Earth surface dynamics

The FLUVER2 model is a 2D River Gradient model, linked to a semi-3D alluvial river terrace modelling framework. In the following sections we will regularly publish updates on case studies and river systems from all over the world (Netherlands, France, Spain, UK, Peru, Indonesia).

Our 2D and semi-3D framework for the FLUVER2 and LIMTER-TERRAS modelling frameworks are available for research (see contact J.M. Schoorl upper right) involving river profile or river gradient analysis for long term (>100 ka) fluvial system modelling, and the modelling of development, preservation and possible altitudes of alluvial river terraces.

The FLUVER2 model implements a "forward modelling" approach to simulate in time steps of 1 to 20 yrs, the total length of a river system in kms (trunk length in increments of 100 to 1000 m) giving the height difference between each increment (e.g. the gradients, the longitudinal profile), including the shelf area and continental drop ((inter-)glacial sea-level changes!), For each increment, after calculating the local river discharge, the local sediment fluxes are evaluated including tributary catchment influences.

LAPSUS LandscApe ProcesS modelling at mUlti-dimensions and Scales (v6.03) is a multi-modular reduced complexity dynamic landscape evolution model. Studied processes include overland flow erosion, LAPSUS-LS landsliding, tillage erosion and tectonics. For river gradient modelling please refer to the FLUVER2 model pages.

One or more of the most important driving geomorphic processes can be used in a user-defined modelling framework, depending on interest, data availability and landscape. Changes in the landscape by means of soil redistribution (erosion, landsliding, tillage) and altitude change (tectonics) are updated on an annual basis, or months and days for the LAPSUS-D versions. The model is able to deal with sinks by virtually filling them with water and uses a novel algorithm to treat sedimentation in sinks. This is necessary because landscape processes can create depressions that must therefore be considered true representations of the landscape.

S-world is a global soil property database for environmental modelling. The research community increasingly analyses global environmental problems like climate change and desertification with models. These global environmental modelling studies require global, high resolution, spatially exhaustive, and quantitative data describing the soil profile. This study aimed to develop a pedological approach that takes stock of available legacy and auxiliary data to create a global, 30 arc second soil property database for modelling. The methodology uses the Harmonized World Soil Database and the ISRIC-WISE 3.1 soil profile database. Auxiliary information at 30 arc second resolution for various landscape properties is used to describe the variation in landscape properties (temperature and precipitation, topography, elevation, land use, and land cover). Complex mapping units of the HWSD were first disaggregated using a digital elevation model and toposequences to generate delineated areas described by a single soil type. Secondly, ranges of soil properties per soil type were determined using the soil profile data. Then a meta-analysis on a broad literature survey was used to develop a simple model that, based on landscape properties at a particular location, determines the position within these ranges and thus provides an estimation of the local soil properties. Finally, the model was implemented at the global level to determine the distribution of soil properties. The methodology, denominated S-World (Soils of the world) resulted in readily available, high resolution, global soil property maps that are now available for environmental modelling.