological effects of the recent catastrophic flooding are strikingly similar to palaeoflood landforms developed before the construction of an artificial levée system. The main conclusion is that overbank flow in some reaches of the floodplain causes (and will cause) similar effects as it has done in the past. Analysis of palaeoflood landforms enables prediction of these effects and can therefore prove useful for flood risk management.Post-flood transformation of palaeoflood landforms by human impact and natural geomorphological processes induces the use of special methods for the identification of the landforms and study of their spatial features. VHR multispectral remote sensing enables such analysis in many places of the Earth.LIDAR data provide new possibilities for the accurate estimation of overbank deposition and erosion rate on the floodplain.

新潟砂丘の地形改変－とくに，1911年以降の高さの変化－

新潟砂丘の地形改変－とくに，1911年以降の高さの変化－

Transformation of landforms and sediments in the periglacial setting of West Greenland

Transformation of landforms and sediments in the periglacial setting of West Greenland

Landform Transformation by Development of Kozoji New town

Landform Transformation by Development of Kozoji New town

Landform transformation on the urban fringe of Bangkok: The need to review land-use planning processes with consideration of the flow of fill materials to developing areas

For large Asian cities situated on deltaic lowlands, landform transformation is essential for both agrarian and urban development. Understanding landform transformation processes and patterns is important for landscape planning in areas of mixed urban–rural land use on the periphery of these cities. We examined landform transformation processes and patterns in Bangkok at three scales: (1) meso-scale quantitative landform analysis on the urban fringe of Bangkok using aerial photograph interpretation and topographic measurements; (2) micro-scale field measurements in sample districts to investigate relationships between building styles and the types of fill material used; (3) macro-scale analysis of the flow of fill material from source areas outside Bangkok to end use on the urban–rural fringe of the city. Our study showed that the type and the cumulative volume of fill material used are related to past agricultural land-use patterns, which in turn are related to the pre-existing natural local environment. We found associations between building styles and types of fill material used: townhouses are built on clay fill foundations, whereas condominiums and roads with heavy traffic loads are built on sand fill. Each type of fill has a different flow from source to end use that is influenced by geologic and economic conditions. The flow of clay fill is limited to the meso-scale urban fringe area, whereas sand fill travels from sand pits on a natural sand levee 100 km upstream from its end use on the urban fringe. The sand output at its source was estimated to be 1.5 × 10 5 m 3 day −1, which, depending on cost, is either trucked or transported by river to the urban fringe development areas. Thus, landform transformation was found to occur at multiple scales in the Bangkok region, and the delta is no longer flat. These findings suggest that deltaic landscape planning should incorporate the means of managing the flow of fill material from source pits to end use in urban fringe development areas.

千里丘陵の開発における地形の取り扱いと自然環境の構造

Primary purpose of this study was to examine the process of landform transformation for the new town development in the suburban hilly topographical areas, and the concepts and ideas of physical planning and design in its background as well. A case study was conducted in Senri New Town that extends across the area of Suita City and Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture. Based on the information found in graphical plans and project reports, and following three steps of project level, i.e. project planning for the entire area, planning of each individual area and layout design of each residential block, how the original topography was integrated into the landform and landscape planning was closely traced. Although the topographical features was given a higher priority on the level of project planning and numerous methods to adopt topography to landform design were employed, those have been dismissed in the later steps of project due mostly to time constrains and innovations in civil engineering technology. On the other hand, substantial endeavors were given to planning and designing prominent residential environment by integrating topographical features on the level of developing each residential block

『多摩ニュータウン開発計画・自然地形案』にみる地形と空間構造の関係

Tama New Town Development Plan based upon the natural topography that was proposed in 1965 and abandoned afterwards was examined in this study in terms of 1 relationship between structure of the natural topography and land use pattern, 2 allocation of open space, pedestrian ways and their networking system, and 3 several noted aspects of functional system to sustain the overall space organization in the developed area. A comparative study with the realized development plan, which required higher amount of landform transformation, revealed some significant contemporary meanings of the plan based upon the natural topography as follows. The most basic structure of the natural topography in hilly area represented by ridgelines and valley areas was applied to articulate numerous land use units in the developed area, to create a network of open spaces and pedestrian ways rich in experience of natural environment, and to function as a physical elements that realize an optimum organization of residential districts and other facilities. In this sense, the area would have been preserving substantial resources for the future restoration based on the infrastructure of natural environment.