Long-term landscape trajectory — Can we make predictions about landscape form and function for post-mining landforms?

• Published in: Geomorphology (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Netherlands), 2016-08, Vol.266, p.121-132
• Main Authors: Hancock, G.R., Lowry, J.B.C., Coulthard, T.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Calibration; Evolution; Geology; Geomorphology; Landforms; Landscape evolution; Landscapes; Mathematical models; Mine rehabilitation; SIBERIA; Soil erosion modelling; Time
• ISSN: 0169-555X; 1872-695X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.05.014

A significant issue for the application of numerical Landscape Evolution Models (LEMs) is their calibration/parameterisation and validation. LEMs are now at the stage of development where if calibrated, they can provide meaningful and useful results. However, before use, each LEM requires a set of data and parameter values for it to run reliably and most importantly produce results with some measure of precision and accuracy. This calibration/validation process is largely carried out using parameter values determined from present day, or recent surface conditions which are themselves product of much longer-term geology-soil-climate-vegetation interactions. Here we examine the reliability of an LEM to predict catchment form over geological time (500,000years) for a potential rehabilitated mine landform using defensible parameters derived from field plots. The findings demonstrate that there is no equifinality in landscape form with different parameter sets producing geomorphically and hydrologically unique landscapes throughout their entire evolution. This shows that parameterisation does matter over geological time scales. However, for shorter time scales (