An alternative approach to transverse and profile terrain curvature

Terrain curvature is one of the most important parameters of land surface topography. Well-established methods used in its measurement compute an index of plan or profile curvature for every single cell of a digital elevation model (DEM). The interpretation of these outputs may be delicate, especially when selected locations have to be analyzed. Furthermore, they involve a high level of simplification, contrasting with the complex and multiscalar nature of the surface curvature itself. In this paper, we present a new method to assess vertical transverse and profile curvature combining real-scale visualization and the possibility to measure these two terrain derivatives over a large range of scales. To this purpose, we implemented a GIS tool that extracts longitudinal and transverse elevation profiles from a high-resolution DEM. The performance of our approach was compared with some of the most commonly used methods (ArcMap, Redlands, CA, USA; ArcSIE, Landserf) by analyzing the terrain curvature around charcoal production sites in southern Switzerland. The different methods produced comparable results. While conventional methods quickly summarize terrain curvature in the form of a matrix of values, they involve a loss of information. The advantage of the new method lies in the possibility to measure and visualize the shape and size of the curvature, and to obtain a realistic representation of the average curvature for different subsets of spatial points. Moreover, the new method makes it possible to control the conditions in which the index of curvature is calculated.     

The effects of rock uplift and rock resistance on river morphology in a subduction zone forearc,Oregon, USA

Relationships between riverbed morphology, concavity, rock type and rock uplift rate are examined to independently unravel the contribution of along-strike variations in lithology and rates of vertical deformation to the topographic relief of the Oregon coastal mountains. Lithologic control on river profile form is reflected by convexities and knickpoints in a number of longitudinal profiles and by general trends of concavity as a function of lithology. Volcanic and sedimentary rocks are the principal rock types underlying the northern Oregon Coast Ranges (between 46°30′ and 45°N) where mixed bedrock–alluvial channels dominate. Average concavity, θ, is 0·57 in this region. In the alluviated central Oregon Coast Ranges (between 45° and 44°N) values of concavity are, on average, the highest (θ = 0·82). South of 44°N, however, bedrock channels are common and θ = 0·73. Mixed bedrock–alluvial channels characterize rivers in the Klamath Mountains (from 43°N south; θ = 0·64). Rock uplift rates of ≥0·5 mm a⁻¹, mixed bedrock–alluvial channels, and concavities of 0·53–0·70 occur within the northernmost Coast Ranges and Klamath Mountains. For rivers flowing over volcanic rocks θ = 0·53, and θ = 0·72 for reaches crossing sedimentary rocks. Whereas channel type and concavity generally co-vary with lithology along much of the range, rivers between 44·5° and 43°N do not follow these trends. Concavities are generally greater than 0·70, alluvial channels are common, and river profiles lack knickpoints between 44·5° and 44°N, despite the fact that lithology is arguably invariant. Moreover, rock uplift rates in this region vary from low, ≤0·5 mm a⁻¹, to subsidence (<0 mm a⁻¹). These observations are consistent with models of transient river response to a decrease in uplift rate. Conversely, the rivers between 44° and 43°N have similar concavities and flow on the same mapped bedrock unit as the central region, but have bedrock channels and irregular longitudinal profiles, suggesting the river profiles reflect a transient response to an increase in uplift rate. If changes in rock uplift rate explain the differences in river profile form and morphology, it is unlikely that rock uplift and erosion are in steady state in the Oregon coastal mountains. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

滇西纵向岭谷区河谷形态特征、发育规律及成因

为了揭示滇西纵向岭谷区河谷形态特征及其发育规律,采用1∶5万DEM图件,利用ARCG IS软件提取研究区41个河谷断面的有关基础数据,据此计算了河谷横断面的宽深比、半高宽深比、断面面积、凹度、不对称系数及河谷纵剖面特征的指标。结果表明,纵向岭谷区北部河谷横断面的宽深比很小,其宽深比在4~16间,但沿流向往南有明显增大的趋势,最大达到24。这是由于北部的构造抬升作用强从而引起该区更强列的河流下蚀作用的结果。河谷横断面的凹度显示大多数河谷属于"V"型谷,表明研究区的河流仍然以下切过程为主。谷宽不对称系数及谷面不对称系数揭示了研究区河谷横断面主要是左倾型河谷,即河谷断面上河道左部谷坡较缓,这是强势西南季风在河流左岸迎风坡形成强降水带和在河流右岸背风坡形成弱降水带的雨水差异侵蚀引起的。河谷纵剖面具有明显的下凹特性,凹度在1.40~1.65间。河道比降具有沿程变小的趋势,并遵循指数衰减关系,平均比降在1.22‰~1.85‰间。在纵向岭谷区北部,响应构造抬升作用的西强东弱的现状,河流主河道的比降具有从西向东变小的趋势。     

Tracking sediment provenance and erosional evolution of the western Greater Caucasus

This article investigates landscape characteristics and sediment composition in the western Greater Caucasus by using multiple methods at different timescales. Our ultimate goal is to compare short‐term versus long‐term trends in erosional processes and to reconstruct spatio‐temporal changes in sediment fluxes as controlled by partitioning of crustal shortening and rock uplift in the orogenic belt. Areas of active recent uplift are assessed by quantitative geomorphological techniques [digital elevation model (DEM) analysis of stream profiles and their deviation from equilibrium] and compared with regions of rapid exhumation over longer time intervals as previously determined by fission‐track and cosmogenic‐nuclide analyses. Complementary information from petrographic and heavy‐mineral analyses of modern sands and ancient sandstones is used to evaluate erosion integrated throughout the history of the orogen. River catchments displaying the highest relief, as shown by channel‐steepness indices, correspond with the areas of most rapid exhumation as outlined by thermochronological data. The region of high stream gradients is spatially associated with the highest topography around Mount Elbrus, where sedimentary cover strata have long been completely eroded and river sediments display the highest metamorphic indices and generally high heavy‐mineral concentrations. This study reinforces the suggestion that the bedrock–channel network can reveal much of the evolution of tectonically active landscapes, and implies that the controls on channel gradient ultimately dictate the topography and the relief along the Greater Caucasus. Our integrated datasets, obtained during a decade of continuing research, display a general agreement and regularity of erosion patterns through time, and consistently indicate westward decreasing rates of erosional unroofing from the central part of the range to the Black Sea. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

RESPONSES OF THE S-A DOUBLE-LOG GRAPH,CONCAVITY INDEX AND STEEPNESS INDEX OF CHANNELS TO THE TECTO-NIC MOVEMENT OF THE HUOSHAN PIEDMONT FAULT

The Huoshan piedmont fault is a small watershed region in Shanxi Province. We utilized the high-resolution DEM data and the stream-power incision model which describes the relationship between the tectonic uplift and fluvial incision to analyze the S-A double-log graph, concavity index (θ)and steepness index (logk_s) of the 64 channels across this fault and discuss their responses to the tectonic movement of the fault. The results show that (1)the S-A double-log graphs all exhibit an obvious convex form, which is the direct expression of the response to the situation that the bedrock uplift rate is higher than the fluvial incision rate. (2)All of the concavity index (θ)values of 64 channels are lower than 0.35 with an average value of 0.223, much lower than the empirical value (0.49)of the rivers in steady state. These low values are the quantitative reflections of the channels' slightly concave profiles. Meanwhile they imply that these channels across the fault are very young. There is no enough time for them to adjust the profiles through the fluvial incision to the steady state because of the fault's frequent and strong tectonic movements. (3)The steepness index values of the channels located in the Laoyeding Mt. are highest, while they are lower in the northern and southern mountains. Moreover, the steepness index values of the channels in the northern mountains, on average, are higher than those of the channels in the southern mountains. To a certain extent, this distribution of the steepness index corresponds to the difference in the uplift rates of the Huoshan piedmont fault. It means that the uplift rate of the middle fault segment in the Laoyeding Mt. is highest, and the uplift rate of the northern segment is higher than that of the southern segment.     

Patterns in stream longitudinal profiles and implications for hyporheic exchange flow at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest,Oregon, USA

There is a need to identify measurable characteristics of stream channel morphology that vary predictably throughout stream networks and that influence patterns of hyporheic exchange flow in mountain streams. In this paper we characterize stream longitudinal profiles according to channel unit spacing and the concavity of the water surface profile. We demonstrate that: (1) the spacing between zones of upwelling and downwelling in the beds of mountain streams is closely related to channel unit spacing; (2) the magnitude of the vertical hydraulic gradients (VHGs) driving hyporheic exchange flow increase with increasing water surface concavity, measured at specific points along the longitudinal profile; (3) channel unit spacing and water surface concavity are useful metrics for predicting how patterns in hyporheic exchange vary amongst headwater and mid‐order streams. We use regression models to describe changes in channel unit spacing and concavity in longitudinal profiles for 12 randomly selected stream reaches spanning 62 km² in the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon. Channel unit spacing increased significantly, whereas average water surface concavity (AWSC) decreased significantly with increasing basin area. Piezometer transects installed longitudinally in a subset of stream reaches were used to measure VHG in the hyporheic zone, and to determine the location of upwelling and downwelling zones. Predictions for median pool length and median distance between steps in piezometer reaches bracketed the median distance separating zones of upwelling in the stream bed. VHG in individual piezometers increased with increasing water surface concavity at individual points in the longitudinal profile along piezometer transects. Absolute values of VHG, averaged throughout piezometer transects, increased with increasing AWSC, indicating increased potential for hyporheic exchange flow. These findings suggest that average hyporheic flow path lengths increase—and the potential for hyporheic exchange flow in stream reaches decreases—along the continuum from headwater to mid‐order mountain streams. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

天山北麓河流纵剖面与基岩侵蚀模型特征分析

本文提取分析天山北麓10条河流的纵剖面,通过函数拟合纵剖面形态特征,同时运用基岩侵蚀力模型来研究河流纵剖面形态的发育演化过程,来揭示河流纵剖面的发育与构造活动之间的内在关系.研究表明:天山北麓河流地貌地形发育阶段处于河流侵蚀作用强烈的前均衡状态时期.塔西河的纵剖面凹曲度最大,向东西两侧河流凹曲度依次降低,乌鲁木齐河与四棵树河凹曲度最小,河流的凹曲度(θ)和河道坡度(Ks)的数值分布规律与所对应构造部位晚更新世以来的抬升速率和地壳缩短速度相一致,排除时间、气候因素和基岩性质影响因素后.发现晚更新世以来天山北麓河流纵剖面形态变化主要受构造抬升作用的影响.     

贺兰山水系流域数值地貌特征及其构造指示意义

基于Arcgis9.3与ASTER GDEM数据,提取了贺兰山两侧主要水系及其流域边界,根据河流及流域指标提取河流纵剖面、流域的Strahler曲线,并计算其面积高度积分值（Hypsometric Intergral）、河流纵剖面的凹度值（Concavity）。通过HI值、凹度值同河流落差、河流长度、流域面积之间相关性分析发现,后3种地貌参数与HI值、凹度值间的相关性较差。对比分析贺兰山两侧河流HI值及凹度值发现：贺兰山东侧北段活动性大于南段,西侧构造活动性分布规律不明显。结合9条河流所处流域的Strahler曲线、河流纵剖面形态和HI值、凹度值分析发现：汝箕沟及其以北贺兰山地区处于地形演化的老年期,汝箕沟以南贺兰山段处于均衡调整的壮年期。     

一种利用锥确定多边形顶点凹凸性的方法

根据多边形的性质与锥的特性，提出了多边表顶点凹凸性的判别准则及其新算法，该算法的时间复杂仅是给定多边形顶点数目的线性函数。     

内蒙古十大孔兑主河道纵剖面发育动力机制（英文）

The longitudinal profiles of main streams of ten kongdui basins within Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region of China were characterized in this study by analyzing a series of quantitative indexes that are relevant to tectonic activity and river action, and by establishing a series of multiple regression models. The results reveal that all longitudinal profiles are concave in shape, with a range of concavity between 1.1 and 3.1, increasing from west to east. Data also show that the concavity of the profiles is significantly negatively correlated with profile length, altitude difference, average altitude, drainage area and sediment load of the basins. Analysis reveals that kongdui basins have suffered from moderate-to-weak tectonic activity over time, again characterized by a west-to-east weakening trend. Stream power also varies along the main channels of the ten kongdui basins; average values in each case fall between 0.8 W/m and 8.4 W/m, generally higher within the middle reaches. This decreasing trend in stream power within the lower reaches of kongdui basins might provide one key explanation for sedimentation there. Data also show that the average stream power in western and central basins tends to be higher than that in eastern examples, even though both the highest and the lowest values are seen within two middle ones. This analysis shows that the longitudinal profile concavity values are mainly controlled by tectonic activity and that the effect of river action is insignificant.