Comparative geomorphometric approach to understand the hydrological behaviour and identification of the Erosion prone areas of a coastal watershed using RS and GIS tools

Assessment of the geomorphometric parameters using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools forms an important part in routing the runoff and other hydrological processes. The current study uses a geospatial model based on geomorphometric parameters for the categorization of surface runoff and identification of the erosion-prone areas in the watershed of the Kuttiyadi River. The 4th order Kuttiyadi river is dominated by a dendritic to semi-dendritic drainage pattern in the subwatersheds. The linear aspect of the subwatersheds indicates towards the presence of permeable surface and subsurface materials with uniform lithology. The aerial and relief aspects of the subwatersheds shows fine drainage texture, gentle slopes, delayed peak flow, flatter hydrograph, and large concentration time which shows that subwatersheds are quite capable of managing flash floods during storm events. The estimated values of surface runoff (Q) and sediment production rate (SPR) are range from 2.13 to 32.88 km2-cm/km2 and 0.0004–0.017 Ha-m/100km2/year respectively and suggest that Subwatershed 1 (SW1) will generate more surface runoff and is prone to soil erosion followed by subwatershed 2 (SW2) in comparison to other subwatersheds. This paper aims to fill the knowledge gap regarding categorization of flow and erosion dynamics in a coastal river watershed. We believe that our work may work help in providing the crucial information for decision-makers and policymakers responsible for establishing suitable policies and sustainable land use practices for the watershed.

Geomorphometric analysis of Olkhon island region’s relief

The use of geomorphometric analysis to obtain relevant data and their interpretation in geomorphological and geographical studies is becoming more widespread in recent times. In this study, such an analysis is used for the Priolkhonsky plateau (Western Baikal region), whose territory has recently been subjected to intense recreational impact. Under such conditions, it becomes relevant to determine the erosion-accumulative potential of the territory, its subsequent regionalization, as well as the possibility of using the obtained results in landscape-recreational zoning. The surface curvature maps were made using a digital elevation model based on ALOS data with a resolution of 30 m. Using geoinformation analysis, slope steepness, horizontal, vertical, and general curvature maps were obtained, and statistical coefficients of these indicators for the study area were determined. A geomorphological interpretation of the areas spatial distribution with different values of curvature was carried out. The analysis of the territory geomorphometric parameters showed that denudation processes prevail within the study area. It was also determined that the territory under favorable climatic conditions could have a significant potential for the development of erosion-accumulative processes. Areas of accumulation associated with the development of linear erosion forms, gullies along unpaved roads, were identified. Areas with the maximum values of curvature in the summit level of the relief have a high potential for the development of landslide processes. In the middle level of relief with positive values of the total curvature, prevail low-intensity processes (downwash, creeping).

Scripting methods in topographic data processing on the example of Ethiopia

This study evaluates the geomorphometric parameters of the topography in Ethiopia using scripting cartographic methods by applying R languages (packages 'tmap' and 'raster') and Generic Mapping Tools (gmt) for 2D and 3D topographic modelling. Data were collected from the open source repositories on geospatial data with high resolution: gebco with 15 arc-second and etopo1 with 1 arc-minute resolution and embedded dataset of srtm 90 m in 'raster' library of R. The study demonstrated application of the programming approaches in cartographic data visualization and mapping for geomorphometric analysis. This included modelling of slope steepness, aspect and hillshade visualized using dem srtm90 to derive geomorphometric parameters of slope, aspect and hillshade of Ethiopia and demonstrate contrasting topography and variability climate setting of Ethiopia. The topography of the country is mapped, including Great Rift Valley, Afar Depression, Ogaden Desert and the most distinctive features of the Ethiopian Highlands. A variety of topographical zones is demonstrated on the presented maps. The results include 6 new maps made using programming console-based approach which is a novel method of cartographic visualization compared to traditional gis software. The most important fragments of the codes are presented and technical explanations are provided. The presented series of 6 new maps contributes to the cartographic data on Ethiopia and presents the methodology of scripting mapping techniques.

Increasing the Efficiency of Detailed Soil Resource Mapping on Transitional Volcanic Landforms Using a Geomorphometric Approach

For developing countries, detailed soil resource data and maps are essential in land-use planning. Unfortunately, obtaining detailed soil data for mapping is expensive. Detailed soil studies and mapping in developing countries often use the grid method. In addition to being time-consuming, the grid method needs a lot of sample points and surveyors. Geomorphometry can be a less expensive alternative for detailed soil mapping. Geomorphometry uses computationally measured terrain characteristics to describe other hard-to-measure terrain and soil properties. In our study, landform arrangements and slopes were analyzed together to create a map of soil pH. Bompon watershed, Indonesia, was used as a case study. Soil mapping units with potentially similar soil pH were created based on a classification system of the two geomorphometric parameters. Soil samples were taken from each of the units. The samples' soil pH was measured and compared to the geomorphometric predicted result. Regression tests were performed to see the significance of geomorphometric parameters on soil pH conditions. Regression tests show that the results of p value of the four soil layers are 0.046, 0.019, 0.037, and 0.047, respectively, on a 5% confidence level. According to the test result, landform arrangements and slopes can indicate soil pH conditions in Bompon. Our estimate suggests that our geomorphometric method is cheaper than the grid method by a factor of seven. The ability to use geomorphometric parameters to describe other soil properties could enable a cheap and fast production of detailed soil maps for developing countries.

Modeling and Classification of Alluvial Fans with DEMs and Machine Learning Methods: A Case Study of Slovenian Torrential Fans

Alluvial (torrential) fans, especially those created from debris-flow activity, often endanger built environments and human life. It is well known that these kinds of territories where human activities are favored are characterized by increasing instability and related hydrological risk; therefore, treating the problem of its assessment and management is becoming strongly relevant. The aim of this study was to analyze and model the geomorphological aspects and the physical processes of alluvial fans in relation to the environmental characteristics of the territory for classification and prediction purposes. The main geomorphometric parameters capable of describing complex properties, such as relative fan position depending on the neighborhood, which can affect their formation or shape, or properties delineating specific parts of fans, were identified and evaluated through digital elevation model (DEM) data. Five machine learning (ML) methods, including a hybrid Euler graph ML method, were compared to analyze the geomorphometric parameters and physical characteristics of alluvial fans. The results obtained in 14 case studies of Slovenian torrential fans, validated with data of the empirical model proposed by Bertrand et al. (2013), confirm the validity of the developed method and the possibility to identify alluvial fans that can be considered as debris-flow prone.

Elaborating Hungarian Segment of the Global Map of Salt-Affected Soils (GSSmap): National Contribution to an International Initiative

Recently, the Global Map of Salt-affected Soils (GSSmap) was launched, which pursued a country-driven approach and aimed to update the global and country-level information on salt-affected soils (SAS). The aim of this paper was to present how Hungary contributed to GSSmap by preparing its own SAS maps using advanced digital soil mapping techniques. We used not just a combination of random forest and multivariate geostatistical techniques for predicting the spatial distribution of SAS indicators (i.e., pH, electrical conductivity and exchangeable sodium percentage) for the topsoil (0–30 cm) and subsoil (30–100 cm), but also a number of indices derived from Sentinel-2 satellite images as environmental covariates. The importance plots of random forests showed that in addition to climatic, geomorphometric parameters and legacy soil information, image indices were the most important covariates. The performance of spatial modelling was checked by 10-fold cross validation showing that the accuracy of the SAS maps was acceptable. By this study and by the resulting maps of it, we not just contributed to GSSmap, but also renewed the SAS mapping methodology in Hungary, where we paid special attention to modelling and quantifying the prediction uncertainty that had not been quantified or even taken into consideration earlier.

EVALUATION OF RANDOM FOREST–BASED ANALYSIS FOR THE GYPSUM DISTRIBUTION IN THE ATACAMA DESERT

Gypsum-rich material covers the hillslopes above ∼ 1000 m of the Atacama and forms the particular landscape. In this contribution, we evaluate random forest-based analysis in order to predict the gypsum distribution in a specific area of ∼ 3000 km2, located in the hyperarid core of the Atacama. Therefore, three different sets of input variables were chosen. These variables reflect the different factors forming soil properties, according to digital soil mapping. The variables are derived from indices based on imagery of the ASTER and Landsat-8 satellite, geomorphometric parameters based on the Tandem-X World DEM™, as well as selected climate variables and geologic units. These three different models were used to evaluate the Ca-content derived from soil surface samples, reflecting gypsum content. All three different models derived high values of explained variation (r2 > 0.886), the RMSE is ∼ 4500 mg∙kg−1 and the NRMSE is ∼ 6%. Overall, this approach shows promising results in order to derive a gypsum content prediction for the whole Atacama. However, further investigation on the independent variables need to be conducted. In this case, the ferric oxides index (representing magnetite content), slope and a temperature gradient are the most important factors for predicting gypsum content.

THE IMPACT OF RELIEF ON LAND COVER AND LAND USE OF THE LLAP RIVER BASIN

Based on the dialectical principle, an attempt was made to analyze in details the impact of relief on land cover and land use. To achieve this objective, the Llap river basin was chosen. The Llap river basin lies in the north-eastern part of Kosovo, which is discerned as a morphological whole with particular physical-geographic elements. Since the past, relief was a factor with direct and indirect impact on land cover and especially on land use. The essential part of the analysis was the correlation of the geomorphometric parameters (altitude and slope) with land cover and land use. For calculating these parameters, a digital elevation model of 12 m / pixel was downloaded from the Alaska Satellite Facility. On the other hand, the CORINE Land Cover 2012 data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) were used for land cover. The completion of the analysis was done in that form for each category of geomorphometric parameters was compared with land cover and land use. It is evident that relief has influenced the Llap basin, both in the extent of settlements and in the activities that human develop on this land.