Unmanned aerial vehicle‐based mapping of turf‐banked solifluction lobe movement and its relation to material, geomorphometric, thermal and vegetation properties

Solifluction is one of the most widespread periglacial processes with low annual movement rates in the range of $^{-}$ millimeters to centimeters. Traditional methods to assess solifluction movement usually have low spatial resolution, which hampers our understanding of spatial movement patterns and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Eichel, Jana, Draebing, Daniel, Kattenborn, Teja, Senn, Johannes Antenor, Klingbeil, Lasse, Wieland, Markus, Heinz, Erik
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: John Wiley and Sons 2020
Subjects:
UAV
Online Access:https://publikationen.bibliothek.kit.edu/1000117695
https://publikationen.bibliothek.kit.edu/1000117695/62818023
https://doi.org/10.5445/IR/1000117695
Description
Summary:Solifluction is one of the most widespread periglacial processes with low annual movement rates in the range of $^{-}$ millimeters to centimeters. Traditional methods to assess solifluction movement usually have low spatial resolution, which hampers our understanding of spatial movement patterns and the factors controlling them. In this study, we (a) test the applicability of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based structurefrom-motion photogrammetry in comparison to a traditional total station survey tomap surface movement of a turf-banked solifluction lobe (TBL) in the Turtmann Valley (Switzerland). We then (b) relate the detected movement patterns to potential geomorphometric, material, thermal and vegetation controls, which we assessed using geomorphic and vegetation mapping, electrical resistivity surveys and temperature loggers. Our results show that (a) UAV-based mapping can detect solifluction movement with high spatial resolution (one point per m$^{2}$, total > 900 points) and rates and patterns consistent with a total station survey, but requires careful measurement set-up and analysis; and (b) movement rates differ between lobe tread, riser and a ridge feature. Differences can be explained by heterogeneous material, geomorphometric, thermal and vegetation properties of the TBL, which promote different solifluction processes. Our study demonstrates the applicability of UAV-based mapping in solifluction research and improves our understanding of solifluction processes and landform ...