- About
- Editorial board
- Articles
- Special issues
- Highlight articles
- Manuscript tracking
- Subscribe to alerts
- Peer review
- For authors
- For reviewers
- EGU publications
- Imprint
- Data protection
Journal cover
Journal topic
Earth Surface Dynamics
An interactive open-access journal of the European Geosciences Union
Journal topic
- About
- Editorial board
- Articles
- Special issues
- Highlight articles
- Manuscript tracking
- Subscribe to alerts
- Peer review
- For authors
- For reviewers
- EGU publications
- Imprint
- Data protection
Journal metrics
Journal metrics
IF 3.765
3.719CiteScore
3.83SNIP 1.281
SJR 1.527
index 17h5-index 18
Abstracted/indexed
Abstracted/indexed
Volume 4, issue 3
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 743–755, 2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-743-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-743-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 743–755, 2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-743-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-743-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article 28 Sep 2016
Research article | 28 Sep 2016
3-D models and structural analysis of rock avalanches: the study of the deformation process to better understand the propagation mechanism
Céline Longchamp et al.Related authors
No articles found.
Martin Mergili, Michel Jaboyedoff, José Pullarello, and Shiva P. Pudasaini
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-2019-204, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-2019-204, 2019
Revised manuscript under review for NHESS
Michel Jaboyedoff, Masahiro Chigira, Noriyuki Arai, Marc-Henri Derron, Benjamin Rudaz, and Ching-Ying Tsou
Earth Surf. Dynam., 7, 439–458, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-439-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-439-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
High-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) can now be acquired using airborne laser scanners. This allows for a detailed analysis of the geometry of landslides. Several large landslides were triggered by Typhoon Talas in Japan in 2011. The comparison of pre- and post-DEMs allowed us to test a method of defining landslide failure surfaces before catastrophic movements. It provides new results about the curvature of the failure surface and the volume expansion of the deposit.
Thomas R. Chudley, Poul Christoffersen, Samuel H. Doyle, Antonio Abellan, and Neal Snooke
The Cryosphere, 13, 955–968, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-955-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-955-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly common tools in the geosciences, but their use requires good ground control in order to make accurate georeferenced models. This is difficult in applications such as glaciology, where access to study sites can be hazardous. We show that a new technique utilising on-board GPS post-processing can match and even improve on ground-control-based methods, and, as a result, can produce accurate glacier velocity fields even on an inland ice sheet.
Jérémie Voumard, Antonio Abellán, Pierrick Nicolet, Ivanna Penna, Marie-Aurélie Chanut, Marc-Henri Derron, and Michel Jaboyedoff
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 2093–2107, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-2093-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-2093-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We discuss the challenges and limitations of surveying rock slope failures using 3-D reconstruction from images acquired from street view imagery (SVI) and processed with modern photogrammetric workflows. Despite some clear limitations and challenges, we demonstrate that this original approach could help obtain preliminary 3-D models of an area without on-field images. Furthermore, the pre-failure topography can be obtained for sites where it would not be available otherwise.
Antoine Guerin, Antonio Abellán, Battista Matasci, Michel Jaboyedoff, Marc-Henri Derron, and Ludovic Ravanel
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1207–1220, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-1207-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-1207-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The coupling of terrestrial lidar scans acquired in 2011 and a photogrammetric model created from 30 old Web-retrieved images enabled reconstructing in 3-D the Drus west face before the 2005 rock avalanche and estimating the volume of this event. The volume is calculated as 292 680 m3 (±5.6 %). However, despite functioning well for the Drus (legendary peak), this method would have been difficult to implement on a less-well-known site with fewer images available to be collected and downloaded.
Pascal Horton, Charles Obled, and Michel Jaboyedoff
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3307–3323, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3307-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3307-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The analogue method aims at forecasting precipitation by means of a statistical relationship with meteorological variables at a large scale, such as the general atmospheric circulation. A moving time window has been introduced here in order to allow finding better analogue situations at different hours of the day. This change resulted in a better analogy of the atmospheric circulation, with improved prediction skills, and even to a greater extent for days with heavy precipitation.
Ryan A. Kromer, Antonio Abellán, D. Jean Hutchinson, Matt Lato, Marie-Aurelie Chanut, Laurent Dubois, and Michel Jaboyedoff
Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 293–310, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-293-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-293-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We developed and tested an automated terrestrial laser scanning (ATLS) system with near-real-time change detection at the Séchilienne landslide. We monitored the landslide for a 6-week period collecting a point cloud every 30 min. We detected various slope processes including movement of scree material, pre-failure deformation of discrete rockfall events and deformation of the main landslide body. This system allows the study of slope processes a high level of temporal detail.
Roya Olyazadeh, Karen Sudmeier-Rieux, Michel Jaboyedoff, Marc-Henri Derron, and Sanjaya Devkota
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 549–561, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-549-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-549-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This work shows the progress and testing of an online–offline web-GIS application based on open-source technologies for landslide hazard and risk. It has satellite images as a base map in the offline mode and data collection in a centralized online database. The advantage of a mobile app coupled with satellite images over mapping in the office is improved identification of landslide type. This study was used for landslides in Nepal, but it can also be useful for other hazards like floods.
Zar Chi Aye, Roya Olyazadeh, Marc-Henri Derron, Michel Jaboyedoff, and Johann Lüthi
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-2017-85, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-2017-85, 2017
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
In this paper, we present an open-source, web-GIS application (RISKGIS), developed for students learning in risk management of geohazards with real case studies. The aim is for students to better understand and become familiarized with approaches used by experts as well as for teachers to better evaluate and monitor student learning. A series of practical exercises is carried out with students and feedback are collected to identify the possibility and applicability of RISKGIS learning platform.
Jacques Bechet, Julien Duc, Alexandre Loye, Michel Jaboyedoff, Nicolle Mathys, Jean-Philippe Malet, Sébastien Klotz, Caroline Le Bouteiller, Benjamin Rudaz, and Julien Travelletti
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 781–798, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-781-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-781-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This paper describes the erosion processes of a small black marl catchment. It is based on terrestrial laser scanner digital elevation model campaigns. A detailed sediment budget is performed, leading to a seasonal sediment transport pattern described spatially and temporally. The link with precipitation intensities and duration is analysed, leading to a conceptual model of erosion that provides clear input for future research regarding potential impacts of climate change on erosion processes.
Alexandre Loye, Michel Jaboyedoff, Joshua Isaac Theule, and Frédéric Liébault
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 489–513, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-489-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-489-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The sediment supply and storage changes from major channels of the Manival catchment (French Alps) were surveyed periodically for 16 months to study the coupling between sediment dynamics and torrent responses in terms of debris flow events. The spatial and seasonal variability of sediment delivery is displayed and analysed. This study shows that monitoring the changes within a torrent’s in-channel storage and its debris supply can improve knowledge on recharge thresholds leading to debris flow.
Anette Eltner, Andreas Kaiser, Carlos Castillo, Gilles Rock, Fabian Neugirg, and Antonio Abellán
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 359–389, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-359-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-359-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Three-dimensional reconstruction of earth surfaces from overlapping images is a promising tool for geoscientists. The method is very flexible, cost-efficient and easy to use, leading to a high variability in applications at different scales. Performance evaluation reveals that good accuracies are achievable but depend on the requirements of the individual case study. Future applications and developments (i.e. big data) will consolidate this essential tool for digital surface mapping.
Pierrick Nicolet, Michel Jaboyedoff, Catherine Cloutier, Giovanni B. Crosta, and Sébastien Lévy
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 995–1004, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-16-995-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-16-995-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
When calculating the risk of railway or road users being killed by a natural hazard, one has to calculate a temporal spatial probability, i.e. the probability of a vehicle being in the path of the falling mass when the mass falls, or the expected number of hit vehicles in the case of an event. This paper discusses different methods used to calculate this probability, in particular regarding the consideration of the dimensions of the falling mass and of the vehicles.
Julie D'Amato, Didier Hantz, Antoine Guerin, Michel Jaboyedoff, Laurent Baillet, and Armand Mariscal
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 719–735, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-16-719-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-16-719-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The influence of meteorological conditions on rockfall occurrence has been often highlighted, but quantitative analyses are rare. A near-continuous survey of a limestone cliff has shown that the rockfall frequency can be multiplied by 7 during freeze-thaw episodes and 26 when the mean rainfall intensity (since the beginning of the rainfall episode) is higher than 5 mm h−1. Based on these results, a three-level scale has been proposed for predicting the temporal variations of rockfall frequency.
Z. C. Aye, M. Jaboyedoff, M. H. Derron, C. J. van Westen, H. Y. Hussin, R. L. Ciurean, S. Frigerio, and A. Pasuto
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 85–101, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-16-85-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-16-85-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents the development and application of a prototype web-GIS tool for risk analysis, in particular for floods and landslides, based on open-source software and web technologies. The aim is to assist experts (risk managers) in analysing the impacts and consequences of a certain hazard event in a considered region, contributing to open-source and research community in natural hazards and risk assessment. The tool is demonstrated using a regional data set of Fella River basin, Italy.
J. Bechet, J. Duc, M. Jaboyedoff, A. Loye, and N. Mathys
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 1849–1855, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1849-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1849-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
High-resolution three-dimensional point clouds are used to analyse erosion processes at the millimetre scale. The processes analysed here play a role in the closure of cracks. We demonstrated how micro-scale infiltration can influence the degradation of soil surface by inducing downward mass movements that are not reversible. This development will aid in designing future experiments to analyse processes such as swelling, crack closure, micro-landslides, etc.
A. Guerin, D. Hantz, J.-P. Rossetti, and M. Jaboyedoff
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/nhessd-2-123-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhessd-2-123-2014, 2014
Revised manuscript not accepted
M. Böhme, M.-H. Derron, and M. Jaboyedoff
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/nhessd-2-81-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhessd-2-81-2014, 2014
Revised manuscript not accepted
P. Nicolet, L. Foresti, O. Caspar, and M. Jaboyedoff
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 13, 3169–3184, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-13-3169-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-13-3169-2013, 2013
J. Voumard, O. Caspar, M.-H. Derron, and M. Jaboyedoff
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 13, 2763–2777, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-13-2763-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-13-2763-2013, 2013
P. Horton, M. Jaboyedoff, B. Rudaz, and M. Zimmermann
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 13, 869–885, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-13-869-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-13-869-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Cross-cutting themes: Digital Landscapes: Insights into geomorphological processes from high-resolution topography and quantitative interrogation of topographic data
Short Communication: A simple workflow for robust low-cost UAV-derived change detection without ground control points
Computing water flow through complex landscapes – Part 1: Incorporating depressions in flow routing using FlowFill
Relationships between regional coastal land cover distributions and elevation reveal data uncertainty in a sea-level rise impacts model
A segmentation approach for the reproducible extraction and quantification of knickpoints from river long profiles
A method based on structure-from-motion photogrammetry to generate sub-millimetre-resolution digital elevation models for investigating rock breakdown features
A comparison of structure from motion photogrammetry and the traversing micro-erosion meter for measuring erosion on shore platforms
Measuring decadal vertical land-level changes from SRTM-C (2000) and TanDEM-X ( ∼ 2015) in the south-central Andes
Bank erosion processes measured with UAV-SfM along complex banklines of a straight mid-sized river reach
Identification of stable areas in unreferenced laser scans for automated geomorphometric monitoring
Unsupervised detection of salt marsh platforms: a topographic method
The determination of high-resolution spatio-temporal glacier motion fields from time-lapse sequences
Bumps in river profiles: uncertainty assessment and smoothing using quantile regression techniques
Unravelling earth flow dynamics with 3-D time series derived from UAV-SfM models
Tree-root control of shallow landslides
Automated terrestrial laser scanning with near-real-time change detection – monitoring of the Séchilienne landslide
Validation of digital elevation models (DEMs) and comparison of geomorphic metrics on the southern Central Andean Plateau
Frontiers in Geomorphometry and Earth Surface Dynamics: possibilities, limitations and perspectives
How does grid-resolution modulate the topographic expression of geomorphic processes?
Suitability of ground-based SfM–MVS for monitoring glacial and periglacial processes
Image-based surface reconstruction in geomorphometry – merits, limits and developments
Topography-based flow-directional roughness: potential and challenges
A nondimensional framework for exploring the relief structure of landscapes
Topographic roughness as a signature of the emergence of bedrock in eroding landscapes
Tracing the boundaries of Cenozoic volcanic edifices from Sardinia (Italy): a geomorphometric contribution
Transitional relation exploration for typical loess geomorphologic types based on slope spectrum characteristics
Extracting topographic swath profiles across curved geomorphic features
Short Communication: TopoToolbox 2 – MATLAB-based software for topographic analysis and modeling in Earth surface sciences
Kristen L. Cook and Michael Dietze
Earth Surf. Dynam., 7, 1009–1017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-1009-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-1009-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
UAVs have become popular tools for detecting topographic changes. Traditionally, detecting small amounts of change between two UAV surveys requires each survey to be highly accurate. We take an alternative approach and present a simple processing workflow that produces survey pairs or sets that are highly consistent with each other, even when the overall accuracy is relatively low. This greatly increases our ability to detect changes in settings where ground control is not possible.
Kerry L. Callaghan and Andrew D. Wickert
Earth Surf. Dynam., 7, 737–753, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-737-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-737-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Lakes and swales are real landscape features but are generally treated as data errors when calculating water flow across a surface. This is a problem because depressions can store water and fragment drainage networks. Until now, there has been no good generalized approach to calculate which depressions fill and overflow and which do not. We addressed this problem by simulating runoff flow across a landscape, selectively flooding depressions and more realistically connecting lakes and rivers.
Erika E. Lentz, Nathaniel G. Plant, and E. Robert Thieler
Earth Surf. Dynam., 7, 429–438, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-429-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-429-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Our findings examine several data inputs for probabilistic regional sea-level rise (SLR) impact predictions. To predict coastal response to SLR, detailed information on the landscape, including elevation, vegetation, and/or level of development, is needed. However, we find that the inherent relationship between elevation and land cover datasets (e.g., beaches tend to be low lying) is used to reduce error in a coastal response to SLR model, suggesting new applications for areas of limited data.
Boris Gailleton, Simon M. Mudd, Fiona J. Clubb, Daniel Peifer, and Martin D. Hurst
Earth Surf. Dynam., 7, 211–230, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-211-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-211-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The shape of landscapes is influenced by climate changes, faulting or the nature of the rocks under the surface. One of the most sensitive parts of the landscape to these changes is the river system that eventually adapts to such changes by adapting its slope, the most extreme example being a waterfall. We here present an algorithm that extracts changes in river slope over large areas from satellite data with the aim of investigating climatic, tectonic or geologic changes in the landscape.
Ankit Kumar Verma and Mary Carol Bourke
Earth Surf. Dynam., 7, 45–66, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-45-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-7-45-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The article describes the development of a portable triangle control target to register structure-from-motion-derived topographic data. We were able to generate sub-millimetre-resolution 3-D models with sub-millimetre accuracy. We verified the accuracy of our models in an experiment and demonstrated the potential of our method by collecting microtopographic data on weathered Moenkopi sandstone in Arizona. The results from our study confirm the efficacy of our method at sub-millimetre scale.
Niamh Danielle Cullen, Ankit Kumar Verma, and Mary Clare Bourke
Earth Surf. Dynam., 6, 1023–1039, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-1023-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-1023-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This research article provides a comparison between the traditional method of measuring erosion on rock shore platforms using a traversing micro-erosion meter (TMEM) and a new approach using structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry. Our results indicate that SfM photogrammetry offers several advantages over the TMEM, allowing for erosion measurement at different scales on rock surfaces with low roughness while also providing a means to identify different processes and styles of erosion.
Benjamin Purinton and Bodo Bookhagen
Earth Surf. Dynam., 6, 971–987, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-971-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-971-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We show a new use for the SRTM-C digital elevation model from February 2000 and the newer TanDEM-X dataset from ~ 2015. We difference the datasets over hillslopes and gravel-bed channels to extract vertical land-level changes. These signals are associated with incision, aggradation, and landsliding. This requires careful correction of the SRTM-C biases using the TanDEM-X and propagation of significant uncertainties. The method can be applied to moderate relief areas with SRTM-C coverage.
Gonzalo Duró, Alessandra Crosato, Maarten G. Kleinhans, and Wim S. J. Uijttewaal
Earth Surf. Dynam., 6, 933–953, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-933-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-933-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The challenge to measure three-dimensional bank irregularities in a mid-sized river reach can be quickly solved in the field flying a drone with ground-control points and later applying structure from motion photogrammetry. We tested a simple approach that achieved sufficient resolution and accuracy to identify the full bank erosion cycle, including undermining. This is an easy-to-use and quickly deployed survey alternative to measure bank erosion processes along extended distances.
Daniel Wujanz, Michael Avian, Daniel Krueger, and Frank Neitzel
Earth Surf. Dynam., 6, 303–317, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-303-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-303-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The importance of increasing the degree of automation in the context of monitoring natural hazards or geological phenomena is apparent. A vital step in the processing chain of monitoring deformations is the transformation of captured epochs into a common reference systems. This led to the motivation to develop an algorithm that realistically carries out this task. The algorithm was tested on three different geomorphic events while the results were quite satisfactory.
Guillaume C. H. Goodwin, Simon M. Mudd, and Fiona J. Clubb
Earth Surf. Dynam., 6, 239–255, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-239-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-6-239-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Salt marshes are valuable environments that provide multiple services to coastal communities. However, their fast-paced evolution poses a challenge to monitoring campaigns due to time-consuming processing. The Topographic Identification of Platforms (TIP) method uses high-resolution topographic data to automatically detect the limits of salt marsh platforms within a landscape. The TIP method provides sufficient accuracy to monitor salt marsh change over time, facilitating coastal management.
Ellen Schwalbe and Hans-Gerd Maas
Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 861–879, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-861-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-861-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The simple use of time-lapse cameras as a visual observation tool may already be a great help for environmental investigations. However, beyond that, they have the potential to also deliver precise measurements with high temporal and spatial resolution when applying appropriate processing techniques. In this paper we introduce a method for the determination of glacier motion fields from time-lapse images, but it might also be adapted for other environmental motion analysis tasks.
Wolfgang Schwanghart and Dirk Scherler
Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 821–839, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-821-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-821-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
River profiles derived from digital elevation models are affected by errors. Here we present two new algorithms – quantile carving and the CRS algorithm – to hydrologically correct river profiles. Both algorithms preserve the downstream decreasing shape of river profiles, while CRS additionally smooths profiles to avoid artificial steps. Our algorithms are able to cope with the problems of overestimation and asymmetric error distributions.
François Clapuyt, Veerle Vanacker, Fritz Schlunegger, and Kristof Van Oost
Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 791–806, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-791-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-791-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This work aims at understanding the behaviour of an earth flow located in the Swiss Alps by reconstructing very accurately its topography over a 2-year period. Aerial photos taken from a drone, which are then processed using a computer vision algorithm, were used to derive the topographic datasets. Combination and careful interpretation of high-resolution topographic analyses reveal the internal mechanisms of the earthflow and its complex rotational structure, which is evolving over time.
Denis Cohen and Massimiliano Schwarz
Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 451–477, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-451-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-451-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Tree roots reinforce soils on slopes. A new slope stability model is presented that computes root reinforcement including the effects of root heterogeneities and dependence of root strength on tensile and compressive strain. Our results show that roots stabilize slopes that would otherwise fail under a rainfall event. Tension in roots is more effective than compression. Redistribution of forces in roots across the hillslope plays a key role in the stability of the slope during rainfall events.
Ryan A. Kromer, Antonio Abellán, D. Jean Hutchinson, Matt Lato, Marie-Aurelie Chanut, Laurent Dubois, and Michel Jaboyedoff
Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 293–310, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-293-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-293-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We developed and tested an automated terrestrial laser scanning (ATLS) system with near-real-time change detection at the Séchilienne landslide. We monitored the landslide for a 6-week period collecting a point cloud every 30 min. We detected various slope processes including movement of scree material, pre-failure deformation of discrete rockfall events and deformation of the main landslide body. This system allows the study of slope processes a high level of temporal detail.
Benjamin Purinton and Bodo Bookhagen
Earth Surf. Dynam., 5, 211–237, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-211-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-5-211-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We evaluate the 12 m TanDEM-X DEM for geomorphometry and compare elevation accuracy (using over 300 000 dGPS measurements) and geomorphic metrics (e.g., slope and curvature) to other modern satellite-derived DEMs. The optically generated 5 m ALOS World 3D is less useful due to high-frequency noise. Despite improvements in radar-derived satellite DEMs, which are useful for elevation differencing and catchment analysis, lidar data are still necessary for fine-scale analysis of hillslope processes.
Giulia Sofia, John K. Hillier, and Susan J. Conway
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 721–725, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-721-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-721-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The interdisciplinarity of geomorphometry is its greatest strength and one of its major challenges. This special issue showcases exciting developments that are the building blocks for the next step-change in the field. In reading and compiling the contributions we hope that the scientific community will be inspired to seek out collaborations and share ideas across subject-boundaries, between technique-developers and users, enabling us as a community to gather knowledge from our digital landscape
Stuart W. D. Grieve, Simon M. Mudd, David T. Milodowski, Fiona J. Clubb, and David J. Furbish
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 627–653, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-627-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-627-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
High-resolution topographic data are becoming more prevalent, yet many areas of geomorphic interest do not have such data available. We produce topographic data at a range of resolutions to explore the influence of decreasing resolution of data on geomorphic analysis. We test the accuracy of the calculation of curvature, a hillslope sediment transport coefficient, and the identification of channel networks, providing guidelines for future use of these methods on low-resolution topographic data.
Livia Piermattei, Luca Carturan, Fabrizio de Blasi, Paolo Tarolli, Giancarlo Dalla Fontana, Antonio Vettore, and Norbert Pfeifer
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 425–443, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-425-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-425-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
We investigated the applicability of the SfM–MVS approach for calculating the geodetic mass balance of a glacier and for the detection of the surface displacement rate of an active rock glacier located in the eastern Italian Alps. The results demonstrate that it is possible to reliably quantify the investigated glacial and periglacial processes by means of a quick ground-based photogrammetric survey that was conducted using a consumer grade SRL camera and natural targets as ground control points.
Anette Eltner, Andreas Kaiser, Carlos Castillo, Gilles Rock, Fabian Neugirg, and Antonio Abellán
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 359–389, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-359-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-359-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Three-dimensional reconstruction of earth surfaces from overlapping images is a promising tool for geoscientists. The method is very flexible, cost-efficient and easy to use, leading to a high variability in applications at different scales. Performance evaluation reveals that good accuracies are achievable but depend on the requirements of the individual case study. Future applications and developments (i.e. big data) will consolidate this essential tool for digital surface mapping.
Sebastiano Trevisani and Marco Cavalli
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 343–358, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-343-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-343-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
The generalization of the concept of roughness implies the need to refer to a family of roughness indices capturing specific aspects of surface morphology. We test the application of a flow-oriented directional measure of roughness based on the geostatistical index MAD (median of absolute directional differences), computed considering gravity-driven flow direction. The use of flow-directional roughness improves geomorphometric modeling and the interpretation of landscape morphology.
Stuart W. D. Grieve, Simon M. Mudd, Martin D. Hurst, and David T. Milodowski
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 309–325, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-309-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-309-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Relationships between the erosion rate and topographic relief of hillslopes have been demonstrated in a number of diverse settings and such patterns can be used to identify the impact of tectonic plate motion on the Earth's surface. Here we present an open-source software tool which can be used to explore these relationships in any landscape where high-resolution topographic data have been collected.
D. T. Milodowski, S. M. Mudd, and E. T. A. Mitchard
Earth Surf. Dynam., 3, 483–499, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-483-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-3-483-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Rock is exposed at the Earth surface when erosion rates locally exceed rates of soil production. This transition is marked by a diagnostic increase in topographic roughness, which we demonstrate can be a powerful indicator of the location of rock outcrop in a landscape. Using this to explore how hillslopes in two landscapes respond to increasing erosion rates, we find that the transition from soil-mantled to bedrock hillslopes is patchy and spatially heterogeneous.
M. T. Melis, F. Mundula, F. DessÌ, R. Cioni, and A. Funedda
Earth Surf. Dynam., 2, 481–492, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-481-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-481-2014, 2014
S. Zhao and W. Cheng
Earth Surf. Dynam., 2, 433–441, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-433-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-433-2014, 2014
S. Hergarten, J. Robl, and K. Stüwe
Earth Surf. Dynam., 2, 97–104, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-97-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-97-2014, 2014
W. Schwanghart and D. Scherler
Earth Surf. Dynam., 2, 1–7, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-1-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-2-1-2014, 2014
Cited articles
Adams, T., Grant, C., and Watson, H.: Simple algorithm to relate surface roughness to equivalent sand grain roughness, Int. J. Mech. Eng. Mechatr., 1, 2929–2724, 2012.
Andrade, S., van Wyk, D., and de Vries, B.: Sructural analysis of the early stage of catastrophic stratovolcano flank-collapse using analogue models, B. Volcanol, 72, 771–789, 2010.
Charrière, M., Humair, F., Froese, C., Jaboyedoff, M., Pedrazzini, A., and Longchamp, C.: From the source area to the deposit: collapse, fragmentation and propagation of the Frank Slide, GSA Bull., 128, 332–351, 2015.
Cruden, D. M. and Hungr, O.: The debris of the Frank Slide and theories of rockSlide-avalanche mobility, Can. J. Earth Sci., 23, 425–432, 1986.
Davies, T. R.: Spreading of rock avalanche debris by mechanical fluidization, Rock Mech., 15, 9–24, 1982.
Davies, T. R. H. and McSaveney, M. J.: Runout of dry granular avalanches, Can. Geotech. J., 36, 313–320, 1999.
Davies, T. R. H. and McSaveney, M. J.: Runout of rock avalanches and volcanic debris avalanches, Proc. Int. Conf. Fast Slope Movem., Naples, 2, 11–13, 2003.
Dufresne, A.: Granular flow experiments on the interaction with stationary runout path materials and comparison to rock avalanche events, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 37, 1527–1541, 2012.
Dufresne, A. and Davies, T. R: Longitudinal ridges in mass movement deposits, Geomorphology, 105, 171–181, 2009.
Dufresne, A., Prager, C., and Bösmeier, A.: Insights into rock avalanche emplacement processes from detailed morpho-lithological studies oft he Tschirgabt deposit (Tyrol, Austria), Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 41, 587–602, 2016.
Erismann, T. H.: Mechanisms of large landslides, Rock Mechanics Felsmechanik, 12, 15–46, 1979.
Francis, P. W., Gardeweg, M., O'Callaghan, L. J., Ramirez, C. F., and Rothery, D. A.: Catastrophic debris avalanche deposit of Socompa volcano, north Chile, Geology, 14, 600–603, 1985.
Friedman, S. J., Kwon, G., and Losert, W.: Granular memory and its effect on the triggering and distribution of rock avalanche events, J. Geophys. Res., 108, B82380, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JB002174, 2003.
Gonzalez, R. C. and Woods, R. E.: Digital Image Processing – Sec. Ed., Prentice-Hall, Inc., 2002.
Heim, A.: Der Bergsturz und Menschenleben, Fretz und Wasmuth Verlag, Zürich, 218 pp., 1932.
Hsü, K. J.: Catastrophic debris streams (strurzstroms) generated by rockfall, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 86, 129–140, 1975.
Hungr, O., Evans, S. G., Bovis, M., and Hutchinson, J. N.: Review of the classification of landslides of the flow type, Environ. Eng. Geosci., 22, 221–238, 2001.
Iverson, R. M. and Denlinger, R. P.: Flow of variably fluidized granular masses across three-dimensional terrain, I. Coulomb mixture theory, J. Geophys. Res. B, 106, 537–552, 2001.
Kelfoun, K. and Druitt, T. H.: Numerical modelling of the emplacement of Socompa rock avalanche, Chile, J. Geophys. Res., 110, B12202, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JB003758, 2005.
Kumar, L., Skidmore, A. K., and Knowles, E.: Modelling topographic variation in solar radiation in a GIS environment, Int. J. Geogr. Inf. Sci., 11, 475–497, 1996.
Locat P., Couture, R., Leroueil, S., Locat, J., and Jaboyedoff, M.: Fragmentation energy in rock avalanches, Can. Geotech. J., 43, 830–851, 2006.
Longchamp, C.: The Propagation of Unconstrained Dry Granular Flows: from Laboratory to Numerical Modelisation. PhD Thesis, University of Lausanne, Switzerland, 2016.
Longchamp, C., Charrière, M., and Jaboyedoff, M.: Experiments on substratum roughness, grainsize and volume influence on the motion and spreading of rock avalanches, Pan-Am CGS Geotechnical Conference, 2001.
Manzella, I.: Dry rock avalanche propagation: unconstrained flow experiments with granular materials and blocks at small scall, PhD thesis, EPFL, 2008,
Manzella, I. and Labiouse, V.: Qualitative analysis of rock avalanches propagation by means of physical modelling of not constrained gravel flows, Rock Mech. Rock Eng., 41, 133–151, 2008.
Manzella, I. and Labiouse, V.: Flow experiments with gravel and blocks at small scale to investigate parameters and mechanisms involved in rock avalanches, Eng. Geol., 109, 146–158, 2009.
Manzella, I. and Labiouse, V.: Empirical and analytical analyses of laboratory granular flows to investigate rock avalanche propagation, Landslides, 10, 23–36, 2013.
McDougall, S. and Hungr, O.: A model for the analysis of rapid landslide motion across three-dimensional terrain, Can. Geotech. J., 41, 1084–1097, 2004.
Nicoletti, P. G. and Sorriso-Valvo, M.: Geomorphic controls of the shape and mobility of rock avalanches, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 103, 1365–1373, 1991.
Paguican, E. M. R., van Wyk de Vries, B., and Lagmay, A.: Hummocks : how they form and how they evolve in rockslide-debris avalanches, Landslides, 11, 67–80, 2014.
Pedrazzini, A., Froese, C. R., Jaboyedoff, M., Hungr, O., and Humair, F.: Combining digital elevation model analysis and run-out modeling to characterize hazard posed by a potentially unstable rock slope at Turtle Mountain, Alberta, Can. Eng. Geol., 128, 76–94, 2012.
Pugazhenti, D. and Pria K.: A quantitative approach for textural image segmentation with median filter, Int. J. Adv. Res. Tech., 2, 1–5, 2007.
Scheidegger, A. E.: On the prediction of the reach and velocity of catastrophic landslides, Rock Mech. Rock Eng., 5, 231–236, 1973.
Shea, T. and van Wyk de Vries, B.: Structural analysis and analogue modeling of the kinematics and dynamics of rockslide avalanches, Geosphere, 4, 657–686, 2008.
Van Gassen, W. and Cruden, D. M.: Momentum transfer and friction in the debris of rock avalanches, Can. Geotech. J., 26, 623–628, 1989.
van Wyk de Vries, B., Self, S., Francis, P. W., and Keszthelyi, L: A gravitational spreading origin for the Socompa debris avalanche, J. Vol. Geotherm. Res., 105, 225–247, 2001.
Westboy, M. J., Brasington, J., Glasser, N. F, Hambrey, M. J., and Reynolds, J. M.: “Structure-from-Motion” photogrammetry: A low-cost, effective tool for geoscience applications, Geomorphology, 179, 300–314, 2012.
Search articles
Short summary
The main objective of this research is to analyze rock avalanche dynamics by means of a detailed structural analysis of the deposits coming from data of 3-D measurements. The studied deposits are of different magnitude: (1) decimeter level scale laboratory experiments and (2) well-studied rock avalanches.
Filtering techniques were developed and applied to a 3-D dataset in order to detect fault structures present in the deposits and to propose kinematic mechanisms for the propagation.
The main objective of this research is to analyze rock avalanche dynamics by means of a detailed...
Earth Surface Dynamics
An interactive open-access journal of the European Geosciences Union
