GeomorphologyPub Date : 2025-07-16DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109923
J. Aswathi , Shania James , V.R. Rani , K.S. Sajinkumar , T. Oommen , R.B. Binoj Kumar
{"title":"Short-term erosion rate of impact craters using radar data: Implications for their morphology","authors":"J. Aswathi , Shania James , V.R. Rani , K.S. Sajinkumar , T. Oommen , R.B. Binoj Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109923","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109923","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Erosion poses several challenges for studying terrestrial impact craters, as it results in subdued morphology. Erosion not only erases crater morphology but also leads to disagreements among geoscientists on morphological aspects. Ramgarh Crater, in the north-western India, is an example of such a crater with notable contentions pertaining to its type and morphology as a few studies point towards the denudation of the outer rim of a complex crater of 10 km apparent diameter. Meanwhile, the simple crater theory argues for a rim-to-rim diameter of ∼2.4 km. In this study, for the first time, an advanced radar data analysis, called the Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSInSAR), is applied to quantitatively assess the short-term erosion rate of Ramgarh Crater, for the period between 2017 and 2022. PSInSAR is a microwave based remote sensing method that measures the rate and direction of ground surface movement. This method enabled a more robust analysis of erosion processes within and around the crater and facilitated a comprehensive understanding of its morphological features. Our study using PSInSAR could not identify any significant erosion in the elevated relict structure (considered as the rim of the simple crater) (mean velocity of −0.83 mm/yr) whereas other zones, including the 10 km apparent diameter, are characterized by similar erosion (mean velocity between −2.02 to −6.9 mm/yr) because of agricultural practice, badland topography and active river bed erosion. Additionally, field observations from multiple traverses and visual interpretation of high-resolution remotely sensed images across the 10 km apparent diameter did not yield any morphological evidences favouring a raised rim. Based on these findings, Ramgarh can be classified as a simple crater with the relict structure of 2.4 km rim-to-rim diameter, being the elevated rim. Thus, the implementation of PSInSAR has facilitated a comprehensive examination of the crater's morphology and has conclusively resolved a significant debate surrounding Ramgarh Crater. As a result, the PSInSAR technique emerges as a valuable tool for resolving various geological conundrums, especially in the field of planetary science.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"487 ","pages":"Article 109923"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144663383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeomorphologyPub Date : 2025-07-16DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109925
Penghui Ma , Ning Han , Qiangbing Huang , Yanbo Cao , Zekun Li , Lisen Chen , Qixian Jiao , Jianbing Peng
{"title":"Evolution of loess gullies and geohazard chains in the Dongzhi tableland, China","authors":"Penghui Ma , Ning Han , Qiangbing Huang , Yanbo Cao , Zekun Li , Lisen Chen , Qixian Jiao , Jianbing Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109925","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109925","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Dongzhi tableland suffers from land degradation due to severe gully erosion. To determine the relationship between the gullies development and the evolutionary of geohazards chains in the gullies, a small watershed of the Dongzhi tableland was chosen as the study area. Subsequently, the morphometric characteristics and development process of loess gullies were systematically examined through statistical methods, including field investigations, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry, and geographic information system (GIS) spatial analysis. Results revealed that (1) The study area comprised 914 small incised gullies (SIGs), 57 incised gullies (IGs), and 5 dry gullies (DGs) based on the length, width, and depth of loess gullies. (2) SIGs were clustered and distributed at the bottom of the loess gully or on the edge of the loess tableland, and the SIG length exhibited a good power exponential relation with elevation difference, average gradient, area, and perimeter. (3) Based on the type of gully head and the degree of surface complexity, the SIGs were further divided into 27 profile types. And the most and least common profile combinations in the upper-middle-lower profiles were flat-flat-flat in 160 locations and concave-flat-stepped in one location. The corresponding results revealed loess collapse as the most dominant form of disaster during the evolution of SIGs. (4) Overall, SIG evolution was divided into four stages: initial, development, expansion, and stabilization stages. These stages mainly evolved in the form of geohazard chains and caused development of the SIGs. The results of this study will provide a scientific basis for the selection of preventive and control measures to manage gully erosion of the Dongzhi tableland.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"487 ","pages":"Article 109925"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144656164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeomorphologyPub Date : 2025-07-16DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109922
Qingri Liu , Jianguo Xiong , Huiping Zhang , Vincenzo Picotti , Youli Li , Jinrui Liu , Feipeng Huang , Xudong Zhao , Zifa Ma , Weilin Xin , Chuanyou Li , Peizhen Zhang
{"title":"Northeastward thrust propagation accommodated by the Minle oblique ramp at the northern edge of the Qilian Shan in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau","authors":"Qingri Liu , Jianguo Xiong , Huiping Zhang , Vincenzo Picotti , Youli Li , Jinrui Liu , Feipeng Huang , Xudong Zhao , Zifa Ma , Weilin Xin , Chuanyou Li , Peizhen Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109922","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109922","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The different segments of thrust faults are typically connected by linking faults (e.g., lateral ramps, tear faults, or oblique ramps) that accommodate the differential movement and transfer stress in step-over zones. However, the activities and deep structures of linking faults on the Tibetan Plateau have received limited attention in previous studies. The Minle Fault, a strike-varying oblique ramp on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, offsets multiple terraces of the Yudai and Hongshui Rivers and accommodates the deformation in the step-over zone between two thrust faults. In this study, 132 vertical offsets and partial strike-slip offsets along the Minle Fault were measured based on high-precision DEM, a terrace chronology framework was established using AMS <sup>14</sup>C dating, and a 2D kinematic model was constructed based on the surface fault offsets. The results indicate linear increasing vertical offsets along strike on each terrace, a listric deep structure with a flat detachment depth of ∼2.5 km, and a late Quaternary dip-slip rate of ∼1.1 mm/a for the Minle Fault. The Minle Fault, a thin-skinned oblique ramp formed during the Quaternary following the protrusion of the Yumu Shan, poses a potential earthquake hazard. On the actively growing Tibetan Plateau dominated by large strike-slip and thrust faults, the linking faults between them serve as critical adjusted structures, constituting an essential component in the evolution of the orogenic belt.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"487 ","pages":"Article 109922"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144663384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeomorphologyPub Date : 2025-07-15DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109924
Salvador Beato Bergua, Carmen Rodríguez Pérez, Daniel Herrera Arenas, José Luis Marino Alfonso, Miguel Ángel Poblete Piedrabuena
{"title":"The geomorphological heritage of the Jacomar Volcano and Georoute implemented with virtual reality (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain)","authors":"Salvador Beato Bergua, Carmen Rodríguez Pérez, Daniel Herrera Arenas, José Luis Marino Alfonso, Miguel Ángel Poblete Piedrabuena","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109924","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109924","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Geomorphological mapping, heritage assessment, and the implementation of digital and virtual techniques can be effectively combined to analyse and highlight the importance of landforms in shaping volcanic landscapes. The Canary Islands provide exceptional opportunities for the scientific study of volcanic phenomena and their interaction with wind, coastal, and fluvio-torrential geomorphic processes. In this study, the recent Jacomar Volcano on the island of Fuerteventura is examined through fieldwork, detailed mapping, geomorphological inventories, and the application of a method for identifying and evaluating geomorphosites based on criteria of representativeness, uniqueness, scientific value, and pedagogical significance. As a result, twelve geomorphological units comprising 26 geomorphological elements have been identified and grouped into three geomorphological sets: <em>cuchillos</em> (residual volcanic ridges) and valleys, the Jacomar Volcano, and the Toneles Littoral. To support both analysis and outreach, a virtual georoute has also been developed to enhance the dissemination and understanding of the site's natural and cultural values. This initiative contributes to informed planning and the sustainable management of the area, with a focus on its geomorphology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"487 ","pages":"Article 109924"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144663385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeomorphologyPub Date : 2025-07-14DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109920
Xiaoying He , Qingyan Zeng , Lingzhi Xiang , Yunchao Jin , Dong Li , Yunkun Wang
{"title":"Multi-scale analysis on the geomorphic evolution of Macao debris flow gully (NW China)","authors":"Xiaoying He , Qingyan Zeng , Lingzhi Xiang , Yunchao Jin , Dong Li , Yunkun Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109920","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109920","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The multiscale geomorphic evolution of the Macao debris flow gully was analyzed by integrating field surveys and quantitative analysis of morphometric parameters derived from multi-temporal 2.5 m-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) (2014–2024). At the watershed scale, temporal trends in hypsometric integral and surface incision parameters indicate an early-maturation stage with a paradoxical shift toward rejuvenation, driven by sustained incision-erosion dynamics. Channel-scale analysis reveals a systematic rightward deflection of flow trajectories, resulting in an 11 % increase in steepness on the right slope versus the left over the decade, alongside pronounced asymmetry in slope development stages (the right slope being younger than the left). Cross-sectional profiles exhibit a U-shaped morphology dominated by lateral erosion, with erosion rates on the right-slope exceeding those on the left in multiple channel segments. The persistent rightward deflection of flow trajectories and the associated amplification of right-slope erosion are consistent with Coriolis-induced centrifugal force imbalances, suggesting that rotational effects play a role in controlling lateral erosion at channel bends. These findings establish a process-form feedback framework linking morphometrics to macroscale gully evolution, offering actionable insights for enhancing erosion prediction models and optimizing terrain-specific mitigation strategies in subtropical debris flow systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"487 ","pages":"Article 109920"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144656141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeomorphologyPub Date : 2025-07-13DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109917
Qi Zhou , Jingbo Zhao , Tengwen Long , Xiuming Liu , Xiaoning Wang , Yan Zhao , Lixing Zhang
{"title":"Holocene soil erosion in response to climate variability in the southern Chinese Loess Plateau","authors":"Qi Zhou , Jingbo Zhao , Tengwen Long , Xiuming Liu , Xiaoning Wang , Yan Zhao , Lixing Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109917","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109917","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil erosion is a major environmental challenge in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, and the relationship between climate and soil erosion has received considerable attention. Looking into long-term environmental variability would help quantify this relationship more accurately. New stratigraphical, physical-chemical, and micromorphological data from three representative loess-palaeosol sections—Milucun, Wufang, and Qishan—have been analysed to reconstruct the Holocene history of soil moisture and erosion in the southern Chinese Loess Plateau. The findings divide the Holocene into five stratigraphical units: two palaeosol (S<sub>01</sub> and S<sub>02</sub>) and three loess layers (L<sub>0</sub>, L<sub>x</sub>, and L<sub>t</sub>), each reflecting a stage of monsoon patterns, sandstorm activity, temperature, and precipitation changes. Notably, during the formation of the early mid-Holocene palaeosol S<sub>02</sub>, average temperature was around 15.1 °C with annual precipitation of 808 mm, of which the East Asian summer monsoon contributed approximately 450 mm, surpassing non-monsoon sources of ca. 360 mm. The development of secondary argillans and dense woody root traces within S<sub>02</sub>, alongside shifts in clay mineral content, suggest elevated soil moisture between 8500 and 6000 years ago. This moisture likely sustained gravitational water, fostering a positive soil moisture balance and supporting lush forest vegetation. This study proposes that interglacials and interstadials experienced weaker soil erosion due to better vegetation cover, while glacials and stadials saw intensified erosion. A clear example is the L<sub>x</sub> formation between 6000 and 5000 years ago, during which significant erosion led to the loss of this thin loess layer in much of the plateau.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"487 ","pages":"Article 109917"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144663382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeomorphologyPub Date : 2025-07-11DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109913
Cheng Xi , Hejun Zuo , Min Yan , Yu Yan
{"title":"Chemical characterization and causes of differences in surface sediments of sand dunes in northern China under wind-water composite effects – A case study of the Kubuqi Desert","authors":"Cheng Xi , Hejun Zuo , Min Yan , Yu Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109913","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109913","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sediments comprise the base material for the development of wind-driven sand-based landscapes, and dune deposits contain fundamental information regarding the processes of dune formation and development. This study analyzed the surface sediments of seven different types of sand dunes in the Kubuqi Desert (China) from the perspectives of mineralogy, elemental geochemistry, and sedimentology. Results showed that the light mineral composition of Kubuqi Desert sediments is dominated by quartz, and feldspar, and that the overall maturity index is high. The chemical macronutrient composition is dominated by SiO₂ and Al₂O₃, and the trace elements are dominated by Cr and Zr. Analysis of elements based on the normalized average chemical composition of the upper continental crust revealed enrichment in Si and Cr. The characteristics of Kubuqi Desert sediments indicate moderate–low chemical weathering (the average Chemical Index of Alteration value is 55.97), representing relatively stable sediments formed under dry cold conditions that are in the early stage of chemical weathering. Parabolic dunes, together with central and eastern shrub-coppice dunes, were found to be the most weathered. Flood alluviation and wind transport jointly promote the weathering process of Kubuqi Desert sediments, resulting in ridge–honeycomb dunes and reticulate dune chains that do not have a unique source. Conversely, compound dunes and some crescent dunes and chains were found to have a common source of material. The findings of this study could provide a basic reference for analysis of desert material sources, inversion of dune formation and development processes, and reconstruction of ancient aeolian environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"486 ","pages":"Article 109913"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144632333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeomorphologyPub Date : 2025-07-11DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109916
Roksana Zarychta , Adrian Zarychta
{"title":"Application of geostatistical approach in generating DEM for relief studies using UAV in forest areas","authors":"Roksana Zarychta , Adrian Zarychta","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109916","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109916","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In relief studies, and especially when performing terrain analysis, a key product is the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), which is often generated from data collected using an Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV). However, areas covered by high vegetation, mainly forests, are a significant problem when acquiring aerial photography data, since UAV Structure-from-Motion (UAV-SfM) photogrammetry does not provide information from sites located under the tree canopy. This article aims to demonstrate how to improve a DEM when generating it in areas covered with high vegetation based on an aerial photography dataset acquired by UAV missions, using geostatistical methods. The study was conducted in central Poland, where a parabolic dune covered by dense forest has formed, along with a blowout occurring in its vicinity, which is periodically filled with water. The study showed that the use of Ordinary Kriging (OK) in the reconstruction of relief covered with high vegetation provided better results compared to interpolation methods implemented in the photogrammetry software used. This is confirmed, by the computed low error values of Mean Error (ME): −0.0003 m, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE): 0.0777 m from Cross-Validation (CV) and low values of 0.002–0.44 m standard deviation of kriging (SD<sub>OK</sub>). The resulting DEM shows high similarity of 69.17 % (coefficient of determination) and a strong correlation (0.8316) with the reference model used. The applied geostatistical approach to generating the DEM for relief study demonstrates significant potential for application in other regions with similar conditions, offering an effective alternative for areas with dense vegetation where traditional photogrammetric methods encounter limitations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"487 ","pages":"Article 109916"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144656163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeomorphologyPub Date : 2025-07-11DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109918
Michael Armstrong , José Antonio Constantine , Allison Gill
{"title":"Vegetation and the morphodynamics of tidal channels: Insights from Plum Island Sound, Massachusetts","authors":"Michael Armstrong , José Antonio Constantine , Allison Gill","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109918","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109918","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The sinuous channels of tidal marshes exhibit marked similarities to their upland counterparts, but their tendency to rapidly narrow into the distal platform may indicate that the processes governing the evolution of form may differ. Additionally, while marsh vegetation facilitates platform aggradation, the role of vegetation in temporally stabilizing the spatially varying channel form remains unclear. Here, we leveraged topographic surveys, historical aerial photos, and sediment cores to evaluate the physical controls on channel migration dynamics within tidal marshes of Plum Island Sound, Massachusetts, USA, a U.S. National Science Foundation Long-Term Ecological Research site. We found that width-normalized rates of channel migration were highest in the distal platform, decreasing exponentially towards the platform edge. This trend coincided with observations of bank instability, in which the frequency of bank slumping progressively increased away from the platform edge. The distal platform, characterized by heightened channel mobility, was also where measured belowground biomass was greatest. The normalized difference vegetation index, reflecting aboveground biomass, was also highest within the distal marsh. We hypothesize that while surface root biomass is denser in the distal marsh, shallow rooting depths may limit the stabilizing influence of vegetation on channel banks, contributing, alongside other factors such as tidal shear stress and seepage-induced erosion, to the enhanced width-normalized rates of channel migration observed in these reaches. Our findings underscore the complex interplay between vegetation and channel morphology in tidal marshes, highlighting the nuanced role of vegetation in platform stability. The work offers insights for the development of adaptive management strategies aimed at preserving these vital coastal ecosystems in the face of sea-level rise.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"486 ","pages":"Article 109918"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144623578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GeomorphologyPub Date : 2025-07-11DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109919
Bin Chen , Wayne Stephenson , Maree Hemmingsen , Mike Hilton
{"title":"Measuring beach pebbles and cobbles abrasion with RFID technology on a mixed sand and gravel beach, South Island, New Zealand","authors":"Bin Chen , Wayne Stephenson , Maree Hemmingsen , Mike Hilton","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109919","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109919","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The measurement of in situ abrasion has been investigated since the early 20th Century and it is thought to represent a significant loss from coastal sediment budgets of some mixed sediment beaches. Traditional methods of tracking pebbles or cobbles to assess abrasion have numerous shortcomings, however, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) now makes it feasible to track and relocate tagged particles on a beach. In this study, RFID was used to quantify pebble and cobble abrasion on a mixed sand and gravel beach, South Island, New Zealand. A total of 228 greywacke pebbles and cobbles were tagged and released on two occasions on the study beach. Some of these pebbles and cobbles were relocated on the first two days after release and then again at intervals of months with a maximum recovery period of 15 months. Particles were weighed each time they were relocated to assess abrasion and their positions recorded to calculate the distance travelled from the initial release point. The mean daily abrasion rate of pebbles and cobbles was 0.02 %/day in weight, equivalent to 7.30 %/year in weight. A significant correlation was found between abrasion and transport distance and wave energy. These results contribute to the small database of abrasion rates for mixed sediment beaches. The study also provides detailed data on cross-shore and alongshore displacement, as well as burial depth. Comparison with previous studies from around the world suggests that a universally applicable abrasion rate for all mixed beaches is unattainable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"487 ","pages":"Article 109919"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144654323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}