Landform

About: Landform is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2828 publications have been published within this topic receiving 54080 citations.

Evidence for recent groundwater seepage and surface runoff on Mars

Abstract: Relatively young landforms on Mars, seen in high-resolution images acquired by the Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera since March 1999, suggest the presence of sources of liquid water at shallow depths beneath the martian surface. Found at middle and high martian latitudes (particularly in the southern hemisphere), gullies within the walls of a very small number of impact craters, south polar pits, and two of the larger martian valleys display geomorphic features that can be explained by processes associated with groundwater seepage and surface runoff. The relative youth of the landforms is indicated by the superposition of the gullies on otherwise geologically young surfaces and by the absence of superimposed landforms or cross-cutting features, including impact craters, small polygons, and eolian dunes. The limited size and geographic distribution of the features argue for constrained source reservoirs.

Reciprocal interactions and adjustments between fluvial landforms and vegetation dynamics in river corridors: A review of complementary approaches

Abstract: Until recently, one-way relationships between flow dynamics, geomorphology and plant ecology were considered dominantly when studying the functioning of river systems, whereby fluvial landforms and hydrogeomorphic processes drive the evolution of riparian plant communities. However, biological communities may significantly control geomorphic processes and have strong impacts on landform dynamics. In order to fully identify the processes linked to river dynamics (changes in time and space of fluvial landforms and associated plant communities), conceptual multidisciplinary progress is clearly needed. To understand the mutual interactions and feedbacks between fluvial landforms and vegetation community dynamics, this paper presents a detailed literature review of fluvial geomorphology, riparian plant ecology and hydraulic engineering knowledge. The historical and recent development of ecological plant succession theory toward the integration of hydrogeomorphic disturbances is discussed as well as the integration of vegetation within geomorphology as a significant landform control factor, incorporating both hydrogeomorphic controls on riparian vegetation dynamics and mechanical impacts of vegetation structures on flow properties and sediment dynamics. Recent progress in ecology, hydraulic engineering and fluvial geomorphology emphasises interdependence between biological and physical forms and processes. Based on this literature review, a ‘fluvial biogeomorphic succession’ concept is proposed to link fluvial landform and riparian vegetation community evolution within a bi-directional model. The succession of fluvial landforms and associated vegetation communities is composed of four main critical phases that represent a shift in the relative dominance of hydrogeomorphic and ecological processes as a response to biostabilisation and passive bioconstruction processes. The positive feedbacks associated with this shift lead to the development of characteristic biogeomorphic structures such as vegetated banks, islands or floodplains, which are moderated by the biogeomorphic functional roles of ‘ecosystem engineers’ that induce or reinforce the positive feedbacks. This fluvial biogeomorphic succession concept relates the natural Darwinian selection and ecological succession theories to fluvial geomorphology.

Riparian vegetation and fluvial geomorphic processes

Abstract: Riparian vegetation and fluvial-geomorphic processes and landforms are intimately connected parts of the bottomland landscape. Relations among vegetation, processes, and landforms are described here for representative streams of four areas of the United States: high-gradient streams of the humid east, coastal-plain streams, Great Plains streams, and stream channels of the southwestern United States. Vegetation patterns suggest that species distributions in the humid east are largely controlled by frequency, duration, and intensity of floods. Along channelized streams, vegetation distribution is largely controlled by variation in fluvial geomorphic processes (cycles of degradation and aggradation) in response to increases in channel gradient associated with channelization. Similarly, riparian vegetation of Great Plains streams may be controlled by fluxes in sediment deposition and erosion along braided streams. Patterns of riparian vegetation in semi-arid regions may be most closely related to patterns of water availability, unlike most other streams in more humid environments. Channel-equilibrium conditions control stability of the coincident fluvial landform and attendant vegetation pattern throughout the continent. In most situations, riparian-vegetation patterns are indicative of specific landforms and, thus, of ambient hydrogeomorphic conditions.

Landform Effects on Ecosystem Patterns and Processes

Abstract: U nderstanding the form, behavior, and historical context of landscapes is crucial to understanding ecosystems on several temporal and spatial scales. Landforms, such as floodplains and alluvial fans, and geomorphic processes, such as stream erosion and deposition, are important parts of the setting in which ecosystems develop and material and energy flows take place. Over the long term, geomorphic processes create landforms; over a shorter term, landforms are boundary conditions controlling the spatial arrangement and rates of geomorphic processes. Ecosystems respond to both landforms and geomorphic processes. The history of geomorphic processes may be expressed directly in the composition and structure of vegetation, where geomorphic events and vegetation develop together. Geomorphic processes operating before the establishment of existing vegetation, or those subtly coexisting with the vegetation, may have their greatest influence on vegetation through controlling patterns of soil properties across a landscape, as in toposequences

Mega-scale glacial lineations and cross-cutting ice-flow landforms

Abstract: Landsat images reveal a previously unsuspected large-scale pattern of streamlining within drift that is assumed to reflect former phases of ice flow. Such a glacial grain can be regarded as a landform assemblage comprised of a number of components. Drumlins and megaflutes form part of the pattern, but in addition there are two previously undocumented ice-moulded landform elements: streamlined lineations of much greater proportions, referred to as mega-scale glacial lineations, and a distinctive cross-cutting topology within the grain. The ice-moulded landform assemblage is described and illustrated with reference to examples from Canada. Possible modes of genesis of such landforms are discussed and their glaciological implications outlined. The discovery of this pattern indicates the pervasive nature of subglacial deformation of sediment, and demands a radical re-interpretation of ice sheet dynamics.