Geomorphology最新文献

{"title":"Millennial-scale phased submarine retrogressive collapse of the owl slide complex","authors":"Omri Gadol ,&nbsp;Oded Katz ,&nbsp;Mor Kanari ,&nbsp;Yizhaq Makovsky","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109973","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109973","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Retrogressive submarine landslide complexes are abundant on global margins, characterized by stepping head scarp bathymetric morphology. Investigation of major complexes showed they evolved through sequential up-dip migrating collapse on a single basal failure. Here, we explore the Owl slide complex, a relatively small scar on the southeastern Mediterranean margin. Sub-meter resolution seismic-reflection profiles and 5-m resolution bathymetry reveal that the Owl comprises a primary scar (∼1.7 km²), two secondary scars 500 m upslope of the primary scar, and additional scars along the lateral margins. The complex comprises six vertically-stacked chaotic mass transport deposit lobes, interbedded with intervals of continuous reflections, representing gradual sediment accumulation. Distinct basal surfaces of each lobe connect with its respective head scarp in an upward retrogressive pattern. Underlying the complex is a prominent unconformity correlating with the last glacial transgression. Four faults beneath the unconformity create stepped geometry reflected in the bathymetry. We suggest that the Owl complex was formed through a multistage retrogressive sequence of 4 to 6-failure events (∼16,000 BP- ∼ 1000 BP), with an average recurrence interval of ∼3000 years and intermittent periods of quiescence lasting thousands of years. Over-steepening of the head scarp by each event pre-conditioned subsequent failures. However, additional sediment accumulation of several meters was necessary before another failure could occur. Over time, consecutive retrogressive events show a linear decrease in volume, ultimately stabilizing the slope. The phased collapse mechanism described here forms the typical retrogressive sliding morphology but has different geohazard implications than the single basal failure mechanism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"488 ","pages":"Article 109973"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144893339","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}

{"title":"Rainfall overpowers tidal forcing in driving upper tidal flat erosion and channel evolution","authors":"Shang Yu ,&nbsp;Fan Xu ,&nbsp;Weiming Xie ,&nbsp;Xianye Wang ,&nbsp;Chunyan Zhu ,&nbsp;Qing Yuan ,&nbsp;Haisheng Yu ,&nbsp;Zhonghao Zhao ,&nbsp;Yijie Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhengbing Wang ,&nbsp;Giovanni Coco ,&nbsp;Qing He","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109977","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109977","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tidal flats are critical coastal ecosystems, with their geomorphic characteristics traditionally understood to be primarily influenced by tidal, wave, and storm forces. This study investigates the impact of rainfall on the morphodynamics of upper tidal flats by combining hydrodynamic-sediment data, meteorological rainfall records, and video monitoring at the Chongming Dongtan tidal flat in the Yangtze River Estuary, China. We show that rainfall significantly increases suspended sediment transport and accelerates tidal channel elongation. Notably, rainfall events—though occurring during only 25 % of observed tidal inundation periods—accounted for 62 % of cumulative net sediment transport. This disproportionate efficiency compared to tidal forcing stems from the rainfall-induced hydraulic connectivity between expansive supratidal areas and tidal channels, where concentrated runoff convergence intensifies scour dynamics. These findings challenge the traditional view of tidal flat dynamics, suggesting that rainfall is a more influential driver of morphodynamic change than previously recognized.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"488 ","pages":"Article 109977"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888803","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}

{"title":"Failure mechanisms of carbonate rock landslides: structure, karst generation and reservoir water fluctuations","authors":"Taiyi Chen ,&nbsp;Michio Sanjou ,&nbsp;Tetsuya Hiraishi ,&nbsp;Guangli Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109975","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109975","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carbonate rock landslides are a worldwide phenomenon often accompanied by faults and karstification. However, the formation mechanism and research method for this type of landslide have not been extensively investigated. The Baihetan hydropower station is located in China. It is the second largest hydropower station and its water level fluctuation range is the largest in the world. The Gengdi landslide in the Baihetan Reservoir area that began impounding in April 2021 is selected as the research subject. The inherent structural features and karstification in this region control the slope stability and failure behavior from the micro- to macro-scale. The regularity and systematization of the idealized Riedel shear model, fault zone model, and karstification model of the landslide are observed through regional structure, field outcrop, in-situ test, and laboratory test. The findings indicated that failure mechanisms are associated with the strike-slip fault and carbonate rock deterioration. The evolution process is compared using numerical simulation results and on-site monitoring data, emphasizing the effect of the structural geological environment and reservoir water fluctuations on the landslide. The fault gouge and carbonaceous slates are rich in ferrous sulfide and iron dissolution in basalt, which aggravates the deterioration of carbonate rocks. A physical and karstification model of the reaction zone is established, and the mechanism of dissolution and seepage effect on fault zone deformation is analyzed quantitatively. Fault zone, palaeokarst and reservoir water fluctuations jointly promote the formation of carbonate rock mass landslides. The findings provide a deeper insight into identifying and understanding the mechanical properties of reservoir carbonate rock landslides under the influence of strike-slip faults.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"489 ","pages":"Article 109975"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144917843","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}

{"title":"Post-anthropogenic landscape evolution: Terrain reshaping and geomorphic response in the Loess Plateau","authors":"Liang Xue ,&nbsp;Xie Hu ,&nbsp;Qiuhong Tang ,&nbsp;Shengwen Qi ,&nbsp;Robert Moucha","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109976","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109976","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Humans are altering Earth's surface at unprecedented scales due to rapid urban expansion. Here we investigate the long-term geomorphic consequences of large-scale anthropogenic landscape modification, focusing on a recent mountain excavation and city construction project in the Loess Plateau region of China. In this project, tens of square kilometers of urban region were newly constructed by mountain top removal and valley filling, significantly altering the region's topography. We applied a Landscape evolution model (LEM) to simulate future natural landscape dynamics, including the erosional stability, soil thickness, and landslide potential over the next one hundred years following this landscape alteration. Moreover, we evaluate the short-term impacts on the stage water height and infiltration, which is related to potential flooding risk during heavy rainfall events. Our results reveal that the altered landscape exhibits significant susceptibility to soil erosion, redistribution of soil thickness, and increased landslide potential, particularly along the margins of the newly constructed zones and at the outlet of the Yanhe River tributary. Perturbations in infiltration rates and runoff behavior are also observed during the rainy season. This study underscores the scientific potential of LEMs as predictive tools for understanding the long-term behavior of engineered loess terrains—environments that are highly sensitive to anthropogenic modification and hydrological variability. By capturing the coupled feedback between erosion, infiltration, and slope instability, the modeling framework offers a robust basis for forecasting geohazards in the context of rapid urban expansion. These findings not only support proactive hazard mitigation and infrastructure planning but also contribute to advancing theoretical frameworks in anthropogenic geomorphology. Continuous monitoring, integrated with model-driven land-use planning, will be essential for achieving resilient and sustainable development in highly engineered and geomorphically dynamic landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"488 ","pages":"Article 109976"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144886535","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}

{"title":"Knowledge-constrained deep learning for large-scale landform classification in the Loess Plateau","authors":"Haoyu Cao ,&nbsp;Liyang Xiong ,&nbsp;Fangyuan Lu ,&nbsp;Hongen Wang ,&nbsp;Josef Strobl","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109974","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109974","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Landforms are a fundamental component of physical geography and form the foundation of the Earth's surface system. Accurate landform classification is a core task of geomorphological research and has broader implications for related studies. However, the complex morphological characteristics of Earth's surface, shaped by various internal and external forces, make it challenging to delineate landform boundaries on a large scale. In this study, we employed a deep learning method constrained by knowledge to classify landforms in the Loess Plateau, China, within 100.90°–114.55° E and 33.72°–41.27° N. First, the knowledge of loess landforms was extracted based on hydrological and binary characteristic of loess terrain. Then, landform labels, along with Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and images, were used to train the deep learning model. Third, the trained model was then applied across the study area, where loess hills and ridges were classified. Finally, the classified loess tablelands, ridges, hills and gullies were merged to achieve a comprehensive loess landform classification. The accuracy of the classification was evaluated using 5000 sample points, yielding accuracies of 88.01 % for tablelands, 76.34 % for ridges, 72.00 % for hills, and 91.61 % for gullies, with an overall accuracy of 82.86 %. Using knowledge as a constraint improves classification accuracy by 13 % compared to not using it. A comparative analysis with the Modified U-Net method showed that our proposed method produced more accurate landform boundaries and outperformed the existing approach. In addition, the classification results were statistically analyzed within ecological regions, revealing that landform proportions can partially reflect the geomorphic development characteristics of each region. In future research, this knowledge-constrained classification method is expected to be applicable to a global scale.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"488 ","pages":"Article 109974"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888661","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}

{"title":"Towards unified scaling relationships for gravel-bed and sand-bed rivers","authors":"Giulio Calvani ,&nbsp;Virginia Ruiz-Villanueva ,&nbsp;Massimiliano Schwarz ,&nbsp;Paolo Perona","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109972","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109972","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Laboratory flume experiments and field investigations demonstrated the existence of dynamic equilibrium conditions for river channels, according to the hydraulic (flow discharge, water depth) and morphological (bed slope, grain size distribution, cross-section width) characteristics of the channel itself. In the literature, many authors have attempted to find scaling relationships among these quantities based on the different sediment transport mechanisms (i.e., bed load and suspended load) and the threshold for motion of the mean grain size. Recently, authors have proposed to account for an increment of such a threshold when dealing with sand-bed rivers, ultimately suggesting a minimum value (on the order of 5 N m⁻²) for the critical bed shear stress. In this work, we build on this hypothesis and derive scaling relationships for the bed slope, channel width, and water depth of equilibrium channels in bankfull conditions by including the effects of multiple grain sizes of sediment. After calibration, the minimum bed shear stress for sediment motion results in being approximately 70% smaller than the suggested value. Lastly, the validation against two large datasets outperforms the regression statistics of similar relationships available in the literature. As a result, the proposed 1D framework represents an attempt to find universal relationships among the hydro-morphological variables governing the bankfull equilibrium of both gravel- and sand-bed channels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"488 ","pages":"Article 109972"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144863637","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}

{"title":"The genesis, evolution, and geomorphological significance of the Kangkong Paleolake in the PhungQu Basin of southern Tibet","authors":"Huimin Zhao ,&nbsp;Weiming Liu ,&nbsp;Xuemei Li ,&nbsp;Anna Yang ,&nbsp;Liqin Zhou ,&nbsp;Yanlian Zhou ,&nbsp;Shengli Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109964","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109964","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The southern Tibetan Plateau has nurtured numerous paleolakes. The formation and evolution of these paleolakes are intricately linked to factors such as tectonic activity, climatic fluctuations, and surface processes. Investigating paleolakes sheds light on the impact of tectonic activity and climate change on paleolakes in the southern Tibetan Plateau, as well as the influence of paleolake formation and outburst on geomorphology. This study conducts sedimentological and chronological analyses of the Kangkong Paleolake in the PhungQu Basin, revealing that the lake formed at least 42.6 ± 3.9 ka, most likely caused by moraines blocking the PhungQu under the combined influence of tectonic movements and climate change. Furthermore, the evolutionary history of the Kangkong Paleolake was reconstructed, indicating that the lake persisted for at least 38 ka and experienced two outburst events, approximately 15.9 ± 1.3 and 3.9 ± 0.5 ka. The combined effects of significant movements along the Kharta normal fault and climate change likely influenced glacier expansion and melting, thereby affecting the stability of the glacial dam and ultimately leading to the formation and outburst of the lake. Spatial comparisons of river longitudinal profiles, dam, and geomorphic parameters have revealed that the formation of the Kangkong Paleolake resulted in a distinct convexity in the river profile at the moraine dam site. The upstream channel continuously widened while the downstream channel deepened. Local areas experienced uplift due to isostatic rebound, creating steep terrain. These findings further demonstrate that damming events have significantly altered the geomorphology of the PhungQu basin while stabilizing the steep topography along the southern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. This study provides direct evidence of damming events in the PhungQu basin and confirms that the PhungQu had already connected with the Arun River before the formation of the paleolake.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"488 ","pages":"Article 109964"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144863640","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}

{"title":"Divergent trends in fluvial suspended-sediment concentrations following improved land-use practices, southwest Washington State","authors":"Scott W. Anderson ,&nbsp;Chris Curran ,&nbsp;Oscar Wilkerson ,&nbsp;Katie Seguin","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109963","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109963","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Improvements in logging practices since the mid-20th century are widely presumed to have reduced suspended sediment loads in streams across the Pacific Northwest. However, there have been few opportunities to directly assess this, particularly in larger rivers. We compare modern (2019–22) and historical (1960s) suspended sediment monitoring in three large, actively managed watersheds in western Washington with similar land-use histories. In the two watersheds draining the southern Olympic Mountains (Satsop and Wynoochee Rivers), modern sediment yields were around 300 t/km²/yr, two to three times lower than historical conditions. Most suspended sediment exiting these watersheds came from rolling terrain mantled by glacial deposits in the lower watersheds, not the steep headwaters. Modern sediment yields in the Chehalis River, draining the low-relief Willapa Hills, were lower (70 t/km²/yr), though this represented a 50 % increase relative to historical conditions. SSC-discharge relations in the Chehalis River were steady from 1961 to 1994, indicating this increase happened sometime after 1994. The Chehalis River headwaters were uniquely impacted by landsliding during a 2007 storm, though there is some evidence against that storm as the cause of the recent increase. Ultimately, improved land-use practices appear to have reduced suspended sediment loads in large rivers of the southern Olympic Mountains several-fold, consistent with prior findings in the western Olympic Mountains, primarily due to reduced sediment delivery from the lower watersheds. Countervailing SSC-discharge trends and lower yields in the Chehalis River underscore that background sediment delivery rates and sensitivity to land-use disturbance may vary substantially within a region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"488 ","pages":"Article 109963"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144863638","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}

{"title":"Reply to comment by Torrente and Milia on “Giant landslide, hidden caldera structure, magnetic anomalies and tectonics in southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy)” by De Ritis, R., Cocchi, L., Passaro, S, Chiappini, M. (2024)","authors":"Riccardo De Ritis ,&nbsp;Luca Cocchi ,&nbsp;Salvatore Passaro ,&nbsp;Massimo Chiappini","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109967","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109967","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"488 ","pages":"Article 109967"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144863639","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}

{"title":"Effects of relief on headwater catchment landscapes","authors":"Hui Chen ,&nbsp;Jongmin Byun","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109969","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109969","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Headwater catchments, comprising hillslopes, valley heads, and colluvial valleys, are critical sources of water, sediments, and nutrients for downstream river networks. As mass movements dominate these landscapes, topographic relief has long been recognized as a primary factor controlling geomorphic processes and the spatial arrangement of geomorphic units in headwater catchments. However, how the transition from hillslope- to channel-dominated processes varies with relief remains debated. Particularly, the ways in which valley head location—defined as the uppermost tip of an unchanneled valley—and the lower boundaries of headwater catchments—defined by the downstream limit of colluvial dominance—scale with relief are not fully understood. To address these questions, we analyzed a drainage basin in South Korea that spans a wide range of relief. We delineated valley heads and headwater catchment extents, and quantified the likelihoods of hillslope materials reaching both valley heads and downstream river networks. Our results reveal that valley heads shift downslope with increasing relief and that the lower boundaries of colluvial channels extend downstream, enlarging headwater catchments. Likewise, both likelihoods of sediment connectivity increase with relief. These findings demonstrate that both valley head position and headwater catchment extent are governed by relief through its effects on hillslope material supply, colluvial valley morphology, and debris flow transport. Notably, the observed positive correlation between valley head source area and relief challenges the stream power-based channel initiation model, which exhibits a negative slope-area relationship. This study advances understanding of geomorphic processes in headwater landscapes and provides insights for managing mountainous environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"488 ","pages":"Article 109969"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144863636","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}