Abstract
Small-scale terrains on salt materials were surveyed with a Total Station and a series of digital elevation models (DEMs) constructed. Two sets of observations were made, eight months apart, during which the terrains underwent significant erosion. The difference in elevation shown by the DEMs, calculated by subtraction, is a measure of surface erosion of the salt terrains. The erosion rate was analysed with respect to four terrain parameters calculated in the software. High erosion rates, and their strong control by terrain slope, are demonstrated, supporting an earlier study using erosion pins. Slope profile curvature is also indicated as having some influence. The combination of scanning Total Station and DEM software is shown to be an effective tool for investigating rapid geomorphic change at this scale of study.
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Acknowledgments
This project was initiated with the support of a BGRG small research grant (to JSW and DNM). Staffordshire University and Portsmouth University assisted with field expenses. We are most grateful to Núria Matamala Fargas and Iban Feliu for most valuable assistance with field observations and local logistics. Graham Barlow provided technical support. Bill Johnson helped with cartography. Felix Teixidor (Cardona SA) and Ajuntament de Cardona gave formal permission to enter the field sites. Jiři Bruthans’ helpful referee comments enabled us to improve the paper significantly.
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Mottershead, D.N., Duane, W.J., Inkpen, R.J. et al. An investigation of the geometric controls on the morphological evolution of small-scale salt terrains, Cardona, Spain. Environ Geol 53, 1091–1098 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0736-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-0736-4