Journal article
Evolution of sandstone peak-forest landscapes - insights from quantifying erosional processes with cosmogenic nuclides
Jan-Hendrik May, He-Qing Huang, Toshiyuki Fujioka, David Fink, Alexandru Codilean, Guo-An Yu, Yuanxu Ma, Gerwin Wulf, Jing Gu
Earth Surface Processes and Landforms | John Wiley and Sons | Published : 2018
DOI: 10.1002/esp.4273
Abstract
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 na..
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Awarded by National Natural Science Foundation of China
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Zhangjiajie Global Geopark for logistical support. This study was supported financially by the Joint Research Center for Zhangjiajie Geomorphology based in the Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a project funded by Zhangjiajie Global Geopark, National Natural Science Foundation of China project (No. 41330751, 41561144012 and 41202134), and a Young Scientist Fellowship award by the Chinese Academy of Sciences to Dr Jan-Hendrik May. The clear and constructive comments of two anonymous reviewers are gratefully acknowledged. [Correction added on 9 March 2018 after first online publication: Additional grant numbers were added in this version]