Rock cities and ruiniform relief: Forms – processes – terminology

Migoń, Piotr; Duszyński, Filip; Goudie, Andrew

doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2017.05.012

Cited by 64 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…While a consistent terminology for these landscapes is still absent and has remained rather descriptive (e.g. ‘peak‐forest’ in our study area, ‘rock cities’ or ‘ruiniform relief’ elsewhere; Migoń et al ., ) there is general consensus that a wide range of processes contribute to their formation, thus also introducing a remarkable degree of geomorphic variety among the globally (Young et al ., ; Migoń et al ., ) or regionally (Yang et al ., ) documented examples.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Our results are: (i) generally consistent with the idea of an interplay between the weathering driven production of material, and its subsequent evacuation as a key process for the formation and maintenance of peak‐forest landscapes (Migoń et al ., ). In this context, fluvial erosion and downcutting via knickzone propagation is widespread and still ongoing in Zhangjiajie (Shi and Shao, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this context, fluvial erosion and downcutting via knickzone propagation is widespread and still ongoing in Zhangjiajie (Shi and Shao, ). This is also reflected by highest erosion rates along the valley floors, but is contrary to the generally minor role assigned to fluvial erosion in the longer‐term evolution of many peak‐forest landscapes elsewhere (Migoń et al ., ). In comparison with peak‐forest landscapes located in tectonically rather stable settings such as central Europe (Adamovič et al ., ; Cílek, ), northern Australia (Young, ; Young et al ., ) or the central Sahara (Busche and Erbe, ), the ongoing tectonic activity in relation to the Himalayan orogeny and the concomitant onset of a monsoonal precipitation regime could provide one possible explanation for the significant contribution of fluvial processes in counterbalancing regional uplift and creating the relief required for the formation of the particularly high, densely‐spaced and well‐developed landforms at Zhangjiajie (Yang et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sandstone landscapes around the world exhibit a surprising variety in terms of their geomorphology and formative processes. Particular attention has recently been given to macro‐scale landforms such as sandstone tower karst and peak‐forest assemblages (Young et al ., ; Wray, ; Migoń et al ., ). These spectacular landscapes have gained enormous tourist and economic value (Zhao and Wang, ; Brierley et al ., ; Yao and Yin, ) and reflect a wide range of controls that dominate the weathering and erosion of sandstone on various spatial scales (Young et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Evolution of sandstone peak‐forest landscapes – insights from quantifying erosional processes with cosmogenic nuclides

May

Huang

Fujioka

et al. 2017

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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The sandstone peak‐forest landscape in Zhangjiajie UNESCO Global Geopark of Hunan Province, China, is characterized by >3000 vertical pillars and peak walls of up to 350 m height, representing a spectacular example of sandstone landform variety. Few studies have addressed the mechanisms and timescales of the longer‐term evolution of this landscape, and have focused on fluvial incision. We use in situ cosmogenic nuclides combined with GIS analysis to investigate the erosional processes contributing to the formation of pillars and peak‐forests, and discuss their relative roles in the formation and decay of the landscape. Model maximum‐limiting bedrock erosion rates are the highest along the narrow fluvial channels and valleys at the base of the sandstone pillars (~83–122 mm kyr−1), and lowest on the peak wall tops (~2.5 mm kyr−1). Erosion rates are highly variable and intermediate along vertical sandstone peak walls and pillars (~30 to 84 mm kyr−1). Catchment‐wide denudation rates from river sediment vary between ~26 and 96 mm kyr−1 and are generally consistent with vertical wall retreat rates. This highlights the importance of wall retreat for overall erosion in the sandstone peak‐forest. In combination with GIS‐derived erosional volumes, our results suggest that the peak‐forest formation in Zhangjiajie commenced in the Pliocene, and that the general evolution of the landscape followed our sequential refined model: (i) slow lowering rates following initial uplift; (ii) fast plateau dissection by headward knickpoint propagation along joints and faults followed by; (iii) increasing contribution of wall retreat in the well‐developed pillars and peak‐forests and a gradual decrease in overall denudation rates, leading to; (iv) the final consumption of pillars and peak‐forests. Our study provides an approach for quantifying the complex interplay between multiple geomorphic processes as required to assess the evolutionary pathways of other sandstone peak‐forest landscapes across the globe. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Evolution of sandstone peak‐forest landscapes – insights from quantifying erosional processes with cosmogenic nuclides

May

Huang

Fujioka

et al. 2017

Earth Surf Processes Landf

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…They may also form clusters or occasionally combine into more complicated landform assemblages called rock cities (Migoń et al 2017). Their existence is connected with spatial variability of bedrock geological features, mainly jointing patterns, whereas joints also control the shape, evolution and patterns of degradation of individual tors (Linton 1955;Jahn 1974;Dumanowski 1968;Migoń 1996Migoń , 2006Twidale and Vidal Romani 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

UAV and SfM in Detailed Geomorphological Mapping of Granite Tors: An Example of Starościńskie Skały (Sudetes, SW Poland)

Kasprzak

Jancewicz

Michniewicz

2017

Pure Appl. Geophys.

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Abstract-The paper presents an example of using photographs taken by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and processed using the structure from motion (SfM) procedure in a geomorphological study of rock relief. Subject to analysis is a small rock city in the West Sudetes (SW Poland), known as Starościńskie Skały and developed in coarse granite bedrock. The aims of this paper were, first, to compare UAV/SfM-derived data with the cartographical image based on the traditional geomorphological field-mapping methods and the digital elevation model derived from airborne laser scanning (ALS). Second, to test if the proposed combination of UAV and SfM methods may be helpful in recognizing the detailed structure of granite tors. As a result of conducted UAV flights and digital image post-processing in AgiSoft software, it was possible to obtain datasets (dense point cloud, texture model, orthophotomap, bare-ground-type digital terrain model-DTM) which allowed to visualize in detail the surface of the study area. In consequence, it was possible to distinguish even the very small forms of rock surface microrelief: joints, aplite veins, rills and karren, weathering pits, etc., otherwise difficult to map and measure. The study includes also valorization of particular datasets concerning microtopography and allows to discuss indisputable advantages of using the UAV/SfM-based DTM in geomorphic studies of tors and rock cities, even those located within forest as in the presented case study.

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Karren and Sinkholes

2022

Karst Hydrogeology, Geomorphology and Caves

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Rock cities and ruiniform relief: Forms – processes – terminology

Cited by 64 publications

References 71 publications

Evolution of sandstone peak‐forest landscapes – insights from quantifying erosional processes with cosmogenic nuclides

Evolution of sandstone peak‐forest landscapes – insights from quantifying erosional processes with cosmogenic nuclides

UAV and SfM in Detailed Geomorphological Mapping of Granite Tors: An Example of Starościńskie Skały (Sudetes, SW Poland)

Karren and Sinkholes

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