Rock damage and regolith transport by frost : an example of climate modulation of the geomorphology of the critical zone

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

ANDERSON, R.S.

Inst. of Arctic and Alpine Research, Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, Etats-Unis

Dep. of Geological Sciences, Univ. Colorado, Boulder, Etats-Unis

ANDERSON, S.P.

Inst. of Arctic and Alpine Research, Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, Etats-Unis

Dept. of Geography, Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, Etats-Unis

TUCKER, G.E.

Dep. of Geological Sciences, Univ. Colorado, Boulder, Etats-Unis

Cooperative Inst. for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), Univ. Colorado, Boulder, Etats-Unis

Description :
Here the AA. craft process-specific algorithms that capture climate control of hillslope evolution in order to elucidate the legacy of past climate on present critical zone architecture and topography. Models of hillslope evolution traditionally comprise rock detachment into the mobile layer, mobile regolith transport, and a channel incision or aggradation boundary condition. They extend this system into the deep critical zone by considering a weathering damage zone below the mobile regolith in which rock strength is diminished. The AA. first discuss generic damage profiles in which appropriate length and damage scales govern profile shapes, and examine their dependence upon exhumation rate. They then introduce climate control through the example of rock damage by frost-generated crack growth. Finally the AA. link the frost cracking damage model, a mobile regolith production rule in which rock entrainment is conditioned by the damage state of the rock, and a frost creep transport model, to examine the evolution of an interfluve under oscillating climate.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2013, vol. 38, n°. 3, p. 299-316, nombre de pages : 18, Références bibliographiques : 2 p.

Date :
2013

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley

Langue :
Anglais