bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fluvial stream dynamics and morphology on Byers Peninsula (Livingston Island, Antarctic Peninsula region): a model of landscape evolution in deglaciated areas
Authors: Ortega-Becerril Jose A. , Schmid Thomas , Carcavilla Luis , López-Martínez Jeronimo
Published: June 2022

Surface fluvial systems are very scarce in Antarctica and they are located in ice-free areas linked to deglaciation processes. In areas with recent deglaciation, the fluvial network development is connected with glacial retreat as well as other factors such as climatic conditions (precipitation distribution and amount; temperature and wind speed, among others). Ice and snow accumulation and thaw are closely controlled by temperature and reinforced by changes in wind speed and direction as well as direct rainfall on snow masses. As a result of local climatic conditions (high rainfall rates and exposition to winds), a considerable number of fluvial streams have developed in recent times on Byers Peninsula, due to the presence of more water to form channels. The typical Byers Peninsula stream system shows three parts: (1) upper reach with shallow slopes, diffuse drainage pattern due to high rates of water coming from the melting of ice and snow patches, low lying deep lakes and open braided channels; (2) gentle canyons in some cases covered by snow where water flows in snow/ice tunnels and (3) open channels where streams flow in a braiding way, controlled by several raised beaches that sometimes force the water into straight incised channels. We studied the relation between channel size and watershed area, size of fans and deltas and other morphological variables. Now and again, instantaneous events and catastrophic changes occur due to the collapse of ice-dams. As a result of such processes, new fans, small hummocky structures and stream channels take on a new morphology. Sometimes the landscape evolution does not explain the formation of stream channels and they remain in a misfit state. We determined the stream morphology (channel width, depth, wet section, longitudinal slope, basin area) in the following main groups of fluvial basins: streams draining to the South Beaches, to the North Beaches (President Beaches) and to the western coast (Robbery Beaches). Preliminary results show differences in streams morphology and the state of evolution among the three mentioned drainage groups which we think are probably due to differences in the deglaciation process. In addition, we also have noted differences among streams in the same drainage group that we interpret as linked to the speed and acceleration/stabilization of the deglaciation process.

This research was funded by the Spanish R&D National Plan RTI2018-098099-B-I00.
Combined effect of climate and vegetation on soil-landscape development in volcanic ecosystems (Galapagos, Ecuador)
Authors: Paque Rose , Alomia Herrera Ilia , Dixon Jean , Christl Marcus , Vanacker Veerle
Published: June 2022

Understanding the spatial variation of rock-derived weathering products across heterogeneous landscapes is important to constrain ecosystem processes. Few quantitative data exist on soil-landscape development in pristine volcanic ecosystems, as most of these ecosystems are prone to intensive land use and management. By working in the Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we aim to constrain physical erosion and weathering over millennial timescales from empirical data in pristine ecosystems. Our monitoring sites on the island of Santa Cruz cover a ~10 km long NW-SE stretch with a 10-fold increase in precipitation rates and associated changes in vegetation cover. In five ecosystems, we monitor two sites: one that is developed on basaltic lava flows and a second one on basaltic scoriae. By controlling for the age and composition of the basaltic parent material, we focused on the unique natural soil landscapes that developed along the sharp hydroclimatic gradient. We determined weathering extent, and rates of physical erosion based on geochemical proxies and meteoric 10Be isotopes (10Bem). These data were then related to time-series of precipitation, air, and soil temperature to explore the relationship between soil development, climate, and parent material. Along the hydroclimatic gradient, the empirical data on chemical weathering and physical erosion show a nonlinear relationship with the precipitation rate.
Conserving geo-heritage ---Practical and application 
Authors: Lin Jiun-Chuan
Published: June 2022

Conserving geo-heritage ---Practical and application

Abstract

Geo-heritage is a combination of geology and physical processes as well as the cultural characters. The awareness of the value of geo-heritage is getting more and more important in Taiwan after designation of geoparks.

The methodology to conserve the geo-heritage is rather unclear before 1985 in Taiwan. However, through designation of geoparks, the conserving geo-heritage, in terms of landscape conservation, became clearer for local people to practice.

This study demonstrates some typical ways of conserving landscapes in Taiwan geoparks. First of all, through environmental education; second, through legislation; third, through local participation on geopark affairs; fourth, through guided tour by local interpreters.

According to Environmental Education Law, everyone including all departments of different level of government workers and schools have to take 4 hours’ environmental education course every year. It helps to enhance the awareness of environment conservation including conservation of geo-heritage. By Cultural Heritage Preservation Law, the designation of geoparks and natural monuments are the tools to conserve the landscapes. Local participation as local guard on geoparks are also the ways to prevent further damages. Through interpretation on the aesthetic/ scientific value by local licensed guides for visitors, it is a way to prevent further damage by human activities.

This study demonstrates the such progresses at Taiwan Geoparks.

 

Key words: geo-heritage, geo-conservation, environmental education, Taiwan geoparks
Using SONAR to Investigate Relationships Between Fluvial Wood and Channel Bedform in a Low Gradient, Coastal Plain River
Authors: Martin Derek , Praskievicz Sarah , Platt Josh , Stephens Stephanie
Published: June 2022

Coastal Plain rivers represent sites of extraordinary ecological and biogeochemical importance for many reasons. One such reason is that large wood (LW), which serves to regulate sediment and biogeochemical processes as well as enhance geomorphic complexity, is readily transported and deposited in such systems.  However, most research on LW dynamics has taken place in low order, montane river systems and thus little is known of LW dynamics and the interactions of LW and channel morphology in higher order, coastal plain river systems. One of the challenges to understanding wood dynamics in such systems is the ability to locate and quantify subaqueous wood. This research, funded by the National Science Foundation, presents a case study of the Lumber River, an Atlantic coastal plain blackwater river located in North Carolina, USA in which we investigate wood dynamics. Specifically, we use a SONAR-based approach to mapping subaqueous wood in association with channel bedform. Using a canoe/kayak mounted SONAR unit we develop high resolution images of bed morphology and sub-aqueous wood, and report on the results of remote sensing algorithms that aim to extract wood geometry/volume, which is then assessed within the context of the bed morphology. This will help us gain a better understanding of the relationships between channel morphology and wood transport/deposition in low-gradient, high order river channels, and provide more accurate inputs to wood/carbon transport models.
Drones and geomorphology in high schools: How to recruit the next generation of geomorphologists
Authors: Driscoll James , Hall Mike
Published: June 2022

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are increasingly used in STEM research and educational purposes as they are a cost-effective and time-efficient way to gather geospatial data, and they are a fantastic way to engage students. UAVs are utilised to survey the landscape, especially in locations where students are unable to access due to logistical or OHS reasons (even Mars!). They are also useful for students to better understand abstract concepts and to aid in conceptualisation of the ‘bigger picture’, allowing students to ‘see science for themselves’.

UAVs are a powerful educational tool if repeated missions are conducted on dynamic natural systems, such as mangrove and salt marsh systems, river environments and coastal environments since they capture both macro and micro changes in physical landscapes and ecosystems. This provides insights into the spatial and temporal evolution of the environment, and can be used to inform future management decisions. The output images, videos and surveys can be annotated and utilised as geospatial base maps for fieldwork activities. Student engagement and critical thinking skills can be enhanced by allowing the students to use the outputs pre-excursion in order to identify accessibility of field sites and possible sites for investigation.

James has been utilising UAVs for six years for a diverse range of educational purposes such as geophysical and climate change hazard identification (Hawaii and Australia), geomorphological evolution of terrestrial environments (New Zealand), changes in coastal landforms (Australia), ecosystem mapping (Australia), and production of geospatial base maps for STEM-focused fieldwork (UK, Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia). He will offer case studies and insights in how UAVs can be used to increase both visibility and purpose of geomorphology in high schools, and thus excite our next generation of geomorphologists.
Subsidence mapping in Mallorca (Spain) via Sentinel-1 imagery and links with sedimentary basin characteristics
Authors: Lorenzo-Lacruz Jorge , Garcia Celso , Morán-Tejeda Enrique , Capó Antoni , Mestre-Runge Christian , Ortega-Mclear Aaron
Published: June 2022

Subsidence is a highly destructive natural hazard, which can be caused by both natural and anthropogenic causes. Its impacts include a decrease in storage capacity of aquifer systems, the creation of cracks and fissures, damages to buildings and infrastructures, and an increase of the susceptibility to flooding. In this study, Persistent Scattered Interferometry (PSI) has been used to process Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images, for the detection and analysis of ground deformation and subsidence processes in the island of Mallorca. The study database is composed of 120 images captured by the Sentinel 1A and 1B satellites (between May 2016 and December 2019), from which we derived a map of accumulated displacement rates occurred during a 3 years and a half period. The results show important subsidence processes of up to 3 cm per year in large areas of the sedimentary basin of Palma, and of lesser magnitude (between 1 and 2 cm per year) in locations of the Inca basin and in small basins in the Tramuntana Range. A significant relationship has been observed between the thickness of the Quaternary sediment and the observed subsidence rates. The results highlight the high degree of geomorphological dynamism at very short time scales that characterizes Mallorca, and the vulnerability of certain urban areas, such as the city of Palma (400000 inhabitants), and agricultural areas, such as the Central Depression, facing the risk of subsidence and associated damages.
Sentinel 2a in mountain landscape mapping – region of mountainous Croatia
Authors: Butorac Valerija , Krtalić Andrija , Buzjak Nenad
Published: June 2022

In mountainous regions such as mountainous Croatia, natural and semi-natural landscapes are most common and are changing due to climate change and more intense economic activities. Due to these changes, there is a need of inventarisation and valorisation of mountainous landscapes in order to manage and preserve them. In Croatia, there is no inventory that would provide us with a zero status of mountain landscapes. On the other hand, the mountainous environment and the size of the area ​present an obstacle for landscape mapping. The use of Sentinel-2a imagery and a digital relief model allow ​a fast, inexpensive, and accurate mapping of landscapes in large areas such as mountainous Croatia. Orthophoto images were used to increase the accuracy of sampling and thus the accuracy of the final classification. Remote sensing techniques, GIS analysis and field validation were used to create an inventory of the landscapes types. This type of landscape mapping, which includes geological, geomorphological and land cover data, provides a better understanding of the composition and configuration of mountain landscapes, leading to knowledge-based management and landscape-level protection.
Eolian chronology reveals causal links between tectonics, climate, and erg generation 
Authors: Vainer Shlomy , Matmon Ari , Ben Dor Yoav , Verrecchia Eric , Eckardt Frank , Team Aster
Published: June 2022

Evaluating the impact and implications of eolian repositories that mark large-scale climatic transitions requires knowledge about the timing of their emplacement and the mechanisms responsible for their production, which remain highly uncertain. We apply numerical modeling of cosmogenic nuclide data, measured in the largest continuous terrestrial body of sand on Earth, to determine settings under which the sand was generated, by constraining the timing of sand introduction into the interior of southern Africa. Our findings reveal that major events of sand formation and accumulation in the Kalahari Basin occurred between ~2.2 and 1 Myr ago. The establishment of the Kalahari sand field corresponds to regional, continental, and global scale morphotectonic and climatic changes that contributed to the mass production and widespread dispersion of sand. These changes substantially altered existing habitats, thus constituting a crucial milestone for floral, faunal, and hominin evolution throughout the African continent during the Pleistocene. 

 
Biogeomorphic interactions in ice-driven fluvial hydrosystems
Authors: Prugne Matthieu , Buffin-Bélanger Thomas , Boivin Maxime , Corenblit Dov
Published: June 2022

Riparian areas are important ecosystems that need to be restored and protected in the Anthropocene era. In Quebec, Canada, conservation laws and management strategies focus on ecological services provided by riparian communities, such as erosion and flood control, carbon sequestration, and pollutants filtration. However, there is a need to incorporate fluvial biogeomophological approaches to improve our understanding of those systems. Biogeomorphology explores both the impacts of flood regime and disturbances on plant structure and composition and the role of plant communities in altering hydrosedimentary processes. Approaches anchored in biogeomorphology have proven to be efficient to understand interactions and feedbacks between fluvial dynamics and plant ecology in many contrasted environments, from temperate to arid regions and from small streams to large rivers. However, those approaches have never been applied to rivers disturbed by ice dynamics. Ice jams and mechanical breakups are known to disturb fluvial systems, both geomorphologically and ecologically. Moving ice during breakups has the potential to severely erode banks and transport sediment, thus destroying riparian habitat and disturbing plant succession dynamics. Feedback dynamics between plants and rivers are thus obviously affected by ice disturbances regime. There is a need to understand how fluvial biogeomorphic systems respond to such disturbances to assess better management strategies and improve prevision models in a context of climatic change. In this poster, we expose a research project aiming at conceptualizing how ice disturbances regime controls the biogeomorphic interactions in two rivers located in eastern Quebec, Canada. To do so, analyses will be held in three distinct spatiotemporal scales: 1) decennial biogeomorphological trajectories, 2) plant community structure and composition on distinct fluvial landforms and 3) functional traits of ice-disturbed indicator species.
Surveying of neotectonic structures and macro-seismic effects on the volcanic rocks of Western Lesvos. A case study: The earthquake in Skalochori, Lesvos (4.0 Mw) of 15 April 2021
Authors: Palaiopanis Rafael , Zouros Nikolaos
Published: June 2022

The island of Lesvos is located in the North Aegean, a region with high seismicity, directly affected by the southern branch of the North Anatolia Fault (NAF) which is an active right-lateral strike-slip fault.

The purpose of this study is the localization, recording and cartographic mapping of neotectonic structures and macro-seismic effects on the volcanic rocks of Western Lesvos, after the occurrence of an earthquake in ​​Skalochori. The earthquake was shallow - focal depth 6km -, with its epicenter in the inland, 44km NNW of Mytilene and the geological background of the area consists of volcanic rocks and quaternary deposits.

In this paper we collect seismological data from research institutes in the area, we collect and analyse data from the field and we review of published research and data on the active trend field in the North Aegean region.

The fieldwork identified a variety of evidence in a major NNW-SSA address band,10km long and 7km wide. They mainly concern surface ruptures, movements/falls of rocks and small landslides. Their main characteristics are the small size (cracks of millimeters to a few centimeters, volume drops of a few m3), which show a specific and systematic appearance and distribution in space. A left-lateral strike-slip fault was also detected.

The correlation of the main direction of the ruptures, the arrangement of the epicenters, the seismic moment tensor solution and the fault, in combination with the existing research leads to the conclusion that the evidence collected is related to the recent seismic activity and is identical with the existing active field.
Geothermal landscapes as an inspiration for Dante's Inferno: implications for the development of geoturism
Authors: raschi antonio
Published: June 2022

Dante’s works were influenced not only by his deep knowledge of the culture of his time, based upon classical authors, but also by his personal observation of physical phenomena and environmental features of the areas he crossed during his travels. Here, I propose a parallel between the Infernal landscape of Canti XII-XVI and the landscape of some geothermal areas of Central Italy, that Dante probably visited during his trips to Rome or later during his exile. In some cases, the name of the locations reported by the Poet makes the identification easier; yet, the peculiarities of some of the mentioned environments have been scarcely noticed by commenters, and were object of scientific research only in recent years. This is in particular true for the Suicides’ forest, (If XIII), echoing some geothermal explosions described, among others, by Restoro d’Arezzo, and the Bullicame area, whose features - the vapor extinguishing the flames, the red boiling water, the sands, and others - have been recently studied by ecologists. The perspectives for using Dante's text to promote tourism, and for environmental education are outlined.
Outburst floods control the fluvial landscape evolution in Himalayan Tsangpo Gorge
Authors: Wang Xianyan , Dong Xiaolu , Yang Long , Zhao Zhijun , Ronal Van Balen Ronal , Miao Xiaodong , Liu Tao , Jef Vandenberghe Jef , Lu Huayu
Published: June 2022

It has been debated whether gradual, persistent river flows or infrequent outburst floods play more important roles shaping the rugged mountain landscape, partially tied to insufficient evidence based on reliable retrievals of erosion and sediment fluxes from historical outburst floods. The Himalayan Tsangpo Gorge, exhibiting rapid exhumation and outburst floods, provides a perfect avenue to shed light on this debate. Here we report the quantitative erosion and transport capacity of a recent catastrophic outburst flood in Himalayan which occurred in June 2000 by landslide-dam failure with a peak discharge of 105 m3/s. The flood lasted for only ~10 hours, but equivalent to the cumulative effect of 103 years of continuously gradual fluvial transport and erosion. The valley widened three times, triggering a large number of landslides, and extensive boulder bars were formed in the channel. These boulder bars protected the channel bed from incision but promoted extensive lateral erosion through increased roughness, resulting in widespread bank erosion and concurrent landslides, which will continue to do so until the next catastrophic flood remobilizes them. We provide direct evidence that highlights the dominance of recurrent outburst floods on drastic exhumation, deep gorge formation and long-term landscape evolution over rapidly uplifting mountains.
Coastal subsidence based on speleothem ages: preliminary evidence from Granada coast (Spain)
Authors: Ballesteros Daniel , Pérez-Mejías Carlos , Moreno-Sánchez Marcos , Reyes-Carmona Cristina , Azañón José Miguel , Booth-Rea Guillermo , Pérez-Peña Vicente , Moreno Diego , González-Ramón Antonio , Cheng Hai , Galve Jorge Pedro , Ruano Patricia
Published: June 2022

In karst coastal areas, speleothems preserved in karst caves were widely used to date the seashore emersion, as well as to infer its uplifting rate. Likewise, speleothems would be also used to approach rates of coastal subsidence. Landscape evolution and tectonic driving of Southern Spain is being investigated by relief GIS-analysis, geomorphological indicators, fault analysis and geochronology in the framework of the Spain-funded project titled “Morphomed” (PID2019-107138RB-I00). In the Westernmost Mediterranean Sea, Granada coast shows carbonate cliffs interrupted by bays and inlets filled by delta, alluvial fan and other deposits. Alluvial sediments were deposited on marine terraces located below sea level according to previous gravity and seismic studies. Cliffs barely preserve sediments such as landslides, alluvial fan deposits and karst deposits within fracture caves. Karst deposits comprise speleothems and cave detrital infills, containing fossils of continental gastropods (probably genus Iberus). A total of fifteen speleothems collected in a transect from sea level to 220 m altitude, were dated by the 238U-230Th method in Jiaotong University (China). The dating revealed ages older than 650 ka for speleothems located throughout the transect from the cliff bottom to the higher altitude areas. Field observations and datations points out the occurrence of a Chibanian karst in Granada cliff coast, but with a lack of any documented uplifting evidence (e.g., Upper Pleistocene-Holocene speleothems / raised marine deposits). This fact clashes with the occurrence of well-developed marine terraces and clear emerged Quaternary marine deposits reported in nearby shore areas sited to the West (Malaga coast) and to the East (Almeria coast) of the study area. Altogether, preliminary results suggest the relative subsidence of Granada coast since at least the Chibanian, which agrees the occurrence of submerged marine terraces and the tectonic setting defined by previous works.
Morphological changes due to a high-mangitude flood in a steep Andean stream
Authors: Mao Luca , Carrillo Ricardo
Published: June 2022

Steep mountain streams are usually narrow, confined, and characterized by coarse sediments, and cascade or step-pool morphology. Step sequences are quite stable geomorphic units, but high magnitude floods can destroy and reform these features and lead to significant channel changes. However, our current knowledge of channel changes due to floods of different magnitude is still limited to few field sites, and limited evidence are available for high-gradient streams. However, the increased use of unmanned aerial systems to collect photos, and structure-from-motion algorithms able to generate high resolution point clouds from photos, provided unprecedented chances for acquiring multi-temporal sets of digital terrain models. The study was conducted on the Estero Morales, a 27 km2 glacierized Andean catchment located in central Chile. Runoff is dominated by snowmelt in late spring, and glacier melt from December to March. Autumn rainfall events can also generate infrequent but high-magnitude flood events. The study site is a 150-m long, step-pool/cascade reach. A high-magnitude flood generated by an ENSO event occurred in April 2016. The flood destroyed a bridge and caused considerable damages downstream. Detailed topographical surveys of the reach were taken before and after the flood and geomorphological changes due to the flood event were assessed by comparing the pre- and post-flood DEMs. The flood event, which is estimated to have recurrence interval higher than 30 years, was able to move boulders up to 2 m, and caused remarkable changes in the study sites. The channel avulsed in several points, and the morphology changed considerably. The number of steps along the study sited were 25 and 17 before and after the flood event, respectively. However, only 4 of the original 25 steps remained stable in the channel. The number of pools remained constant before and after the flood, but only 9 of the 26 pools remained in their place. The DoD revealed that the study reach experienced vertical changes up to 1m, especially due to bank erosion. Overall, the volume eroded and deposited within the study reach was about 359 and 680 m3, respectively, for a net volumetric change of 321 m3.
Channel change during catastrophic flood: example of the Alex storm in the Vésubie valley
Authors: Liébault Frédéric , Piton Guillaume , Melun Gabriel , Chapuis Margot , Passy Paul
Published: June 2022

Documenting and interpreting channel responses to catastrophic floods help understanding how rapid fluvial metamorphosis can propagate in a catchment under sediment cascading effects. The recent example of the October 2020 Alex storm in SE France (~500 mm of rain in 24 h) provides a unique opportunity to investigate the sudden formation of a braided channel along 35 km of a confined alpine valley (Vésubie) and to link the morphological response with sediment wave initiation and propagation. GIS-based analysis of remote sensing data (high-resolution ortho-imagery and airborne LiDAR data) acquired before and after the flood allowed combining channel changes with sediment erosion and deposition along a 35-km reach of the Vésubie, including the most impacted portions of the valley. Archives of aerial imagery and old pictures were also used to integrate the storm impact in the historical trajectory of the river. Comparison of the Alex storm effect with past major floods that occurred in the valley shows that active channel widening after the storm was one order of magnitude higher than during the 100-yrs flood of November 1997. Dramatic channel aggradation was observed, with net bed-level change exceeding 10 m in some proximal reaches. This case study allows us to discuss the critical role of floodplain and terrace erosion in the formation of the post-flood braided channel, and to compare the geomorphic impact of the storm with similar reported cases in the literature.
A sudden beaches formation on the coastal lava-deltas of the 2021 volcanic eruption on La Palma
Authors: Ferrer Nicolás , García Romero Leví , San Romualdo Collado Abel , Vegas Juana , Páez Javier Dóniz , Mangas Viñuela José
Published: June 2022

On September 19, 2021, a new monogenetic volcano erupted on the island of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain), in the northwestern sector of the Cumbre Vieja volcanic rift, at an altitude of approximately 1,050 meters above sea level. As a result of approximately 12 weeks of volcanic material emissions, a pyroclastic cone about 200 meters high and 800 meters in diameter was formed in the Cabeza de Vaca area, as well as successive lava flows that descended the western slopes of Cumbre Vieja until reaching the sea for the first time on September 29, 2021, in the coastal area of Los Guirres. As they descended the coastal cliffs and entered the sea, the lava flows formed two lava delta (locally called "islas bajas" or "fajanas") of 75 and 5 ha, respectively, on the insular shelf. This work explores the coastal transformations associated with this process through the analysis of high-resolution orthophotos, obtained between September 29 and December 27, 2021, with an average frequency of 2 weekly drone images. The observations show a sudden accumulation of fine-grained particles in the shoreline in short periods of only 24 to 72 hours, and their subsequent apparently stability. This process was verified in two similar events of lava delta progradation. The first lasted from September 29, when the first aa lava flows entered the sea; until October 8, when the lava front stabilizes. Just after, a total of 10 small beaches of fine volcanic material appeared in following hours (24-72 hours). The second episode took place between November 10, with a new lava front affecting the southern half of the lava delta, and the formation of a new, smaller one, to the north; until November 24, when both lava fronts stabilize. Once again, 16 small beaches of fine volcanic grains appeared in the following 24-72 hours. This research discusses the processes that may have given rise to the sudden formation of these new beaches, as well as their possible short-, mid- and long-term stability and evolution.
A combined approach between Convolutional Neural Network and optical flow for the assessment of wave and tide parameters on the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts
Authors: Scardino Giovanni , Scicchitano Giovanni , Chirivì Marco , Costa Pedro , Luparelli Antonio , Mazza Gianfranco , Piscitelli Arcangelo , Mastronuzzi Giuseppe
Published: June 2022

Coastal monitoring is a continuously developing topic, which has been addressed in several ways. Among the different techniques, the coastal video monitoring together the recent machine learning and computer vision techniques have become widely used to evaluate the meteo-marine features. On the other hand, the video monitoring allows to obtain a large amount of data spatially and temporally well distributed on the coasts. The video records allowed to obtain a series of continuous frames where tide phases, wave parameters and storm features are clearly observable. In this work, video records of the Mediterranean coasts have been acquired through the surveillance cameras located in the proximity of south-eastern Sicily coasts (Italy). Tide, wave and storm parameters were assessed through a combined approach between Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and optical flow techniques. Tide phases and storm surge were obtained through CNN classification techniques, while optical flow techniques were used to assess the wave flow and wave height impacting on the coasts. Neural network predictions were compared with tide gauge records, while, the water level and wave height were validated through spatial reference points obtained from topographic surveys in the proximity of surveillance cameras, so to improve the agreement between network results and field data. The goodness of the results was evaluated through a Root Mean Square Error analysis and by evaluating the correlation coefficient between results and field data. Subsequently, CNN and optical flow were applied on the Atlantic coasts of Portugal through action cameras, in order to show the difference in terms of wave flow and wave height respect to the Mediterranean coasts. The application of CNN and optical flow techniques allowed to automatically obtain the marine insights and to increase the amount of data that usually are not densely distributed along the coasts.
Land abandonment and soil erosion following Late Antiquity in the northwestern Negev, Israel
Authors: Shtober-Zisu Nurit , Brook Anna , Zissu Boaz
Published: June 2022

During the 5th and the 6th centuries, the prosperous city of Gaza gained its reputation as a port of call for merchants and pilgrims to the Holy Land and as a port for shipment of products to the west. The economic hinterland of Christian Gaza included villages, monasteries and various agricultural estates that provided agricultural merchandise to the city residents (fruits, vegetables, field crops), along with the famous “Gaza Wine” exported across the Mediterranean. The houses in these settlements were built of unfired mud-bricks, while water was collected from roofs and courtyards into underground cisterns.  The cisterns were typically dug into the soil and made of a hardy mixture of cement, rubble, and gravel and coated with layers of hydraulic plaster. The cisterns were cylindrical, with a base diameter of 3-4.5 meters and a maximal depth of ca. 6-8 meters. About a meter below the rim, the cylinder structure tapered upwards into a cone shape, up to a diameter of 0.5 meters, where a stone slab with a square opening covered the cistern.

This study aims to examine to which extent the abandonment of agricultural fields in the late Byzantine - early Muslim period caused significant landscape and soil properties change.

We mapped ca. 150 water cisterns, typical of the period. Most cisterns are located north of the Nahal Gerar channel and along the lower catchment of the Nahal Besor. Mean annual precipitation in the area is 300-350 mm/year. Streams are ephemeral, characterized by flash floods during the winter.

While almost nothing remained of the flourishing above-ground settlements, soil erosion exposed the cisterns, which now serve as well preserved indicators of the presence and location of Late Antique houses and villages. The abandoned water cisterns protrude above the surface and may enable us to calculate the erosion rates since the settlement collapsed. Study results indicate that the abandonment of agriculture intensified soil erosion: rates of erosion along the steep (10-20%) river banks and gullies are up to 2.5 m (1.7 mm/yr), while along the interfluves and over the low-angle slopes (2-5%) rates of erosion reach 1.2 m (0.8 mm/yr).

Soil properties were also affected by human activity. In the Horvat Gerarit area, soil results from mud-brick degradation. Field identification is based on (1) relatively increase of fine fraction (clay and loam) within the villages sites, while median values changes from loam within the mud-bricks, to medium-sand over the agricultural fields; (2) mulch, that was added to the bricks to reduce cracking and increase tensile strength is incorporated into the soil; (3) direct observations of several degraded bricks into the soil.
The Environmental Fragility of The Coastal Area of ​​São Paulo In The Face of Contamination By Landfill: Contribution to the Possibilities of (Management) Decontamination and Reuse.
Authors: Fierz Marisa Matos
Published: June 2022

 

The present work aims to deepen and discuss the weaknesses of coastal soils in the face of contamination by dumps. Although the dumps were suspended, important areas remained that were contaminated. However, as it is an area that was much explored in more remote times, it is being recovered and with possibilities of urban uses, or even for recovery for use in leisure. Bearing in mind that coastal areas are very important for the economy of the cities located in areas them, mainly because they involve transition areas from coastal to marine environments and many of them may have a geomorphological configuration favorable to ports of flow of national production or receipt of products imported - via ocean. In order to know how the areas contaminated by dumps are being recovered in an environment even more fragile by the genetic characteristics of its soils, waters, relief and landscape, as well as by the dynamic processes arising from the continent, the sea and the atmosphere by the climate. With a case study, we seek to analyze the possibilities of better use in the management of these areas that were once contaminated by dumps and analyze the geomorphological compartmentalization and resilience of this fragile environment. And also describe the methods and techniques applied in these areas for their revitalization.
Earthquake-induced landslides susceptibility assessment of the Abruzzo Region (Central Italy): a geomorphological approach.
Authors: Cinosi Jacopo , Piattelli Valerio , Esposito Gianluca , Mancinelli Vania , Paglia Giorgio , Miccadei Enrico
Published: June 2022

Earthquakes and consequent phenomena represent a major issue for human activities planning and fulfilment; within this framework, Earthquake-Induced Landslides (EILs) constitute major hazards, being often responsible for the greatest damages up to overshadowing those caused by the solely ground motion. Due to its geomorphological dynamics and strong seismicity, the Abruzzo Region (Central Italy) is severely affected by EILs, whose distribution results from the interaction between the seismic shaking and the local physiographic and geological-structural setting of the area. In this context, the present work focuses on the realisation of an EILs susceptibility map, following a heuristic approach combined with a statistical analysis, integrated using GIS technology. This approach leads to the identification of nine instability factors, including morphometric, lithological, geomorphological, and tectonic elements. These factors are analysed and assigned proper expert-based weights after the critical evaluation of literature data and available landslide inventories. Subsequently, they are combined into a preliminary susceptibility map wherein high/low numerical values correspond to a high/low propensity of the slope to fail. A statistical analysis is then executed on these values to derive the optimal number of classes by performing an unsupervised classification of preliminary susceptibility values. The total Within Clusters Sum of Squares (WCSS) and the Between Clusters Sum of Squares (BCSS) are hence computed, and the optimal number is derived by applying the elbow method. An absolute susceptibility scale is then introduced, with values ranging from the minimum to the maximum potential values of the area. Subsequently, statistics of clusters are analysed through violin plot diagrams and compared to classes of the absolute scale; in this phase, an algorithm is also applied to achieve the best differentiation among classes. The final map is created by grouping preliminary values in seven susceptibility classes ranging from very low to very high. The stepwise approach here presented has been applied to the whole Abruzzo Region, with ongoing specific site investigations in the areas severely affected by the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake and the 2016-2017 Central Italy seismic sequence. The applied methodology could constitute a scientific tool to better define situations that potentially lead to hazards following an earthquake and, consequently, to develop sustainable territorial management, loss-reduction measures, and post-earthquake reconstruction plans.
Tectonic geomorphology of the Acıgöl Graben, western Turkey
Authors: Tunçel Gökkaya Esra , Çiçek İhsan , Gutiérrez Francisco
Published: June 2022

The Acıgöl Graben is located in an extensional province of western Turkey, related to combining effects of the southwestward retreat of the Hellenic trench and the westward displacement of the Anatolia Plate. This is a 50 km long and 10 km wide neotectonic depression with a NW-SE orientation that veers into an E-W trend in its southern part. The basin has a late Miocene to Quaternary fill, and according to borehole data Quaternary sediments exceed 600 m. The Acıgöl and Maymundağı Quaternary faults, respectively, control the SE and NW margins of this internally drained basin, which hosts a playa-lake. The higher elevation of the SE mountain front and the proximity of the lake to this margin suggests some asymmetry in the graben structure. This study analyses the graben-bounding faults by means of detailed geomorphological mapping, and demonstrates their late Quaternary activity by geomorphic evince and Optically Stimulated Luminiscence (OSL) dating. The Acıgöl Fault on the SW margin juxtaposes Mesozoic carbonate rocks against Quaternary deposits along the linear mountain front-piedmont junction. The uplifted range, with a local relief of around 1 km, shows geomorphic evidence of deep-seated gravitational slope deformation (DSGSD), such as ridge-top depressions, uphill-facing scarps, internally drained troughs and bulged toes. The SW margin on its southern sector displays E-W intra-basin faults that offset and tilt recent basin-fill deposits, producing backtilting on geomorphic surfaces. These deformations control the anomalous orientation of some drainages that flow towards the basin margin. OSL ages provide a maximum age of 24 ka for the youngest displacement event on these faults. On the NW margin of the graben, the Maymundağı Fault, with a NW-SE to E-W orientation, is expressed as a linear mountain front with triangular facets up to 700 m high. This fault juxtaposes Oligocene conglomerates against Quaternary alluvial fan deposits. In the southern section where the basin attains an E-W trend, the fault displays two parallel fault strands. The northern fault strand is the master basin bounding fault located at the toe of the mountain front, whereas the southern one is an intra-basin fault expressed as a scarp that offsest alluvial fan surfaces and deposits. Here we differentiate two generations of alluvial fans: (1) oversteepened and dissected old fan surfaces restricted to the footwall block; and (2) active fans in the downthrown block with their apex at intersections points associated with the fault scarp. Numerical ages indicate fault activity younger than 3 ka.
Relief mapping to best management practices placement purpose: an evaluation of different Digital Elevation Models
Authors: Macao Campos Fábio Luiz , Nascentes Coelho André Luiz
Published: June 2022

Geomorphometry is an interdisciplinary science that aims to quantify the earth's surface landforms. This science techniques have supported the development of several knowledge fields, including geomorphology, in which the relationship between landforms and processes can be better understood and used in practical applications. In order to evaluate the use of geomorphometric techniques for structural best management practices (BMPs) placement in basin scale and what spatial resolution can provide better results, a morphological mapping methodology has been developed and 3 different digital elevation models (DEM) have been evaluated as data sources (SRTM – 30 m; ALOS/PALSAR – 12.5 m; GEOBASES – 2 m). The methodology has been applied in a small watershed in Espírito Santo state (Brazil) using 3 DEMs with different spatial resolutions. In such basin, slope segments previously defined as priorities for the BMP placement has been mapped using the Qgis software and the SAGA tools, for the 3 DEMs. The landforms mapped have been compared to the landforms observed in a field work. The results show the differences between the DEMs related to the mapping of relief units (summit, slope, valley) as well as the curvature of the slope segments (concave, straight, convex). Different results in terms of mapping priority areas for BMP placement have been noticed. The SRTM and Alos/Palsar DEMs are proven to be great options for carrying out morphological mapping for BMP placement purpose. Both DEMs have produced very similar results compared to the field work, while the 2-meters spatial resolution DEM was not able to map the features satisfactorily due misrepresentation of landforms and slope segments.
Gully erosion associated with peri-urbanization: focus on the catchments in the south of Kinshasa 
Authors: Imwangana Fils Makanzu , Zola Blaise Kamosi , Kangudia Joyce Mbiya , Sanghy Serge Pangu
Published: June 2022

The catchments draining the small plateau of Kimwenza in Kinshasa's south (DR Congo) are undergoing rapid and extensive peri-urbanization with limited planning. In this research, we study gully erosion processes that are associated with several infrastructure. The goal is to identify and characterize the primary erosion sites, to understand the factors of gully erosion, as well as to develop appropriate and effective methods for reducing gully erosion. To achieve this, we proceeded as follows: characterize the morphometry of the catchments, describe the surface water flow network, assess the runoff rates and propose an adequate drainage to collect runoff. Following the proliferation of street-gullies and the absence of water retention devices, it appears that these basins have a high drainage density ranging from approximately 1800 to more than 11000 m/km2, with a general average of approximately 6570 m/km2 following the field and laboratory investigations. Furthermore, all of the basins in this area have a somewhat rounded shape and a modest extension. This means they're more likely to have a quick rainwater concentration-time and, as a result, a quick response time. As a result, runoff flows can only be torrential, especially since the majority of this sector (80 percent) has slopes of more than 8%. The peak flow rate of surface flows can surpass 650 l/s/ha, according to an analysis of active showers and their intensities. Due to the soil's incoherent structure, which primarily consists of sands, 30 gullies were mapped, with an average length of 560 meters, a width of 27 meters, and a depth of 10 meters. Under these conditions, attenuating the gully phenomenon necessitates a significant reduction in runoff flows.
Origins of rock columns and corestones of granitoids and their contributions to landslides
Authors: Chigira Masahiro , Hirata Yasuto , Katou Hironori
Published: June 2022

Tors or rock columns and corestones are well known as characteristic topography of granitoids; most of them are made in the ground and subsequently exposed by the exhumation of the materials of weathering, which proceeds along joint sets. The primary joint sets of granitoids have long been believed to be orthogonal since the pioneer work of Cloos (1921, 1922). However, such studies are based on the observations from limited angles mainly from the ground surface, so 3-D morphology of joint sets has been poorly characterized. On the other hand, recently developed analytical technique using unmanned air vehicle and photogrammetric software, give us completely different configurations and find that columnar joints are common in granitoids as well as volcanic rocks like basalt. We found granitoid bodies that have columnar joints near its roof because of rapid cooling down. Exposure of rock columns separated by columnar joints form high unstable rock towers or tors, which are susceptible to rockfalls. Rock columns separated by columnar joints tend to be spheroidally weathered to form corestones surrounded by saprolite under the ground. When they are eroded to form hills, they frequently fail during rainstorms and transform to debris avalanche or debris flow with high destructive potential because of large mass of boulders. Granite without columnar joints is not suitable for spheroidal weathering but is sheeted by unloading; sheeting forms dip slopes, on which rock slides occur. Some granite is micro-sheeted by unloading and micro-sheeted granite is weathered to form a loose soil layer beneath slope surfaces. Such soil layers are very prone to heavy rainfalls and frequently slide, transforming debris avalanches and debris flows.