Rates of regional denudation in the United States

Judson, Sheldon; Ritter, Dale F.

doi:10.1029/jz069i016p03395

Cited by 181 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Annual sediment production from mass wasting in the Pacific Northwest, one of the most rapidly eroding regions in the United States (Judson and Ritter, 1964), ranges from 9-72 m 3 /km 2 /year for forested watersheds and 22-3500 m 3 /km 2 /year for logged and roaded watersheds (Roberts and Church, 1986). In this study, we estimated an annual mass wasting rate of 13 m 3 / km 2 /year using two sets of aerial photographs spanning 62 years.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conceptual model of sediment processes in the upper Yuba River watershed, Sierra Nevada, CA

et al. 2005

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This study examines the development of a conceptual model of sediment processes in the upper Yuba River watershed; and we hypothesize how components of the conceptual model may be spatially distributed using a geographical information system (GIS). The conceptual model illustrates key processes controlling sediment dynamics in the upper Yuba River watershed and was tested and revised using field measurements, aerial photography, and low elevation videography. Field reconnaissance included mass wasting and channel storage inventories, assessment of annual channel change in upland tributaries, and evaluation of the relative importance of sediment sources and transport processes. Hillslope erosion rates throughout the study area are relatively low when compared to more rapidly eroding landscapes such as the Pacific Northwest and notable hillslope sediment sources include highly erodible andesitic mudflows, serpentinized ultramafics, and unvegetated hydraulic mine pits. Mass wasting dominates surface erosion on the hillslopes; however, erosion of stored channel sediment is the primary contributor to annual sediment yield. We used GIS to spatially distribute the components of the conceptual model and created hillslope erosion potential and channel storage models. The GIS models exemplify the conceptual model in that landscapes with low potential evapotranspiration, sparse vegetation, steep slopes, erodible geology and soils, and high road densities display the greatest hillslope erosion potential and channel storage increases with increasing stream order. In-channel storage in upland tributaries impacted by hydraulic mining is an exception. Reworking of stored hydraulic mining sediment in low-order tributaries continues to elevate upper Yuba River sediment yields. Finally, we propose that spatially distributing the components of a conceptual model in a GIS framework provides a guide for developing more detailed sediment budgets or numerical models making it an inexpensive way to develop a roadmap for understanding sediment dynamics at a watershed scale. Published by Elsevier B.V.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conceptual model of sediment processes in the upper Yuba River watershed, Sierra Nevada, CA

et al. 2005

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“…Unsurprisingly, the R pattern is reminiscent of both annual mean P and intensity, but some details are different, such as the very high values of R in southern Florida. This pattern differs from that of erosion itself, as steep topography favors erosion in most of the western US (Judson and Ritter, 1964) and land-use practices enhance or mitigate the effect of erosive rainfall (Gyssels et al, 2005;Montgomery, 2007).…”

Section: Erosivity Calculations Using Observed Daily Rainfallmentioning

confidence: 84%

Projected changes in US rainfall erosivity

Biasutti

Seager

2015

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Downscaled rainfall projections from 21 climate models from the CMIP5 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5) archive are used to estimate future changes in rainfall erosivity in the continental Unites States. To estimate erosivity from rainfall in the absence of sub-hourly data, we have used both daily rainfall values and the modified Fournier index -which is based on monthly rainfall accumulation -and derived the scaling relationship between rainfall and erosivity from observational estimates of both.The expectation of overall increase in erosivity is confirmed by these calculations, but a quantitative assessment is marred by large uncertainties. Specifically, the uncertainty in the method of estimation of erosivity is more consequential than that deriving from the spread in climate simulations and leads to changes of uncertain sign in parts of the southwest and Texas.We suggest that progress can be made by establishing a more reliable functional relationship between daily rainfall and erosivity.

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“…Weathering and erosion are not uniformly active over the continental areas. Apart from climatically based inequalities in the rates at which these processes act (e.g., Corbel 1959;Judson and Ritter 1964), field evidence suggests that although major rivers and streams effectively erode their beds and banks, interfluves may be degraded much more slowly: they are "out of reach of erosion" (Knopf 1924, p. 637) or in zones of nil erosion (Knopf 1924;Crickmay 1932Crickmay , 1976Horton 1945). Degradational processes may not be evenly distributed over the land surface in all conditions (cf.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Mesozoic (?Triassic) Landscapes in Australia: Evidence, Argument, and Implications

Twidale¹

2000

The Journal of Geology

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A B S T R A C TAustralia has strong claims to be known as the old continent. In addition to landscapes of later Cretaceous-early Tertiary derivation, remnants of early Mesozoic (Triassic-Jurassic) surfaces, which are part of the contemporary landscape, are also recognized. Being of etch type, they have two ages: one referring to the period of preparation by subsurface weathering and the other to their date of exposure. In many instances, exposure can be dated and the period of preparatory weathering closely inferred. Such old paleosurfaces are demonstrated on Kangaroo Island and are strongly implied in, for example, the Flinders, Gawler, and MacDonnell Ranges; in Arnhem Land and the Arcoona Plateaus; in many parts of the Eastern Uplands; and on several bornhardts in the Yilgarn and Gawler Cratons. They reinforce the suggestion that once in positive relief and shedding water, surfaces persist with little change for long periods. Such ancient features are incompatible with several well-known models of landscape evolution. The chronologies and events they imply extend our understanding of the landscape in the chronological context. They add to our knowledge of Earth's history.

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Rates of regional denudation in the United States

Abstract: Data, in large part collected since World War II, allow a recalculation of the rates of regional erosion in the United States. These data indicate a rate of denudation for

Cited by 181 publications

References 11 publications

Conceptual model of sediment processes in the upper Yuba River watershed, Sierra Nevada, CA

Conceptual model of sediment processes in the upper Yuba River watershed, Sierra Nevada, CA

Projected changes in US rainfall erosivity

Early Mesozoic (?Triassic) Landscapes in Australia: Evidence, Argument, and Implications

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