Modelling landscape evolution in the Waipaoa catchment, New Zealand — A phenomenalogical approach

Landscape evolution models require detailed strength measurements, which are difficult to obtain for large areas. We offer an alternative phenomenalogical approach to modelling landscape evolution, one that requires few input parameters. The phenomena are hills, channels, floodplains, knickpoints, and coastal floodplain. The model is demonstrated on the highly-erodible Waipaoa catchment, in New Zealand. A digital elevation model is simulated every thousand years from 63000 BP through to present day. There is good agreement between predicted and observed terrace heights, and also good agreement between predicted and observed knickpoint locations, suggesting the phenomenalogical approach is indeed representing the main drivers of landscape evolution in the Waipaoa catchment.

► We model landscape evolution in the Waipaoa catchment.
► Model simulates DEM over 65,000 years.
► Terraces heights and knickpoint positions compare well with measurements.