Denudational earth surface processes and associated source-to-sink sedimentary fluxes are controlled by a range of environmental drivers and anthropogenic activities, exacerbated by the consequences of climate change. An improved understanding of the key drivers, mechanisms and quantitative rates of denudational dynamics across a range of different spatio-temporal scales and climatic zones is essential for the quantitative analysis of landscape evolution and has also significant societal implications.
There is general agreement that environmental changes and global warming are leading to increased frequencies and intensities of extreme weather and climate events. Such extreme events include, e.g., temperature extremes and droughts, heavy precipitation, storms, pluvial floods and river floods. Scientific studies on possible effects of the increasing frequency and/or intensity of such extreme weather and climate events on geomorphic processes and related earth surface systems are of particular importance as they are addressing key challenges related to the environment in which we live.
This session presents contributions from earth scientists that include a wide spectrum of processes, approaches, methods and techniques, like, e.g., dating, sedimentary records, GIS, remote sensing, observational records, monitoring, experimental studies, and modelling. Several studies have wider systematic relevance and implications, and some presentations highlight contributions of geomorphological research to the ongoing debates on the effects of global environmental changes on geomorphic processes and natural and anthropogenically modified earth surface systems, and for the development of suitable and sustainable mitigation, management and adaption strategies and actions.
This session is co-organized by the IAG Working Group on Denudation and Environmental Changes in Different Morphoclimatic Zones (DENUCHANGE).