Modelling channel incision and alpine hillslope development using laser altimetry data

This paper presents a new approach to simulate drainage basin evolution and demonstrates that high resolution elevation data can be used as useful tool for a dynamic simulation of Alpine landscape development, in which channel incision is incorporated in high spatial detail. A vector channel incision model (CIM) uses 1 m high-resolution laser altimetry data for simulation of longitudinal profile development. The CIM is combined with a grid cell-based hillslope erosion model to incorporate the hillslope response to incising bedrock rivers in a simulation of landscape evolution. The combined simulation model is applied to a geologically diverse Alpine catchment to simulate landscape development from reconstructed late glacial conditions towards the current situation. The model is time-efficient and realistically adapts to contrasting geological substrata, while spatially and temporally variable incision values, knick-point recession and variable hillslope development result in a realistic simulation of post-glacial landscape evolution. High resolution elevation data, in combination with dynamic geomorphological simulation models, facilitate research of complex and difficult-to-access Alpine terrain at greater detail than before. It potentially paves the way for more efficient landscape evolution research and can contribute to increasing the understanding of the functioning of geo-ecological systems. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.