Catena

Journal: Catena

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Elsevier

ISSN

0341-8162
1872-6887

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Publications1 - 10 of 22

Landscape evolution in Val Mulix, eastern Swiss Alps
Bohlert, Ralph; Mirabella, Aldo; Plötze, Michael; et al. (2011)
Catena
Effect of permafrost on the formation of soil organic carbon pools and their physical-chemical properties in the Eastern Swiss Alps
Zollinger, Barbara; Alewell, Christine; Kneisel, Christof; et al. (2013)
Catena
Radiocarbon dating of small snail shells in a loess-palaeosol sequence at Mangshan, central China
Gu, Yao; Lu, Huayu; Hajdas, Irka; et al. (2023)
Catena
In late Quaternary Chinese loess-palaeosol deposits, snail shells are often the only radiocarbon dating material available for building a chronology. However, the reliability of radiocarbon dating different small snail shells remains an open question. Here, we collected different small snail shells from a loess-palaeosol sequence located in central China to test the radiocarbon ages of snail shells. Both solid graphite target AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) and gas AMS measurements were performed to evaluate the reliability and possible contamination of small shells of different sizes for radiocarbon dating. The 14C ages of the graphitized samples were generally consistent with the corresponding OSL ages, indicating the reliability of small-snail-shell 14C dating in Chinese loess deposits. The ages of the surface fractions of the small snail shells were close to the ages of the interior parts, and contamination after chemical treatment was limited, revealing that the fossil snail shells behaved as a closed system during burial. In addition, the gas measurement results further demonstrated the different degrees of reliability among various snail species. For minute taxa, such as Vallonia and Pupilla, their shells can mainly reveal reliable 14C ages. For larger taxa, such as Cathaica and Metodontia, much attention should be given to selecting appropriate shells. Large individuals and snail hatchlings may contain considerable amounts of old carbon, and only small shells larger than newly incubated snails (<10 mm and > 2 mg) can provide reliable 14C ages. Our study shows that the limestone effect on the radiocarbon ages obtained from most small snail shells is negligible, thus providing a great potential method to constrain the accurate ages of late Quaternary loess deposits.
Application of eccentric growth of trees as a tool for landslide analyses
Wistuba, M.; Malik, I.; Gartner, H.; et al. (2013)
Catena
Contrasting soil dynamics in a formerly glaciated and non-glaciated Mediterranean mountain plateau (Serra da Estrela, Portugal)
Raab, Gerald; Dollenmeier, Wasja; Tikhomirov, Dmitry; et al. (2022)
Catena
Few data are available on how soil erosion rates compare between surfaces of different ages because short-term processes often overprint the longer-term erosion signal. This study investigated the soil dynamics among two end-member sites, a formerly glaciated ('young', maximum glacial extent at 22–30 ka BP) and a non-glaciated ('old') area at the Serra da Estrela (Portugal). To disentangle soil distribution rates over different timeframes, isotopes for long-term (10Be), mid-term (δ13C) and short-term (239+240Pu) periods were applied together with principles of the percolation theory. The formerly glaciated area has soils with a lower degree of weathering and lower carbon content compared to soils of the ‘old‘, non-glaciated area. The selected isotopes and their distribution along the soil profiles revealed temporal differences in soil mixing process. It is hypothesised that the slightly higher elevation and formerly glaciated sites experienced cryoturbation effects over a longer period, while being less active or absent for the last few decades at the older, non-glaciated soils. The average long-term (millennia) soil erosion rates correspond to the expected higher rates at the younger surface and lower rates at the older surface. Once the formerly glaciated area became ice-free, soil erosion rates were high and decreased giving rise to average long-term rates of 101–140 [t km−2 yr−1] for the older surfaces and 176–248 [t km−2 yr−1] for the younger surfaces. In addition, seasonal freeze–thaw of the soils has persisted over a long period and affected the younger soils more intensively than the older soils. The current (last decades) soil redistribution rates, however, are up to one order of magnitude higher than the millennia rates and are controlled by surface angle and vegetation cover and less by soil texture. The more undulated, non-glaciated older surface had the highest short-term (decades) soil erosion rates in the range of 900–1700 [t km−2 yr−1], exhibits degrading conditions and relatively shallow soils. The younger soils, however, showed short-term (last few decades) average soil deposition rates of ∼ 230 [t km−2 yr−1]. Human impact (bush fires, grazing) is the cause for the currently strong soil degradation at the non-glaciated area.
Intercomparison of optical scattering turbidity sensors for a wide range of suspended sediment types and concentrations
Bakker, Maarten; Legout, Cédric; Biron, Romain; et al. (2024)
Catena
To monitor the effects of rapid changes in climate and land use on sediment export from erodible environments, it is crucial to accurately quantify highly fluctuating suspended sediment concentrations (SSCs) in contrasted river systems that drain small to mesoscale catchments. To this end, we investigate the turbidity-based quantification of SSCs in the range of 0.05–100 g/L through laboratory experiments performed with 7 different types of turbidity sensors and sediments from 10 watersheds. We find that measurements of scattered light from multiple angles may allow for: (1) an extended monitoring range with SSCs up to 10–100 g/L, where enhanced uncertainty may occur near the transition in the effective operational ranges of the underlying signals (typically somewhere in the range of 1–10 g/L); and/or (2) a slightly reduced sensitivity to sediment properties. The specific turbidity of the investigated sensors is inversely related to particle diameter (D10) for SSCs up to 1–5 g/L. Backscatter and combined-signal sensors also show a dependency on sediment colour (CIE a∗), which becomes particularly prominent at SSCs above 10 g/L. We relate this increase in colour dependency with SSC to the expected effect of cumulative near-infrared light absorption associated with multiple scattering. We discuss covarying physical properties of naturally occurring river sediment that can dampen or enhance measurement sensitivity and result in turbidity-based SSC rating curves that may strongly differ in magnitude and form from curves derived for industrially prepared material that is often used for sensor calibration. Although the differences in SSC per sensor among sediment types are generally less than one order of magnitude, the systematic errors and uncertainties associated with high SSCs are typically greater than one order of magnitude and may disproportionally affect the quantification of sediment loads during large-magnitude flow events.
Low but highly variable soil organic carbon stocks across deeply weathered eroding and depositional tropical landforms
Reichenbach, Mario; Doetterl, Sebastian; Van Oost, Kristof; et al. (2025)
Catena
Soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in temperate regions are highly affected by lateral soil fluxes induced by soil erosion. SOC dynamics in eroding tropical cropland systems characterized by deeply weathered soils and heterogeneous small-scale subsistence farming structures, however, are not well understood yet. Along topographic gradients in the East African Albertine rift region, we investigated the differences in SOC stocks and persistence for the upper meter of tropical soils developed from geochemically distinct parent materials and cultivated by subsistence farmers. We show that SOC stocks and persistence do not follow topography-driven patterns expected from research on less weathered, more fertile soils of temperate climate zones and more large-scale farming systems. At all investigated topographic positions, the SOC stocks were low compared to temperate regions while variability of stocks was high in both top- and subsoil. Full profile (0 - 100 cm) SOC stocks ranged from 256.1 t C ha(-1) to 297.3 t C ha(-1) at plateaus, from 224.4 t C ha(-1) to 276.1 t C ha(-1) at slopes and from 305.1 t C ha(-1) to 366.0 t C ha(-1) at footslopes. Independent of soil parent material and unless situated on very steep slopes (>15 % slope steepness), SOC stocks in eroding positions are, therefore, similar to those in non-eroding landscape positions and stable at a low level despite heavy erosion. Our results further suggest that deposition of eroded topsoil material at footslopes only slightly increases SOC stocks. Therefore, SOC stocks in this rapidly eroding tropical systems seem not to be heavily altered by soil redistribution while other soil parameters indicate heavy signs of soil disturbance. Tropical soil features and the distinctiveness of small scale subsistence farming practices create an extremely patchy and variable distribution of SOC, which requires us to rethink the way these landscapes can be modelled to represent C dynamics.
Enzymatic stoichiometry in degraded soils after two decades of restoration in a Brazilian semiarid region
Silva, Danilo F.; Araujo, Ademir S.F.; Lima, Antonio Y.V.; et al. (2024)
Catena
Land degradation has emerged as a significantly pressing environmental concern, contributing to the decline of soil properties in both arid and semiarid regions. Despite this, there is limited understanding of how degradation and subsequent long-term restoration efforts impact enzymatic stoichiometry in soils of the Brazilian semiarid area. Therefore, our study aimed to quantify C-, N-, and P-acquiring enzymes in soil samples from the Caatinga, a Brazilian semiarid region. We compared three different conditions: (a) Native Caatinga vegetation, primarily dominated by Fabaceae species; (b) Restored land, resulting from two decades of grazing exclusion; and (c) Degraded land due to overgrazing, characterized by high-intensity grazing practices. A total of 54 soil samples were collected at depths of 0–10 cm during both dry and rainy seasons to evaluate the levels of C-, N-, and P-acquiring enzymes and their respective stoichiometries. Our findings revealed that, overall, C- and N-enzymes showed higher and similar levels between native and restored land, whereas these enzyme levels significantly decreased (approximately 60% for C-enzymes and 80% for N-enzymes) in degraded land. Moreover, P-acquiring enzymes exhibited a notable decrease (approximately 70%) in degraded land specifically during the dry season. The degraded land exhibited a higher C/N ratio (8.5) during the rainy season compared to native land (4.8). Conversely, higher values of C/P and N/P ratios (both during rainy seasons) were observed in native land (0.3 and 0.07, respectively). Redundancy analysis showed that native and restored lands clustered with all acquiring enzymes and were notably influenced by key soil properties such as organic C, microbial biomass C, and nutrients. In contrast, degraded land showed correlations with Al3+ and Na+. Our results provide substantial evidence that Caatinga soils affected by degradation may be microbially P-limited. This underscores the necessity of integrating P-enriched amendments or fertilizers and implementing long-term restoration practices.
Dune whitening and inter-dune freshwater ponds in NE Brazil
Levin, Noam; Tsoar, Haim; Maia, Luis P.; et al. (2007)
Catena
Soil development on basic and ultrabasic rocks in cold environments of Russia traced by mineralogical composition and pore space characteristics
Lessovaia, Sofia N.; Dultz, Stefan; Plötze, Michael; et al. (2016)
Catena

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