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A lattice grain model of hillslope evolution

Tucker, Gregory E., McCoy, Scott W. and Hobley, Daniel E. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2371-0534 2018. A lattice grain model of hillslope evolution. Earth Surface Dynamics 6 , pp. 563-582. 10.5194/esurf-6-563-2018

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Abstract

Thispaperdescribesandexploresanewcontinuous-timestochasticcellularautomatonmodelofhill- slope evolution. The Grain Hill model provides a computational framework with which to study slope forms that arise from stochastic disturbance and rock weathering events. The model operates on a hexagonal lattice, with cell states representing fluid, rock, and grain aggregates that are either stationary or in a state of motion in one of the six cardinal lattice directions. Cells representing near-surface soil material undergo stochastic disturbance events, in which initially stationary material is put into motion. Net downslope transport emerges from the greater likelihood for disturbed material to move downhill than to move uphill. Cells representing rock undergo stochas- tic weathering events in which the rock is converted into regolith. The model can reproduce a range of common slope forms, from fully soil mantled to rocky or partially mantled, and from convex-upward to planar shapes. An optional additional state represents large blocks that cannot be displaced upward by disturbance events. With the addition of this state, the model captures the morphology of hogbacks, scarps, and similar features. In its simplest form, the model has only three process parameters, which represent disturbance frequency, characteris- tic disturbance depth, and base-level lowering rate, respectively. Incorporating physical weathering of rock adds one additional parameter, representing the characteristic rock weathering rate. These parameters are not arbitrary but rather have a direct link with corresponding parameters in continuum theory. Comparison between observed and modeled slope forms demonstrates that the model can reproduce both the shape and scale of real hillslope profiles. Model experiments highlight the importance of regolith cover fraction in governing both the downslope mass transport rate and the rate of physical weathering. Equilibrium rocky hillslope profiles are possible even when the rate of base-level lowering exceeds the nominal bare-rock weathering rate, because increases in both slope gradient and roughness can allow for rock weathering rates that are greater than the flat-surface maximum. Examples of transient relaxation of steep, rocky slopes predict the formation of a regolith-mantled pediment that migrates headward through time while maintaining a sharp slope break.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography
Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Computer software
Q Science > QE Geology
Additional Information: This paper is published under the terms of the CC-BY licence
Publisher: European Geosciences Union (EGU) / Copernicus Publications
ISSN: 2196-6311
Funders: National Science Foundation
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 19 July 2018
Date of Acceptance: 22 June 2018
Last Modified: 05 May 2023 19:11
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/113243

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