Abstract
A steady-state fluvial system can transition to a transient state solely by changing the uplift/subsidence rate due to tectonic perturbations, while the rate of erosion remains relatively constant in an area with uniform lithology. In such cases, cause and effect exhibit a one-to-one relationship, making it easy to establish quantitative relationships between morphometric indices and active tectonics. However, major structural boundaries, like thrust units, often coincide with lithological boundaries, especially in orogenic belts like the Himalayas. Further complexities arise when the rate of erosion changes along the river course. Decoupling the effect of rock erodibility from active tectonics in morphometric indices can prove to be extremely challenging. The uplift rate can be determined through GPS and remote sensing studies, whereas assessing the erodibility of rocks remains difficult, as it depends on several external factors (such as rainfall and stream power) and internal factors (like rock strength, rock, and fabric). As a solution, we propose a remote sensing-based method that quantifies erodibility based on the volumetric changes between summit and base elevations of a SWATH profile polygon with uniform lithology. This method incorporates the effects of rock fabric, strength, and various erosional agents, such as rainfall and stream power, expressed as an absolute change in rock volume. The technique is then applied and tested in the study areas. The strong correlation between the erodibility coefficient and the steepness index suggests a novel approach to solving the erodibility problem in tectonic geomorphology.
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Acknowledgements
This work is a part of DD’s doctoral research work. We thank Mr. Atul Kumar Rai and Mr. Zafar Beg for helping us with the GIS techniques. We also thank Mr. Krishanu Bandyopadhyay for his critical comments and discussions. No grant was received or necessary for conducting this work. We also thank Laura Giambiagi, Riccardo Lanari, and another anonymous reviewer for their valuable suggestion which significantly improved the manuscript. We also extend our gratitude to the Editor-in-chief, Dr. Ulrich Riller for his constant feedback to improve the manuscript.
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Das, D., Mallik, J. Establishment of the relationship between rock strength and topography: a novel approach to river morphometric analysis decoupling rock erodibility from active tectonics. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 112, 2247–2265 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-023-02348-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-023-02348-9