ChronoLorica: introduction of a soil–landscape evolution model combined with geochronometers
<p>Understanding long-term soil and landscape evolution can help us understand the threats to current-day soils, landscapes and their functions. The temporal evolution of soils and landscapes can be studied using geochronometers, such as optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) particle ages or...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Geochronology |
| Online Access: | https://gchron.copernicus.org/articles/5/241/2023/gchron-5-241-2023.pdf |
| Summary: | <p>Understanding long-term soil and landscape evolution can help us understand
the threats to current-day soils, landscapes and their functions. The
temporal evolution of soils and landscapes can be studied using
geochronometers, such as optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) particle ages or radionuclide inventories.
Also, soil–landscape evolution models (SLEMs) can be used to study the
spatial and temporal evolution of soils and landscapes through numerical
modelling of the processes responsible for the evolution. SLEMs and
geochronometers have been combined in the past, but often these couplings
focus on a single geochronometer, are designed for specific idealized
landscape positions, or do not consider multiple transport processes or
post-depositional mixing processes that can disturb the geochronometers in
sedimentary archives.</p>
<p>We present ChronoLorica, a coupling of the soil–landscape evolution model Lorica
with a geochronological module. The module traces spatiotemporal patterns of
particle ages, analogous to OSL ages, and radionuclide inventories during
the simulations of soil and landscape evolution. The geochronological module
opens rich possibilities for data-based calibration of simulated model
processes, which include natural processes, such as bioturbation and soil
creep, as well as anthropogenic processes, such as tillage. Moreover,
ChronoLorica can be applied to transient landscapes that are subject to
complex, non-linear boundary conditions, such as land use intensification,
and processes of post-depositional disturbance which often result in complex
geo-archives.</p>
<p>In this contribution, we illustrate the model functionality and
applicability by simulating soil and landscape evolution along a
two-dimensional hillslope. We show how the model simulates the development
of the following three geochronometers: OSL particle ages, meteoric <span class="inline-formula"><sup>10</sup></span>Be inventories
and in situ <span class="inline-formula"><sup>10</sup></span>Be inventories. The results are compared with field
observations from comparable landscapes. We also discuss the limitations of
the model and highlight its potential applications in pedogenical,
geomorphological or geological studies.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 2628-3697 2628-3719 |