Testing the Prediction Ability of LEM-Derived Sedimentary Budget in an Upland Catchment of the Southern Apennines, Italy: A Source to Sink Approach

Abstract

Landscape evolution models (LEMs) represent one of the most promising approaches to evaluate sedimentary budget, although factors such as the high number of parameters or the difficulty evaluating the robustness of the results can represent a limitation in their application in natural landscapes. In this paper, the Caesar–Lisflood LEM has been applied in a small catchment (i.e., about 9 km2) of southern Italy draining an artificial reservoir in order to test its ability to predict sediment flux and erosion rate. Short-term (i.e., about 20 years) estimation of the sediment volumes accumulated in the reservoir has been reconstructed by a bathymetric survey and compared to the results coming from the coeval LEM simulations. Results indicate a good accordance between LEM-based erosion volume estimations and direct sedimentation assessment, thus testifying to the high potential of such models to solve issues of sedimentary budget and short-term landscape modification.

Short-Term GIS Analysis for the Assessment of the Recent Active-Channel Planform Adjustments in a Widening, Highly Altered River: The Scrivia River, Italy

“…However, inside the basin an increase of the mean annual precipitation with altitude is observed, with values reaching approximately 1500-1700 mm in the upper sections, near the main water divide. Here, the orographic effects brought by the Northern Apennines, and the peculiar atmospheric circulation affecting the Ligurian Sea, frequently produce abundant and sometimes very intense precipitations [61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69].…”

Assessing the hydrological and geomorphic behaviour of a landscape evolution model within a limits‐of‐acceptability uncertainty analysis framework

“…catchment outlet) could only reflect the catchment behaviour of that specific location but do not necessarily provide the relevant information on other parts of the catchment (Skinner et al, 2018). Even with a large amount of available multi-proxy data, the reliability of the LEM was evaluated with the assumption of a good degree of data quality and low impact of other error sources (Gioia & Lazzari, 2019).…”

“…As a result, LEMs are increasingly used in a wide range of applications characterizing various aspects of geomorphological change, such as: (1) testing hypotheses about landform process dynamics (e.g. Densmore et al, 1998;Gioia & Lazzari, 2019;Tucker & Slingerland, 1994); (2) evaluating the effect of changing climate on river morphology (e.g. Coulthard et al, 2000;Coulthard & Macklin, 2001;Hancock, 2009;Hancock et al, 2017;Temme et al, 2009); (3) as a management tool for environmental problems (e.g.…”

GIS Application in Fluvial Geomorphology and Landscape Changes

“…The Special Issue comprises six original papers divided into two main categories: Experimental [6] and field survey [7][8][9][10][11] studies. Overall, the authors focused on different topics, such as the use of digital terrain models for the definition of the sedimentary budget into reservoirs, the evaluation of river short term erosion rates, on the geomorphological mapping of river terraces, floodplains and potential flood areas, and on the geometry and variation of river channels in relation to river management and restoration.…”