Extracting topographic swath profiles across curved geomorphic features
We present a new method to extend the widely used geomorphic technique of swath profiles towards curved geomorphic structures such as river valleys. In contrast to the established method that hinges on stacking parallel cross sections, our approach does not refer to any individual profile lines, but...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2014-01-01
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| Series: | Earth Surface Dynamics |
| Online Access: | http://www.earth-surf-dynam.net/2/97/2014/esurf-2-97-2014.pdf |
| Summary: | We present a new method to extend the widely used geomorphic technique of
swath profiles towards curved geomorphic structures such as river valleys. In
contrast to the established method that hinges on stacking parallel cross
sections, our approach does not refer to any individual profile lines, but
uses the signed distance from a given baseline (for example, a valley floor)
as the profile coordinate. The method can be implemented easily for arbitrary
polygonal baselines and for rastered digital elevation models as well as for
irregular point clouds such as laser scanner data. Furthermore it does not
require any smoothness of the baseline and avoids over- and undersampling due
to the curvature of the baseline. The versatility of the new method is
illustrated by its application to topographic profiles across valleys, a
large subduction zone, and the rim of an impact crater. Similarly to the
ordinary swath profile method, the new method is not restricted to analyzing
surface elevations themselves, but can aid the quantitative description of
topography by analyzing other geomorphic features such as slope or local
relief. It is even not constrained to geomorphic data, but can be applied to
any two-dimensional data set such as temperature, precipitation or ages of
rocks. |
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| ISSN: | 2196-6311 2196-632X |