GeomorphologyPub Date : 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109958
Rong Wang , Yanrong Li
{"title":"Fatigue fracturing of Malan loess and its implications to loess toppling failure","authors":"Rong Wang , Yanrong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109958","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109958","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High and steep slopes are common in loess-covered regions due to the prevalent hilly terrain. Recently, toppling failures of these slopes have increased, largely driven by the frequent occurrence of extreme climate events. Loess toppling involves Mode I fracturing (cracking) behind detaching blocks, which can be triggered by static or cyclic loading. However, the mechanisms by which cyclic loading induces fatigue fracturing and crack propagation, ultimately promoting loess slope toppling, remain poorly understood. This study employed Mode I fracturing experiments and numerical simulations to investigate the fatigue fracturing behavior of undisturbed loess under cyclic loading. A numerical simulation scheme was developed by integrating a corrosion algorithm with the built-in linear parallel bond model, enabling the analysis of progressive damage. The results demonstrate that loess exhibits strain-softening behavior and develops fatigue fracturing and crack propagation under cyclic loading. Cyclic loading significantly reduces fracture toughness compared to static loading (a decrease exceeding 80 % was observed after 1000 loading cycles). Increasing water content diminishes the efficiency of loading cycles in reducing fracture toughness. The load–displacement curves display hysteretic behavior, and the accumulation of irreversible deformation progresses from slow to fast development towards fatigue fracturing with increasing cycles. Post-fatigue failure may manifest in brittle or ductile modes, depending on the accumulated irreversible deformation. This deformation is linked to the weakening or breakage of interparticle bonds caused by tensile stress concentration around the crack tip. These findings identify fatigue fracturing as one of the key mechanisms driving loess crack propagation and subsequent toppling failure. Consequently, natural conditions conducive to fatigue failure, such as micro-vibrations, temperature variations, and humidity, should be considered when identifying potential toppling sites in loess areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"488 ","pages":"Article 109958"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144780970","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 : 2025-08-04DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109955
Francisco Gutiérrez , Mahmud Haghshenas Haghighi , Issa Ilyati , Mahdi Motagh , Miren del Val
{"title":"Diapiric and tectonic geomorphology of the river-damming Jahani salt extrusion associated with the strike-slip Kareh Bas Fault, including DInSAR displacement data (Zagros Mountains, Iran)","authors":"Francisco Gutiérrez , Mahmud Haghshenas Haghighi , Issa Ilyati , Mahdi Motagh , Miren del Val","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109955","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109955","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Fars Arc of the Zagros Fold-and-Thrust Belt hosts the most remarkable examples of salt extrusions worldwide, within a context of rapid collision-related deformation and high seismic activity. Hormuz salt extrusions in the western Fars Arc form rows associated with >200 km long dextral strike-slip faults, which constitute major seismic sources. This work is focused on the Jahani salt fountain and the associated Kareh Bas Fault. The Kareh Bas Fault is interpreted as a supra-salt tear fault controlled by thickness variations in the Hormuz salt detachment and associated rows of precursor diapirs. The precursor Jahani diapir likely induced the segmentation of the S-propagating Kareh Bas Fault, generating a releasing stepover that facilitated salt emergence. OSL dating of +40 m terrace deposits of the Shur River deformed by the Kareh Bas Fault reveals that the fault sourced two paleoearthquakes before and around 14.7–13.8 ka, and indicates a long-term fluvial incision rates of 2.7–2.9 mm/yr. The emerged Jahani diapir (68 km<sup>2</sup>, 918 m in local relief) is a salt fountain comprising a protruding summit dome and laterally spreading salt glaciers (i.e., namakiers). The northern namakier has been trimmed by the Shur River, generating an exceptional salt escarpment 6 km long and >400 m high. Masses of disconnected Hormuz rocks on the opposite margin of the valley and paleolake deposits found upstream and dated by OSL at 28 ± 5 ka, indicate that the Shur River has experienced multiple damming episodes, likely during dry periods. This work documents for the first time the damming of a major drainage by a salt glacier and the creation of a lake. DInSAR data reveal an overall progressive displacement pattern in the Jahani salt fountain characterised by a rising summit dome (1–2 cm/yr) and laterally spreading namakiers with distally decreasing horizontal displacement rates (1–2 cm/yr) and some uplift in the frontal sectors. This general pattern is altered in the northern sector, where the debuttressed salt extrusion rapidly flows towards the deeply entrenched Shur valley at horizontal and vertical rates of around 10–15 cm/yr. The presented displacement data invalidate a previous work, that based on inadequate theodolite displacement measurements of the order of m/yr, suggested that the is one of the most vigorously rising salt extrusions on Earth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"488 ","pages":"Article 109955"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144772789","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 : 2025-07-30DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109943
Monica Rasmussen , Martha Cary Eppes , Yang Yuan , Philip G. Meredith , Karin Hofer Apostolidis , Thomas Mitchell , Alex J. Rinehart , Amit Mushkin , Patrick Webb , Valerie Reynolds , Alan J. Hidy , Samantha Berberich , Russell Keanini , Maxwell P. Dahlquist , Tao Xu
{"title":"Evolving physical and mechanical rock properties during exposure at Earth's surface","authors":"Monica Rasmussen , Martha Cary Eppes , Yang Yuan , Philip G. Meredith , Karin Hofer Apostolidis , Thomas Mitchell , Alex J. Rinehart , Amit Mushkin , Patrick Webb , Valerie Reynolds , Alan J. Hidy , Samantha Berberich , Russell Keanini , Maxwell P. Dahlquist , Tao Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109943","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109943","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rocks at Earth's surface experience progressive damage due to exposure to environmental conditions. Although environmental damage to rocks is recognized as being time-dependent, our quantitative understanding of its effects on physical and mechanical properties remains limited by field and laboratory studies constrained to short timescales. In this study, we aim to rigorously quantify how these properties evolve under longer natural environmental exposure spanning from the Holocene to the late Pleistocene. We conducted a ‘time series’ analysis of key physical and mechanical rock properties using multiple interior samples from 10 cogenetic granitoid boulders exposed for different amounts of time at two sites in Eastern California, USA. We find that over the late Pleistocene (~30 ka), rocks exhibit porosity increases of 40 ± 4 % and seismic velocity decreases of 7 ± 1 % at both sites. Similarly, over the same time period, rock tensile and compressive strengths declined by an average of 11 ± 4 %, and rock permeability increased on average by 104 ± 50 %. Microscopic analysis of thin sections of the same rocks indicates that microfracture density and intensity also progressively increased over the same timescales. These results suggest that time-dependent fracture propagation due to environmental exposure is likely a central contributor to the observed changes in rock properties. This study provides quantitative documentation that pronounced changes in the physical and mechanical properties of rock progressively occur within thousands of years of exposure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"488 ","pages":"Article 109943"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144750755","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 : 2025-07-27DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109942
Teng Su , He Qing Huang , Paul A. Carling , Gerald C. Nanson , Min Zhang
{"title":"Criticality in the evolution of river meanders in the Lower Yellow River in response to anthropogenic-induced hydrological regime shift","authors":"Teng Su , He Qing Huang , Paul A. Carling , Gerald C. Nanson , Min Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109942","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109942","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To interpret the planform transition from meandering to straight in depositional river channels, a new approach has recently been proposed, incorporating the channel mobility number <span><math><mi>M</mi></math></span> (quantifying the relative activity of lateral channel migration versus vertical channel-bed variation) alongside channel sinuosity <span><math><mi>S</mi></math></span>. To evaluate the applicability of this approach in determining cutoff conditions in the wandering Lower Yellow River (LYR), we analyzed the evolution of six actively migrating meanders using remote sensing images and river cross-sectional profile measurements. These meanders progressively developed cutoffs between 1990 and 2021 under conditions where <span><math><mi>M</mi><mo>≈</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span> and <span><math><mi>S</mi><mo>≈</mo><mn>1.6</mn></math></span>, with a notable increase in cutoffs following the Xiaolangdi Reservoir's operation in 2000. The increase in cutoffs reflects the increased lateral migration rates of these meanders, primarily driven by a drastic hydrological regime shift in the LYR. Before 2000, the river was dominated by hyper-concentrated flows and frequent overbank flooding. However, after the reservoir's operation, a sharp decline in sediment concentration left the river with excess energy. This energy was expended through both vertical incision and accelerated lateral migration, resulting in highly sinuous meanders that eventually underwent cutoffs, reverting to low-sinuosity channels. This study demonstrates that the channel mobility number <span><math><mi>M</mi></math></span>, together with channel sinuosity <span><math><mi>S</mi></math></span>, can be used to track the critical planform transition points of sinuous channels experiencing aggrading or incising processes. Although meander cutoffs arise from the self-organizing process of river evolution, their critical sinuosities are modulated by allogenic factors, particularly bank erodibility and hydrological regime shift.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"488 ","pages":"Article 109942"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144780972","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 : 2025-07-25DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109941
Weizhi Jiao , Zhenwei Dai , Qijun Song , Yujie Wang , Dandan Liu , Jingjun Tang , Long Yang
{"title":"Influence of fault properties and fold structures on karst sinkholes formation and evolution: Insights from a multidisciplinary analysis","authors":"Weizhi Jiao , Zhenwei Dai , Qijun Song , Yujie Wang , Dandan Liu , Jingjun Tang , Long Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109941","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109941","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sinkholes are a widespread geological hazard in karst landforms, posing significant threats to human activities and infrastructure. While faults broadly influence sinkhole formation and evolution, few studies have addressed how specific fault characteristics and their interactions with fold structures impact groundwater recharge and sinkhole formation locally. This study employed a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing field investigation, geophysical surveys, hydrochemical analyses, and groundwater monitoring to investigate the anomalous ground vibrations observed over recent decades in Zhangjing Village, Hunan Province, China. Our findings revealed that the spatial and temporal distribution of sinkholes is predominantly structurally controlled by NNE-trending fault and fold systems. These geological features shaped a fault-bounded uplift geological framework that establishes intricate hydrogeological pathways. Strike-slip faults intersecting anticline structures facilitate the downward recharge of epigene aquifers into hypogene carbonate aquifers, whereas reverse faults in the discharge region acted as substantial hydraulic barriers, limiting lateral groundwater flow in the hypogene aquifer and promoting upward recharge into epigene aquifers. Further analysis indicated that the persistent ground vibrations in Zhangjing Village can be attributed to karst air blasting triggered by rapid groundwater level rises (about 30 m) after short-term heavy rainfall following prolonged droughts. This process ruptured cavity roofs and exceeded overburden stability thresholds, generating clustered cover collapse sinkholes. This work proposes a novel theoretical framework for fault-fold-groundwater interactions in karst sinkhole formation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"488 ","pages":"Article 109941"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144780971","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 : 2025-07-24DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109940
Bo Chen, Xiaoping Yang, Deguo Zhang
{"title":"Tentative quantification of the provenances of aeolian sands in the Wulanbuhe Desert of northwestern China: Insights from geochemical and grain size analysis of sediment samples","authors":"Bo Chen, Xiaoping Yang, Deguo Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109940","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109940","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Identifying the provenance of aeolian sand is crucial to unraveling the formation and evolution processes of dunes commonly occurring in arid and semi-arid regions. This study presents comprehensive grain size and geochemical data for the mobile dunes (<em>n</em> = 22), vegetated dunes, i.e., dunes stabilized or semi-stabilized by vegetation (<em>n</em> = 26), and fluvial sand samples (<em>n</em> = 10) in the Wulanbuhe (a.k.a. Ulan Buh) Desert (WD) of northwestern China. Major-elemental data and the Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> - CaO*+Na<sub>2</sub>O+K<sub>2</sub>O - SiO<sub>2</sub> (A-CNK-Si) diagram indicates that dune sands have undergone sedimentary sorting during aeolian transport, although chemical weathering was weak. Spatial variations in grain size and geochemical characteristics within the WD dune sands are not systematically observed, indicating a heterogeneous mixture of materials from diverse sources. Based on the end-members mixing model, this study found differences in the sand sources between the mobile and vegetated dunes in the WD. The bedrock detritus from the surrounding mountains is a dominant source (60 %) of the mobile dune sands in the WD, followed by the paleo-lacustrine deposits from the desert hinterlands (24 %) and the sediments of alluvial fans from the upwind areas (16 %). In contrast, the sands of vegetated dunes were derived from the bedrock detritus (48 %), alluvial fans from the upwind side (32 %), and paleo-lacustrine deposit (20 %), respectively. Our findings confirm that the presence of vegetation on the dune surface influences sediment grain-size characteristics, which in turn affects aeolian erosion and deposition processes, leading to variations in sand source materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"487 ","pages":"Article 109940"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724755","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 : 2025-07-23DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109939
Yuanyuan Wang , Jianmin Zhang , Yurong Wang, Kefeng Li
{"title":"Using Google Earth Engine to assess cumulative impacts of cascade dams on river surface morphology in mountainous watersheds- Case of the lower Yalong River","authors":"Yuanyuan Wang , Jianmin Zhang , Yurong Wang, Kefeng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109939","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109939","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cascade dam construction significantly alters river surface morphology, posing challenges for sustainable river management. This study investigates the cumulative morphological impacts and restoration potential in the lower Yalong River using topographic maps, satellite imagery, and field surveys. In contrast to previous research focused on local hydrodynamics or sediment processes, this work emphasizes large-scale, long-term river surface evolution. Five key morphological indicators—river width, width ratio, shape index, sinuosity index, and stability—were extracted from multi-temporal Landsat imagery using the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI). A dynamic rate method was used to quantify the average annual change of each indicator during different dam construction stages. The results show that cascade dams substantially reshaped water surface patterns: 67 % of river segments widened upstream to form reservoirs, while 6 % experienced downstream narrowing due to flow reduction. Pre-dam morphological changes extended up to 134 km, while post-dam impacts were limited to within 15 km. The most significant changes occurred during the construction of the first and fourth dams, while the fifth dam had minimal influence due to its smaller scale. Correlation and principal component analyses identified river width and stability as the most sensitive indicators of cumulative impacts. These findings demonstrate that cascade dams induce pronounced and phase-specific alterations to river morphology, with both localized and far-reaching upstream-downstream interactions. The study improves understanding of geomorphic responses to multi-dam systems and offers a quantitative basis for evaluating ecological resilience and guiding sustainable river basin management in mountainous regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"487 ","pages":"Article 109939"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144713962","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 : 2025-07-23DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109936
Carolin Rabethge , Lena Noack , Frank Postberg , Sebastian Walter , Ralf Jaumann
{"title":"The use of fractal geometry for classifying polygonal surface structures and their implications on environmental conditions – A new proxy for planetary sciences?","authors":"Carolin Rabethge , Lena Noack , Frank Postberg , Sebastian Walter , Ralf Jaumann","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109936","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109936","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Patterned ground, especially polygonal surface structures, are of particular importance for planetary sciences, as they are known from the Earth as well as from other celestial bodies such as Mars, Mercury, Venus and Pluto. They are therefore ideally suited as a basis for analogue studies. However, the classification of these structures is often based on individually and intuitively perceived parameters, which are difficult to determine, especially with remote sensing data.</div><div>In our work, we therefore propose a new classification of polygonal surface structures. Based on a variety of conventional and established geometric parameters, in combination with the innovative approach of fractal geometry, we suggest a classification based on objective mathematical parameters. Based on remote sensing data from more than 100 sites, we show that polygons of different depositional environments can be distinguished and assigned to specific environmental conditions based on purely geometric data. Polygons formed in periglacial depositional environments can be clearly distinguished from structures formed in arid to hyper-arid environments. Furthermore, the structures can be correlated with the known subsurface conditions. The polygon classes resulting from the geometric investigations show a strong correlation with the ground ice content of the depositional areas.</div><div>Polygons can thus serve as proxies, for example, to identify suitable landing sites for future Mars missions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"487 ","pages":"Article 109936"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144703854","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 : 2025-07-23DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109938
Lavanecha Chandran , Nicholas Eyles , Syed Bukhari , Roger C. Paulen , Denise M. Brushett , Niko Putkinen
{"title":"Mapping of glacial erratic boulders for mineral exploration: A review with LiDAR-based examples from modern and ancient glaciated terrains","authors":"Lavanecha Chandran , Nicholas Eyles , Syed Bukhari , Roger C. Paulen , Denise M. Brushett , Niko Putkinen","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109938","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109938","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mineral exploration in glaciated terrains is dependent on a thorough understanding of the history and mode of flow of Pleistocene mid-latitude ice sheets to successfully identify potential mineralized targets in bedrock partially or completely covered by glacial sediments. Mapping of glaciated terrains and exploration using boulder trains and mineralized dispersal trains on the glaciated crystalline shields of Canada and Fennoscandia is challenged by vegetative covers and remote sensing data of inadequate resolution. Two methodological approaches for processing and visualizing drone mapped high-resolution LiDAR data, are described herein and used to identify and map erratic boulders at 1) a modern glacier foreland (Saskatchewan Glacier) in Alberta, where an extensive boulder-strewn and partially drumlinized till surface free of vegetative cover, is being exposed by ice retreat since 1854; and 2) at an area of known lithium and tin mineralisation obscured by thick forest cover in Nova Scotia, which has been affected by several Pleistocene glaciations, most recently by the Appalachian Glacier Complex some 20,000 years ago. The first methodological approach (Strip Alignment) is used to correct offsets formed between adjacent drone flight paths to enhance data coverage and resolution. The second (Semi-Automated Tree Point Classification) is used to eliminate vegetative covers from LiDAR point clouds. In combination with statistical analysis (Point Density), these methods permit successful mapping of erratic boulders and their spatial density. This approach can now be scaled up for regional mineral exploration projects and for geomorphic mapping of modern and ancient glaciated terrains to determine former ice flow trajectories and landform evolution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"487 ","pages":"Article 109938"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144713907","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 : 2025-07-21DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109937
William C. Buckley , Patrick L. Williams , Thomas K. Rockwell , Allen M. Gontz
{"title":"Estimating slip distribution along the southernmost ∼80 km of the San Andreas Fault by examining tectonically offset features","authors":"William C. Buckley , Patrick L. Williams , Thomas K. Rockwell , Allen M. Gontz","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109937","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109937","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We measured tectonically offset geomorphic features along approximately 80 km of the southernmost San Andreas Fault (sSAF) between Bombay Beach and Indio Hills in the Salton Trough to obtain a better estimate for slip distribution and slip-per-event for the past several large, surface rupturing earthquakes along this segment of the fault. In addition to gathering aerial imagery from previously published B4 light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery, we constructed new high-resolution orthomosaic images and digital surface models (DSMs) generated from Structure-from-Motion-Multiview Stereo (SfM-MVS) techniques from UAV imagery at multiple localities along the San Andreas fault in the Salton Trough region of California, which include study areas at Durmid Hill, Salt Creek, Ferrum, Mecca Hills, and Indio Hills. The aerial imagery, along with field mapping, were used to identify and measure a total of 146 offset features with lateral displacement measurements ranging between 1.5 and 23 m, with all measurements below 2.5 m found along multi-stranded sections of fault. Investigation of offset features suggests that the last several large, surface rupturing events produced average displacements of 3.0–4.4 m per event, with lower overall lateral slip values where multiple fault strands are present. Offset features along sections of the fault with multiple active strands with only partial displacement measured were not considered in our final slip distribution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"487 ","pages":"Article 109937"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704207","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}