Comparison of basin morphometry derived from topographic maps,ASTER and SRTM DEMs: an example from Kerala,India

The drainage network of a sixth-order tropical river basin, viz. Ithikkara river basin, was extracted from different sources such as Survey of India topographic maps (1: 50,000; TOPO) and digital elevation data of Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) (30 m) and Shuttle Radar Topography Mapping Mission (SRTM) (90 m). Basin morphometric attributes were estimated to evaluate the accuracy of the digital elevation model (DEM)-derived drainage networks for hydrologic applications as well as terrain characterization. The stream networks derived from ASTER and SRTM DEMs show significant agreement (with slight overestimation of lower order streams) with that of TOPO. The study suggests that SRTM (despite the coarser spatial resolution) provides better results, in drainage delineation and basin morphometry, compared to ASTER. Further, the variability of basin morphometry among the data sources might be attributed to spatial variation of elevation, raster grid size and vertical accuracy of the DEMs as well as incapability of the surface hydrologic analysis functions in the GIS platform.     

The physical framework of the dependence between channel flow hydrographs and drainage network morphometry

The physical basis of the linkage between magnitude and timing of channel flow hydrographs and drainage network morphometry is reviewed. Small Hortonian and structurally Hortonian networks are analysed using numerical runoff simulation. For Hortonian networks the variability of the geometry of individual channels and subcatchments within each Strahler order has generally little effect upon the overall character of the hydrograph in channels of higher order. If the network is also structurally Hortonian, the analysis of the simultaneous formation, travel, and concentration of the hydrographs in all channels of the network can be simplified to a sequence of one representative hydrograph per channel order. This approach is used in this study. Three major runoff processes control the flow hydrograph characteristics: the overland flow process which determines the water supply to the drainage network; the channel flow process which translates the hydrograph in space and time; and the drainage network process which concentrates and magnifies the flow at the junctions of the drainage network. Functional relations for the hydrograph peak, timing, and flow velocity are presented. For a given uniform rainfall and infiltration rate, the peak of the channel flow hydrograph is shown to increase geometrically with channel order, and its magnitude is directly related to the bifurcation ratio. The travel time of the peak also increases geometrically with channel order, and it is directly related to the channel length ratio over velocity ratio. The flow velocity of the peak changes in a downstream direction as a function of the bifurcation and slope ratio. It was also found that for negligible channel storage the channel flow and drainage network processes do not contribute significantly to the observed nonlinear response of a watershed to precipitation.     

Effects of changing climate on ice cover in three morphometrically different lakes

A one‐dimensional hydrodynamic lake model (DYRESM‐WQ‐I) is employed to simulate ice cover and water temperatures over the period 1911–2014. The effects of climate changes (air temperature and wind speed) on ice cover (ice‐on, ice‐off, ice cover duration, and maximum ice thickness) are modeled and compared for the three different morphometry lakes: Fish Lake, Lake Wingra, and Lake Mendota, located in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. It is found that the ice cover period has decreased due to later ice‐on dates and earlier ice‐off dates, and the annual maximum ice cover thickness has decreased for the three lakes during the last century. Based upon simulated perturbations of daily mean air temperatures across the range of ?10°C to +10°C of historical values, Fish Lake has the most occurrences of no ice cover and Lake Wingra still remains ice covered under extreme conditions (+10°C). Overall, shallower lakes with larger surface areas appear more resilient to ice cover changes caused by climate changes.     

Badland Morphology and Evolution: Interpretation Using a Simulation Model

A drainage basin simulation model is used to interpret the morphometry and historical evolution of Mancos Shale badlands in Utah. High relief slopes in these badlands feature narrow divides and linear profiles due to threshold mass-wasting. Threshold slopes become longer in proportion to erosion rate, implying lower drainage density and higher relief. By contrast, in slowly eroding areas of low relief, both model results and observations indicate that drainage density increases with relief, suggesting control by critical shear stress. Field relationships and simulation modelling indicate that the badlands have resulted from rapid downcutting of the master drainage below an Early Wisconsin terrace to the present river level, followed by base level stability. As a result, Early Wisconsin alluvial surfaces on the shale have been dissected up to 62 m into steep badlands, and a Holocene alluvial surface is gradually replacing the badland slopes which are erocing by parallel retreat. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of bedrock orientation on the landscape evolution,surface morphology and denudation (10Be) at the Niesen,Switzerland

Landscape evolution and surface morphology in mountainous settings are a function of the relative importance between sediment transport processes acting on hillslopes and in channels, modulated by climate variables. The Niesen nappe in the Swiss Penninic Prealps presents a unique setting in which opposite facing flanks host basins underlain by identical lithologies, but contrasting litho‐tectonic architectures where lithologies either dip parallel to the topographic slope or in the opposite direction (i.e. dip slope and non‐dip slope). The north‐western facing Diemtigen flank represents such a dip slope situation and is characterized by a gentle topography, low hillslope gradients, poorly dissected channels, and it hosts large landslides. In contrast, the south‐eastern facing Frutigen side can be described as non‐dip slope flank with deeply incised bedrock channels, high mean hillslope gradients and high relief topography. Results from morphometric analysis reveal that noticeable differences in morphometric parameters can be related to the contrasts in the relative importance of the internal hillslope‐channel system between both valley flanks. While the contrasting dip‐orientations of the underlying flysch bedrock has promoted hillslope and channelized processes to contrasting extents and particularly the occurrence of large landslides on the dip slope flank, the flank averaged beryllium‐10 (¹⁰Be)‐derived denudation rates are very similar and range between 0.20 and 0.26 mm yr^?1. In addition, our denudation rates offer no direct relationship to basin's slope, area, steepness or concavity index, but reveal a positive correlation to mean basin elevation that we interpret as having been controlled by climatically driven factors such as frost‐induced processes and orographic precipitation. Our findings illustrate that while the landscape properties in this part of the northern Alpine border can mainly be related to the tectonic architecture of the underlying bedrock, the denudation rates have a strong orographic control through elevation dependent mean annual temperature and precipitation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Local variability of sedimentation rate in Lake Arendsee, Germany

We measured the thickness and the dry weight of recently deposited sediment along several transects across Lake Arendsee in order to quantify the sedimentation rate and its local variability. As a time marker, we used an artificial marl layer that was deposited by a remediation program in the year 1995. A portion of the sediment deposited during the year was transported from the littoral and the top of the submerged hills to the foot of the slope, where we found the greatest deposition. Within the same lake, the deposited sediment layer varied by a factor of 4 between minimal and maximal values over the same time periods. Lake Arendsee is a holomictic and eutrophic lake with depletion of oxygen in summer time.     

Geomorphic response to growing fault-related folds: example from the foothills of central Taiwan

Abstract

In this paper we concentrate particularly on the geomorphological indicators left by active tectonics. In the central foothills of Taiwan, we used topography, drainage pattern and structural data to perform quantitative morphometric analysis and to determine relative age of fault-related anticlines. The Tiehchen, Tatu and Pakua ridge belt is a fault-related anticline system located in the hanging wall of the Changhua fault along the western thrust front of the foothills. Geomorphic systems are analysed with intent to detect the various responses of landforms and drainage pattern to late Quaternary deformation. Topography and drainage basin register uplift and are valuable tools to discriminate lateral propagation of an active frontal fold. Geomorphic field evidence and quantitative morphometric parameters are used to define the evolution of the rising anticline ridges and to infer tectonism style along an active front. Geometry of alluvial fans, formed along the frontal side of the anticlines, and weathered terrace deposits provide relevant information on neotectonics. Knowledge concerning these younger anticline ridges, makes this area a good example of an actively forming mountain front. We discuss in detail the origin of N045°, N095 and N120° trending oblique fault scarps which delimite numerous fault blocks. The fault scarps morphology is characterized by imbricate talus facets. Steeper topography accompanied by breaks in the slope along some transverse profiles, seems to correspond to the traces of successive uplifts. © 2001 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS     

Form and growth of bars in a wandering gravel‐bed river

The changing form of developing alluvial river bars has rarely been studied in the field, especially in the context of the fixed, compound, mainly alternate gravel bars that are the major morphological feature of the wandering style. Century scale patterns of three‐dimensional growth and development, and the consequent scaling relations of such bars, are examined along the gravel‐bed reach of lower Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada. A retrospective view based on maps and aerial photographs obtained through the twentieth century shows that individual bars have a life history of about 100 years, except in certain, protected positions. A newly formed gravel bar quickly assumes its ultimate thickness and relatively quickly approaches its equilibrium length. Growth continues mainly by lateral accretion of unit bars, consistent with the lateral style of instability of the river. Bar growth is therefore allometric. Mature bars approach equilibrium dimensions and volume that scale with the overall size of the channel. Accordingly, the bars conform with several published criteria for the ultimate dimensions of alternate barforms. Sand bars, observed farther downstream, have notably different morphology. Fraser River presents a typical wandering channel planform, exhibiting elements of both meandered and low‐order braided channels. Hydraulic criteria to which the Fraser bars conform illustrate why this planform develops and persists. The modest rate of bed material transfer along the channel – typical of the wandering type – determines a century‐length time scale for bar development. This time scale is consistent with estimates that have been made for change of the macroform elements that determine the overall geometry of alluvial channels. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dimorphism in the Ascidian Pyura stolonifera Near Melbourne, Australia, and its Evaluation Through Field Transplant Experiments

Abstract. On the central coast of Victoria, Australia, the ascidian Pyura stolonifera (H eller . 1878) assumes 2 morphs. a yellow form living exclusively on inner shores, and a brown morph mainly on outer coasts. Distributional surveys, morphological analyses and field transplant experiments were conducted as part of a multidisciplinary investigation designed to elucidate the environmental and genetic components of dimorphism in this species. Distributional surveys revealed that the 2 morphs have a parapatric distribution. Morphological analyses showed striking differences between morphs in colours of tissue types, external anatomy, morphometry and gravimetry. Possible ecological significances of this morphological differentiation are discussed. Transplant experiments, in which morphs were moved within and between habitats, yielded no evidence for morphological plasticity in adults of this species for the great majority of characters examined.     

Predicting oxygen in small estuaries of the Baltic Sea: a comparative approach

Coastal eutrophication, manifested as hypoxia and anoxia, is a global problem. Only a few empirical models, however, exist to predict bottom oxygen concentration and percentage saturation from nutrient load or morphometry in coastal waters, which are successfully used to predict phytoplankton biomass both in lakes and in estuaries. Furthermore, hardly any empirical models exist to predict bottom oxygen from land-use. A data set was compiled for 19 estuaries in the northern Baltic Sea, which included oxygen concentration and percentage saturation, water chemistry, estuary morphometry, and land-use characteristics. In regression analyses, bottom oxygen was predicted both as a function of the percentage of watershed under agriculture and of mean depth. These models accounted for ca. 55% of the variation in oxygen. Additionally, oxygen was linked to fetch (diameter of the area in the direction of the prevailing wind), which accounted for 30% of the variation in oxygen. This suggests that shallow Finnish estuaries are wind-sensitive. In ‘pits’ (sub-thermocline waters of deep basins), near-bottom total nitrogen strongly correlated with oxygen percentage saturation (R²=0.81). Neither chlorophyll a, total phosphorus nor nutrient loading explained oxygen variation in entire estuaries or in ‘pits’, probably mainly due to annual sedimentation/sediment–water flux dynamics. On the basis of the results of cross-validation, the models have general applicability among Finnish estuaries.