Lithological controls on hillslope sediment supply: insights from landslide activity and grain size distributions

Duna C. Roda‐Boluda; Mitch D'Arcy; Jordan McDonald; Alexander C. Whittaker

doi:10.1002/esp.4281

journal article Feb 19, 2018

Lithological controls on hillslope sediment supply: insights from landslide activity and grain size distributions

Duna C. Roda‐Boluda Mitch D'Arcy Jordan McDonald Alexander C. Whittaker

Earth Surface Processes and Landforms Vol. 43 No. 5 pp. 956-977 · Wiley

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Abstract

AbstractThe volumes, rates and grain size distributions of sediment supplied from hillslopes represent the initial input of sediment delivered from upland areas and propagated through sediment routing systems. Moreover, hillslope sediment supply has a significant impact on landscape response time to tectonic and climatic perturbations. However, there are very few detailed field studies characterizing hillslope sediment supply as a function of lithology and delivery process. Here, we present new empirical data from tectonically‐active areas in southern Italy that quantifies how lithology and rock strength control the landslide fluxes and grain size distributions supplied from hillslopes. Landslides are the major source of hillslope sediment supply in this area, and our inventory of ~2800 landslides reveals that landslide sediment flux is dominated by small, shallow landslides. We find that lithology and rock strength modulate the abundance of steep slopes and landslides, and the distribution of landslide sizes. Outcrop‐scale rock strength also controls the grain sizes supplied by bedrock weathering, and influences the degree of coarsening of landslide supply with respect to weathering supply. Finally, we show that hillslope sediment supply largely determines the grain sizes of fluvial export, from catchments and that catchments with greater long‐term landslide rates deliver coarser material. Therefore, our results demonstrate a dual control of lithology on hillslope sediment supply, by modulating both the sediment fluxes from landslides and the grain sizes supplied by hillslopes to the fluvial system. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Details

Published: Feb 19, 2018
Vol/Issue: 43(5)
Pages: 956-977
License: View

Authors

D

Duna C. Roda‐Boluda

Department of Earth Science & Engineering, Royal School of Mines Imperial College London London UK

M

Mitch D'Arcy

Institute of Earth and Environmental Science University of Potsdam Potsdam‐Golm Germany

J

Jordan McDonald

Department of Earth Science & Engineering, Royal School of Mines Imperial College London London UK; Risk Management Solutions London UK

A

Alexander C. Whittaker

Department of Earth Science & Engineering, Royal School of Mines Imperial College London London UK

Funding

British Society for Geomorphology

Geological Society of London Award: Annie Greenly Fund

British Sedimentological Research Group

Cite This Article

Duna C. Roda‐Boluda, Mitch D'Arcy, Jordan McDonald, et al. (2018). Lithological controls on hillslope sediment supply: insights from landslide activity and grain size distributions. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 43(5), 956-977. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.4281

Lithological controls on hillslope sediment supply: insights from landslide activity and grain size distributions

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