Predicting gully erosion using landform evolution models: Insights from mining landforms

Incision as a result of fluvial erosion is an important process to model when simulating landform evolution. For gullies, it apparent that coupled with the processes cause incision there must be range stop incision. Once started, rills and gullies will grow infinitely without reduction in support area and/or being arrested by deposition armouring. Some these have been well studied under heading inter-rill erosion. Other limiting are related shape how downstream areas linked geomorphically upstream gullies. Armouring also reduces gully extension, where erodes bedrock resistant base limits further development. Post-mining landscapes new surfaces materials provide opportunity examine initiation, extension stabilization. The work presented here has largely driven mining industry, need assess over hazardous wastes like mine tailings low-level nuclear waste. We demonstrate usefulness computer-based landscape evolution models more recent soilscape (that include both surface subsurface processes) understand diffusive armouring digital elevation framework (as evolution). Landscape insights into complex non-linear systems such A key field data parameterize validate models. It argued current capability than available for parameterization importantly validation outputs.