Initial hydro‐geomorphic development and rill network evolution in an artificial catchment

Abstract

The formation of erosion rills and gullies is a critical step in land surface development, but possibilities to study initial unaffected surface development under natural conditions and with well‐defined initial and boundary conditions are rare. The objective of this study was to characterize rill network development from ’point zero’ in the artificially‐created catchment ‘Hühnerwasser’. To ensure unaffected development, the study was largely restricted to the analysis of remotely‐sensed data. We analyzed a series of photogrammetry‐based digital elevation models (DEMs) for 10 points in time, over a period of five years and beginning with the initial state. The evolving erosion rill network was quantitatively described based on mapping from aerial photographs. DEMs and rill network maps were combined to specifically analyze the development of morphometry for different parts of the network and to characterize energy dissipation and connectivity. The restriction to remote‐sensing data did not allow for analyzing specific processes governing rill network development, nevertheless, two major development phases could be characterized. We observed a phase of growth of the rill network along with variations in drainage patterns during the first two years of development and a subsequent phase of reduction of its area along with comparably stable patterns. Region‐specific analysis of morphometry indicates that, besides effects of changing sediment characteristics and vegetation cover development, locally evolving hydro‐geomorphic feedback cycles influenced this development. Results show an increasing similarity of overall statistical characteristics (e.g. drainage density) for two parts of the catchment, but a persistent influence of initial conditions on specific rill geometry. The observed development towards higher orderliness and increased connectivity is consistent with experiments and concepts on drainage network evolution across scales; however, we did not observe major influences of rill piracy and cross grading or a reduction of energy dissipation with network development. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

How big is the influence of biogenic silicon pools on short-term changes in water-soluble silicon in soils? Implications from a study of a 10-year-old soil–plant system

“…Erosion and deposition processes were clearly evident in the Chicken Creek catchment during the first years without plant cover. Substantial surface changes resulted from rill erosion, as aerial photographs (rill network) and a comparison of photogrammetry-based digital elevation models showed (Schneider et al, 2013). Interrill erosion did not lead to surface changes larger than about 20 cm during the first 5 years.…”

Comparing measurements, ⁷Be radiotracer technique and process-based erosion model for estimating short-term soil loss from cultivated land in Northern Germany

“…-Modern techniques such as laser scan measurements should offer the potential to get observational data on soil dislocation by erosional events (Schneider et al 2013, Deumlich et al 2014 …”

A Three‐Dimensional Structure and Process Model for Integrated Hydro‐Geo‐Pedologic Analysis of a Constructed Hydrological Catchment

“…The erosion and deposition processes during the initial development period strongly modified not only the surface topography (Schneider et al, 2013) but also the spatial distribution of sediment composition (Fig. 9).…”

“…While for hydrologic catchments with well‐established forest or well‐managed agricultural ecosystems the spatial structures may possibly be assumed to remain relatively constant, this cannot be assumed for systems that are in an initial stage of development (Schaaf et al, 2011). Characteristic changes in the spatial structures due to erosion and sedimentation or surface crust development (e.g., Belnap et al, 2001; Fischer et al, 2010a, 2010b; Spröte et al, 2010; Schneider et al, 2013) that could be observed during the initial development stages could in turn affect flow and transport in the catchment. Such feedback relations between overland flow, erosion, and rill network development were highly complex (e.g., Brunton and Bryan, 2000).…”