This 2003/2004 Master thesis by Martina Brotto deserves some more visibility. It presents an exploration into how slopes evolve over time through erosion processes and tackles one of the fundamental challenges in geomorphology: understanding and predicting how hillsides change their shape through the complex interplay of soil production and erosion.
What makes this research particularly interesting is its departure from traditional landscape evolution models. While most existing models assume that erosion is limited only by the transport capacity of flowing water or wind (what scientists call "transport-limited" processes), Brotto introduces a more realistic approach. Her model considers that erosion can also be limited by how quickly rock breaks down into soil and how much material is actually available to be moved ("detachment-limited" processes). This distinction might seem technical, but it's crucial for understanding real-world erosion, especially in areas where bedrock is close to the surface or where soil production rates are slow.
The heart of the research lies in developing two complementary mathematical models. The first focuses on diffusive erosion processes – the slow, continuous movement of soil particles down slopes through countless small disturbances like frost action, animal activity, and the impact of raindrops. Using sophisticated numerical techniques including the conjugate gradient method, Brotto shows how these processes gradually smooth out irregularities in the landscape, creating the gentle, rounded hills we often see in nature. Her simulations, some extending over 20,000 years of landscape evolution, reveal how factors like the initial slope angle and the rate of soil creep influence the final landform shape.
Beyond this introduction is the good thing to do is to read the thesis. You can find it by clicking on the Figure above (one beautiful painting by Vincent Van Gogh).
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