Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2011

Publication Title

Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie

Volume

55

Issue

1

First Page

45

Last Page

61

DOI

10.1127/0372-8854/2011/0055-0024

Abstract

Terracettes are small, quasi-parallel, staircase-like, stepped landforms generally <1 m in tread width and riser height, as long as 300 m, and located transversely along slopes. Numerous theories purport to explain causal mechanisms, including animal disturbance, soil creep, solifluction (gelifluction), slumping and rotational slippage, regolith and vegetation control, subsidence, and anthropogenesis or tectonism. Terracettes in the western Iowa Loess Hills were characterized morphogenetically, with field observations suggesting high association with ungulate activities. A new class of mega-terracette is recognized that characterizes studyarea forms orders of magnitude larger than those discussed by others. This addition to the prior terracette morphologies adds to understanding of concepts of equifinality in which terracettes result from multiple processes. These mega-terracettes are related to ungulate activities of geophagy, soil transport from hooves, compaction, smearing, pawing, and wallowing (dust bathing) as well as the effects of variable soil moisture on erosion of the forms.

Comments

This is the accepted manuscript of an article published in Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie on March 1, 2011 and can be accessed at 10.1127/0372-8854/2011/0055-0024

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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