Development of experimental landforms by rainfall erosion and uplift

DOI Web Site Web Site 28 References

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 降雨侵食と隆起による実験地形の発達
  • コウウ シンショク ト リュウキ ニ ヨル ジッケン チケイ ノ ハッタツ

Search this article

Abstract

A miniature experimental landform developing with rainfall erosion on a flat-topped square mound of a mixture of fine sand and kaolinite was uplifted at a low and constant rate by the device set beneath it, after a low-relief surface had developed. Another run without uplift was also performed to compare and examine the effect of uplift on the development or evolution of experimental landforms. Both runs lasted for about 800 hours. Erosion of the mound started with rapid development of valley systems following the initial collapse of mound-edge cliffs. It continued on intermediate slopes and then reached to ridges. This process of erosion was characterized by an exponential decrease in the average height of the surface without uplift. Uplift raised the whole mound uniformly, but relief increased with uplift. The uplift constantly created height difference across the faults, and this promoted the erosion with knick-points migrating upstream, which resulted in relief increase. The relief increase showed a leveling-off trend during the period of uplift. The relief would have stabilized at a constant value corresponding to the uplift rate, if the uplift had continued longer beyond the limit of device. The development of alluvial fans around the mound had an effect to elevate the local base-level of erosion. As far as sufficient conditions exist for fan development around the mound, the elevation of the mound can increase with uplift while relief remains constant. If alluvial fans reach a limit to their development, the local base-level of erosion and the average height of the mound will stop increasing. Erosion and uplift will possibly show a dynamic equilibrium in the event of prolonged uplift at this rate. These physical analog model experiments do not reproduce real landform development; however, they can provide insights that assist the interpretation of unobservable real landform evolution.

Journal

References(28)*help

See more

Related Projects

See more

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top