Publications

115 years of sediment deposition in a reservoir in Central Europe: Effects of the industrial history and environmental protection on heavy metals and microplastic. Stauch, Georg; Schulte, Philipp; Schwanen, Christina; Kümmerle, Eberhard Andreas; Dörwald, Lukas; Esch, Alexander; Lehmkuhl, Frank; Walk, Janek. In Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 49(11), S. 3419–3436. Wiley, 2024.

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115 years of sediment deposition in a reservoir in Central Europe: Effects of the industrial history and environmental protection on heavy metals and microplastic. Stauch, Georg; Schulte, Philipp; Schwanen, Christina; Kümmerle, Eberhard Andreas; Dörwald, Lukas; Esch, Alexander; Lehmkuhl, Frank; Walk, Janek. In Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. Wiley, 2024.

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Reconstruction of the pollution history of the Urft reservoir: an organic-geochemical investigation. Schwanen, Christina A.; Stauch, Georg; Schulte, Philipp; Schwarzbauer, Jan. In Environmental Sciences Europe, 36(1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024.

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115 years of sediment deposition in a reservoir in Central Europe: Topographic change detection. Stauch, Georg; Dörwald, Lukas; Esch, Alexander; Walk, Janek. In Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 49(2), S. 582–600. 2024.

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Reservoirs have become an important component in the worldwide river sediment flux. Reservoirs prevent downstream sediment transport and have become a major sediment sink. In this study, sediment deposition during the last 115 years in the Urft Reservoir in western Germany is reconstructed. The Urft Reservoir is the oldest reservoir in the Eifel Mountains and was almost completely drained in 2020. This enabled a detailed mapping of the lake bottom using an unmanned aerial system and the computation of a high-resolution digital surface model. Topographic maps with a nominal resolution of 1:1000 from the time prior to the construction of the dam (around 1900) were used to construct a pre-reservoir elevation model. A digital elevation model of difference (DoD) was calculated from these two datasets for the reservoir floor (0.72 km2). Based on the DoD, a net sediment accumulation of 1.16 × 106 m3 was calculated alongside a propagated volume error of 6.91 × 105 m3, resulting in a mean accumulation of 1.54 m. Conservative vertical error propagation results in an average level of detection (LoD) of 1.8 m. In contrast, the comparison of the DoD with 47 cores in the upper part of the reservoir showed a mean difference of −0.11 m, indicating a high, independently assessed accuracy of the DoD. Three depositional hotspots were identified in the reservoir. One is close to the Urft dam where very fine sediments are draped across the pre-reservoir topography. Two areas are related to reservoir management. Sediment deposition in the Urft Reservoir has been comparably low in comparison to other regions globally, resulting in a 3.25% ± 1.93% loss of reservoir volume between 1905 and 2020. To analyse the effect of strong flooding events, a subset of the reservoir was analysed after an extreme event in July 2021, but accumulation did almost entirely not exceed the LoD.

Opportunities for international cooperation in the field of Disaster Risk and Resilience Research. Fekete, Alexander; Priesmeier, Peter; Büdel, Christian; Flörchinger, Verena; Heyn, Timo; Knoche, Luisa; Krippner, Nils; Stauch, Georg; Winkhardt-Enz, Ronja. 2024.

Fernerkundung und Cloud-Computing – Eine kurze Einführung. Stauch, Georg. In Angewandte Fernerkundung mit der Google Earth Engine / mit Beiträgen von: Eileen Berg [und 7 anderen] ; Hrsg.: Georg Stauch, S. 1–7. Geographisches Institut der RWTH Aachen, Aachen, 2024.

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Dune behavior in the Source Area of the Yellow River under climate changes observed from various remote sensing datasets. Dörwald, Lukas; Lehmkuhl, Frank; Delobel, Lucie; Zhang, Deguo; Yang, Xiaoping; Stauch, Georg. In Aeolian Research, 67-69, S. 100928. 2024.

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Sand dunes are a landscape feature with a quick response time to climate change and human influences (e.g. grazing, greening projects, and fixation structures). Their migration rates and their development can help to gather information about changing environmental conditions over time. The Source Area of the Yellow River (SAYR), located upon the Tibetan Plateau, is highly complex with topographical, hydrological, and climatological influences on active dunes, making it a good study area for these interactions. Based on remote sensing datasets, spanning the last 54 years, 415 dunes were mapped for migration rate calculations. Further, climate data from ERA-5 reanalysis and a local climate station was used to assess their changes within a changing climate. Generally, dune migration rates are rather slow with an average of 3.62 m y-1. In accordance, the averaged resultant drift potential (RDP) values are lower than 10 m3/s−3(−|-). Further, we assessed the density development of the main active barchan dune field in direct premise of the Yellow River. Throughout the past 54 years, we observed the emergence of more than 5 new barchans per square kilometer. This increase is likely attributed to higher sand flux from the Yellow River, which has resulted from increased discharge due to declining snowfall and rising precipitation levels.

Angewandte Fernerkundung mit der Google Earth Engine. Stauch, Georg. S. III, 120 S. : Illustrationen, Tabellen, Diagramme. Geographisches Institut der RWTH Aachen, Aachen, 2024.

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Dormant dune fields and ameliorative moisture conditions in the West Gobi Desert in East Asia during the Last Interglacial. Zheng, Junge; Zhang, Deguo; Yang, Xiaoping; Lehmkuhl, Frank; Stauch, Georg. In Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 643, S. 112170. 2024.

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Arid and semiarid regions are environmentally vulnerable to global warming. Thus, studying their environmental history during warm periods (e.g., the Last Interglacial, LIG) is crucial for understanding their future changes too. The West Gobi Desert is a transitional zone influenced by the westerlies and the East Asian monsoon system. Therefore, the variation in atmospheric circulation profoundly affects its water vapor transport and landscape evolution. Due to the scarcity of continuous records, the moisture transport process remains ambiguous, which limits further research on paleolake evolution and aeolian activity. Here, we combine paleoclimate simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6 (CMIP6)-Paleoclimate Modeling Intercomparison Project 4 (PMIP4) and geological records to clarify the water vapor transport pathways and aeolian activity in the West Gobi Desert during the LIG, compared to the reference period (the piControl). Our results show that increased rainfall and meltwater were possible supplies for surface water during the LIG and were associated with enhanced East Asian summer monsoon and higher surface air temperatures. Concomitantly, weakening aeolian activity and dormant dune fields occurred in the West Gobi Desert, resulting from higher surface moisture content and weaker surface wind regimes associated with the weakening westerlies and East Asian winter monsoon. Notably, the limited weakening of aeolian activity that occurred in the LIG winter and spring was caused by weaker surface wind and deteriorating surface moisture conditions, while the significant dormancy of dune fields in the LIG summer and autumn was initiated by the combined effects of ameliorative surface moisture conditions and lower surface wind speed.

In the land of the apu: Cerro Llamocca as a sacred mountain and central place in the pre-Columbian Andes of southern Peru. Mader, Christian; Reindel, Markus; Isla, Johny; Behl, Martin; Meister, Julia; Hölzl, Stefan. In Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 49, S. 104045. Elsevier BV, 2023.

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Anthropogenic influence of open pit mining on river floods, an example of the Blessem flood 2021. Lehmkuhl, Frank; Stauch, Georg. In Geomorphology, 421, S. 108522-. 2023.

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Large scale anthropogenic relief changes result in a non-equilibrium landscape and such landscapes are prone to catastrophic erosion events during river floods. An example is the major flood event in western German in July 2021. During this event, the Erft River flooded an open gravel pit near the village of Erftstadt-Blessem, resulting in a massive erosional event, including the catastrophic destruction of parts of the settlement. Three different geomorphological periods occurred during the event: I) rapid backward erosion caused the destruction of the overlaying soils and floodplain sediments. Consequently, the gravel pit was filled with water and sediments. Three different pathways of backward erosion were activated during this period. II) Sedimentation in a temporary lake and the formation of alluvial fans. III) The Erft River moved towards the gravel pit due to the erosional processes followed by a second flood. Understanding of such complex erosional and depositional processes in open pit mining areas might serve as a blueprint for processes and hazards in anthropogenic influenced landscapes.

High-resolution digital surface models ({DSM}s) of the Urft River valley (Urft {R}eservoir) from 2020 and 2021, northern Eifel Mountains, western Germany. Stauch, Georg; Dörwald, Lukas; Esch, Alexander; Walk, Janek. 2023.

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Affiliated publication: Stauch, G., Dörwald, L., Esch, A., Walk, J., 2023. 115 years of sediment deposition in a reservoir in central Europe: Topographic change detection. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms.

Dune movement under climatic changes on the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau as recorded by long-term satellite observation versus ERA-5 reanalysis. Dörwald, Lukas; Lehmkuhl, Frank; Walk, Janek; Delobel, Lucie; Boemke, Bruno; Baas, Andreas; Zhang, Deguo; Yang, Xiaoping; Stauch, Georg. In Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 48(13), S. 2613–2629. 2023.

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The movement of active dunes is tightly linked to climatic conditions (e.g., wind regime, temperature and precipitation) as well as human influence (e.g., grazing, dune fixation and greening). Dune migration rates can be studied to draw conclusions of changing wind conditions over time. The Gonghe Basin (GB), located on the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau (TP), offers a good testing ground for these assumptions. The intramontane basin is highly influenced by two major wind regimes: the mid-latitude Westerlies and the East Asian summer monsoon. To investigate environmental changes, this study combines optical remote sensing techniques with climatic datasets. High-resolution satellite images of the last five decades, such as CORONA KH-4B, are used to map dunes and calculate their respective migration rates. Further, height information was extracted as well. Climatic changes from the ERA-5 reanalysis dataset and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values were processed alongside. Relating the dunes' surface processes to climate model data shows an accordance between slowing migration, expanding vegetation and a decrease in sand drift potential. From 1968 to present time, an average dune migration rate of 7.3 m a−1 was extracted from the satellite images, with an overall reduction of −1.81 m a−1. The resultant drift potential (RDP) values for the GB are calculated to be below 10 m3 s−3 with a spatial decrease, following a direction from the NW to the SE, fitting well with a corresponding decrease in the migration rates. Our results indicate a good agreement between the development of aeolian landforms and the ERA-5 climate reanalysis model data, even in a high-altitude setting with complex topography, which is known to influence such datasets.

Pedogenesis at the coastal arid-hyperarid transition deduced from a Late Quaternary chronosequence at Paposo, Atacama Desert. Walk, Janek; Schulte, Philipp; Bartz, Melanie; Binnie, Ariane; Kehl, Martin; Mörchen, Ramona; Sun, Xiaolei; Stauch, Georg; Tittmann, Christopher; Bol, Roland; Brückner, Helmut; Lehmkuhl, Frank. In CATENA, 228, S. 107171-. 2023.

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Under hyperarid climate conditions, pedogenesis is driven by the atmospheric deposition and subsequent accumulation of easily to moderately soluble salts forming extreme types of Aridisols. In contrast, the processes and timescales of soil formation in coastal desert environments are as yet not well understood. Therefore, a soil chronosequence at the arid-hyperarid transition in the south-central coastal Atacama Desert is investigated. We measured physicochemical soil parameters of shallow soil profiles on four generations of a multi-stage alluvial fan system, assisted by micromorphological analysis, allowing to deduce the soil-forming processes. We further established a geochronological framework by applying 10Be cosmogenic nuclide exposure dating on the abandoned surface generations, which allowed to infer the timescales for soil formation. The results indicate initial yet clearly identifiable pedogenesis occurring since MIS 5e–c. Along the Late Quaternary chronosequence, physicochemical soil properties show decreasing trends with growing age for the median grain size, salinity, long-term pH development, and CaCO3 contents. Contrarily, organic carbon, the ratio of organic to total phosphorus, the redness, and the contents of total and poorly crystalline pedogenic iron oxides tend to increase with age. This provides evidence for soil formation under an arid to hyperarid coastal climate characterized by (i) redistribution of salts by leaching causing topsoil desalinization; (ii) decalcification coupled with (iii) dealkalinization in totally decalcified horizons; (iv) accumulation of soil organic matter; (v) initial rubification through formation of pedogenic iron oxides (i.e. hematite); and (vi) initial loamification that, in turn, might have impeding effects on the translocation of soil constituents on timescales larger than 105 a. Furthermore, in situ pedogenesis might be superimposed considerably by aeolian dust influx. At Atacama’s south-central coast, the state of pedogenic alteration scales with the cumulative precipitation received throughout the entire Late Quaternary, yet evolved strongest between MIS5 and the MIS4/3-transition.

High-resolution digital elevation model ({DEM}) of the Urft River valley (Urft {R}eservoir) from 1897, northern Eifel Mountains, western Germany. Stauch, Georg; Dörwald, Lukas; Esch, Alexander; Walk, Janek. 2023.

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Affiliated publication: Stauch, G., Dörwald, L., Esch, A., Walk, J., 2023. 115 years of sediment deposition in a reservoir in central Europe: Topographic change detection. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms.

Late Quaternary landscape evolution and paleoenvironmental implications from multiple geomorphic dryland systems, Orog Nuur Basin, Mongolia. Nottebaum, Veit; Stauch, Georg; van der Wal, Jorien L. N.; Zander, Anja; Schlütz, Frank; Shumilovskikh, Lyudmila; Reicherter, Klaus; Batkhishig, Ochirbat; Lehmkuhl, Frank. In Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 47(1), S. 275–297. 2022.

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This study investigates the late Quaternary development of the sedimentary system of Orog Nuur Basin in southern Mongolia. Geomorphological archives (lacustrine sediments and beach ridges, alluvial fans, aeolian deposits, peat) recorded palaeoenvironmental change from marine isotope stage (MIS) 7 to the late Holocene. Synthesizing the variety of archives allows a better understanding of geomorphological interactions in arid regions and palaeoenvironmental implications for the area. By performing palaeoshoreline mapping and dating, we identified eight palaeolake levels resulting in a refined lake level history of Orog Nuur. The highest reliably dated shoreline is about 56 m higher than today's lake level and provides evidence for a late MIS 5 lake level between 100 and 75 thousand years (ka). Reconstructions yield a minimum volume estimate of 24.5 km3, delineating a lake that is 153 times larger than that of today (0.16 km3). Massive lake extensions occurred also during MIS 3 and the Holocene. The geomorphological investigation reveals late MIS 5 and MIS 3 lake expansions were of similar magnitude. The palaeoenvironmental reconstruction from early Holocene archives indicates that lake expansion was caused by an increase in precipitation and meltwater inflow from the surrounding mountain systems. Afterwards, lake levels declined with some intermittent highstands during the mid-Holocene (7–5 ka), indicating a general trend towards a lower water inflow throughout the Holocene. Palynological reconstructions of the alpine vegetation development reveal that mid-Holocene highstands (c. 6.5 ka and 5.5 ka) were fed by higher precipitation in the nearby Gurvan Bogd range. Mountain silts, basin silty sands, and Holocene dune deposits provide further evidence for paleoenvironmental change. As controlling factors of the sedimentary system, we identified changes in effective moisture, higher precipitation values and the contribution of meltwater. Orog Nuur Basin archives are valuable for landscape and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions and for comparisons in supraregional reconstruction approaches.

Weathering under coastal hyperaridity – Late Quaternary development of spectral, textural, and gravelometric alluvial fan surface characteristics. Walk, Janek; Bartz, Melanie; Stauch, Georg; Binnie, Ariane; Brückner, Helmut; Lehmkuhl, Frank. In Quaternary Science Reviews, 277, S. 107339-. 2022.

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Hyperarid coasts develop under relatively high air humidity and abundant sea salt aerosols, resulting in physical and chemical weathering processes that distinctly differ from those present in inland deserts. However, neither the geomorphic effects of the weathering processes nor the timescales on which they alter depositional surfaces are sufficiently understood. In this study we therefore integrate spectral, textural, and gravelometric analyses based on high to very high resolution satellite and aerial remote sensing to assess the degree of post-depositional alteration of a multi-stage alluvial fan at the coast of the Atacama Desert. To further deduce the present-day as well as past intensities of responsible weathering processes we establish a morphochronology of the fan's evolution using cosmogenic 10Be exposure dating. Spectral, textural, and gravelometric parameters relatively date a succession of fan generations, assuming the weathering of fan surface sediments prior to deposition can be largely excluded. Under coastal hyperaridity, effects on the spectral surface signatures are primarily explained by the development of weathering rinds and related formation of secondary iron oxides. Spectral iron oxide ratios show little to no change during the Holocene but strongly increase during the Late Glacial, while over longer timescales an asymptotic increase is suggested. Clast breakdown can largely be attributed to salt weathering causing sublinear to roughly linear decreases in mean size, coarseness, and size variation of coarse clasts. Governed by clast breakdown as well as lateral remobilization of clasts, nano-scale surface roughness exhibits a non-monotonic, peak-shaped relationship with age, whereas the micro-relief experiences continuous smoothing due to denudation. Findings are summarized in a conceptual model showing that in hyperarid coastal environments fan surface weathering results over timescales of 104 to 105 a in a fully developed desert pavement. Two hypothetical scenarios are introduced which differ based on whether desert pavements remain stable over timescales exceeding the Late Pleistocene or not. Late Quaternary weathering intensity along the coast of the Atacama Desert is found to be related to sea surface temperature variability and sea level jointly driving the oceanic moisture supply.

Beispiele für morphodynamische Prozesse und Verlagerungen in Folge des Hochflutereignisses 2021 im Ahrtal. Lehmkuhl, Frank; Keßels, Johannes; Schulte, Philipp; Stauch, Georg; Dörwald, Lukas; Wolf, Stefanie; Brüll, Catrina; Schüttrumpf, Holger. In Wasser und Abfall, 24(11), S. 40–47. 2022.

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Smartphone-supported mapping of landforms – A new tool in teaching geomorphology. Stauch, Georg. In Erdkunde, 76(3), S. 227–234. 2022.

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Understanding 3D properties of objects is an integral part of geomorphological teaching. This can best be achieved during field trips. However, there are numerous reasons why teaching outdoor might not be possible, either for a group of students or just individuals. 3D models of landforms, either static or interactive, are a great method to improve students learning success, e.g. in a blended learning environment. Preparation of 3D models of individual geomorphological landforms has been so far time-consuming. But since 2020, LiDAR sensors have been integrated into some new smartphones. These systems offer great potential for geomorphological teaching, as they enable simple and cost-effective recording of geomorphological landforms and objects in three dimensions. The smartphone LiDAR systems are suitable for the documentation and 3D reconstruction of objects in the range of several decimetres to metres. By means of three examples, the possible applications of smartphone-based LiDAR systems in the field of geomorphological teaching will be demonstrated. All in all, these smartphone LiDAR systems offer great potential, as they support the understanding of the three-dimensional structure of geomorphological landforms and objects in teaching in schools and universities and thus increase the success of teaching among pupils and students. Furthermore, 3D models make geomorphology more inclusive, e.g. for people not able to conduct field work. At the same time, in research, they offer new opportunities for scientific observation projects, e.g. through the continuous monitoring of geomorphological changes in the context of Citizen Science projects.

Why analysing microplastics in floodplains matters: application in a sedimentary context. Lechthaler, Simone; Esser, Verena; Schüttrumpf, Holger; Stauch, Georg. In Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 23(1), S. 117–131. 2021.

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Microplastics in the environment are a relatively new form of anthropogenic contamination. Right now, the research focus is on the detection of microplastic accumulation in different environmental compartments and understanding the processes that have led to its transport. Detailed information on microplastics in floodplain areas and their distribution in depth are still missing to better understand accumulation points. Therefore, this study presents on the one hand microplastic detection in fluvial sediments from nine sampling sites along a river course. Polymers were determined with infrared spectroscopy and additional sedimentary analysis of the grain size and heavy metal concentration was performed. In total, there was less microplastic in the upper than in the lower river course and slip-off slopes were identified as accumulation hotspots also in deeper sediment layers. Mostly, microplastic particles were detected in fine sediment and heavy metal concentrations along the river were similar to those of microplastics. On the other hand, besides the spatial distribution of microplastics and accumulation in floodplain areas, microplastic analysis offered information in a sedimentary context. Sedimentation rates (0.29–4.00 cm a−1) and patterns between temporal deposition and microplastic polymers were identified. The basis for the development of a dating method by detection of MPs in sediments was thus established. Microplastics as a contaminant provide, in addition to the identification of deposition areas, further data in a temporal and sedimentary perspective.

Morphotectonics of the northern Bogd fault and implications for Middle Pleistocene to modern uplift rates in southern Mongolia. van der Wal, Jorien L.N; Nottebaum, V.C; Gailleton, B.; Stauch, G.; Weismüller, C.; Batkhishig, O.; Lehmkuhl, F.; Reicherter, K. In Geomorphology, 367, S. 107330-. 2020.

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Assessing the activity of strike-slip faults is often facilitated by cumulative offsets of morphological features. The December 4th 1957 Mongolia earthquake, generally referred to as the “Gobi Altai” or “Bogd” earthquake, had MW 8.1 and created long and complex surface ruptures of c. 350 km length along the Bogd fault that cuts across the foothills of the Gurvan Bogd mountains. Several left-laterally and vertically displaced Quaternary alluvial fans and morphogenic markers show cumulative offsets, allowing for an assessment of the effect of repeated earthquakes and active tectonics on landscape evolution. We propose to expand the active tectonic record along this fault up to a Middle Pleistocene time scale that spans regional climatic fluctuations, i.e. repeated glacial-interglacial cycles, and hence varying erosional and depositional rates. Five main drainage areas crosscutting the North Ikh Bogd segment of the Bogd fault were analysed and compared in terms of hypsometry, drainage steepness and alluvial fan slope inclination. Along the mountain front, deposits from all drainages form multiple alluvial fan levels that reflect recurring deposition-incision cycles. Previously published ages, as well as the spatial distribution of these fan levels, suggest that their incision and abandonment is induced by regionally dominant climate fluctuations. However, the increase of fan slope angles over time and the increased intensity of sub-surface folding observed in ground-penetrating radar profiles, suggests that cumulative tectonic uplift also has a strong impact on alluvial fan morphology. Estimates of the increase of fan slope angles as a result of cumulative tectonic uplift imply that Middle Pleistocene to modern vertical slip rates along the North Ikh Bogd segment of the Bogd fault are in the order of 0.9–1 mm/yr. However, much slower vertical slip rates along individual fault segments, ranging between 0.06 ± 0.01 mm/yr and 0.28 ± 0.07 mm/yr, indicate that uplift of the Ikh Bogd plateau occurs as a result of distributed deformation across multiple parallel fault strands within bedrock as well as alluvial fans. Our results emphasise the importance of regional studies along active faults that take into account the complexity of surface ruptures as well as the occurrence of related structures that can accommodate deformation.

The Way of Macroplastic through the Environment. Lechthaler, Simone; Waldschläger, Kryss; Stauch, Georg; Schüttrumpf, Holger. In Environments, 7(10), S. 73-. 2020.

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With the focus on microplastic in current research, macroplastic is often not further considered. Thus, this review paper is the first to analyse the entry paths, accumulation zones, and sinks of macroplastic in the aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environment by presenting transport paths and concentrations in the environment as well as related risks. This is done by applying the Source–Pathway–Receptor model on macroplastic in the environment. Based on this model, the life cycle of macroplastic is structurally described, and knowledge gaps are identified. Hence, current research aspects on macroplastic as well as a sound delimitation between macro- and microplastic that can be applied to future research are indicated. The results can be used as basic information for further research and show a qualitative assessment of the impact of macroplastic that ends up in the environment and accumulates there. Furthermore, the applied model allows for the first time a quantitative and structured approach to macroplastic in the environment.

Gradients in climate, geology, and topography affecting coastal alluvial fan morphodynamics in hyperarid regions – The Atacama perspective. Walk, Janek; Stauch, Georg; Reyers, Mark; Vásquez, Paulina; Sepúlveda, Fernando A.; Bartz, Melanie; Hoffmeister, Dirk; Brückner, Helmut; Lehmkuhl, Frank. In Global and Planetary Change, 185, S. 102994-. 2020.

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Along the coast of the hyperarid Atacama Desert, late Quaternary alluvial fans emerge from the Coastal Cordillera to the Pacific Ocean between 20.5°S and 25.5°S. Coastal alluvial fans (CAF) show, in comparison to the interior fans of the Atacama Desert, pronounced recent activity. However, the complex interplay between climate, lithology, and tectonics affecting the CAF morphodynamics in such hyperarid coastal settings needs to be better understood. We therefore aim at assessing the major factors driving CAF activity and evaluate their effects along gradients. We conducted an extensive study relating climatic, lithologic, and tectonic characteristics to fan and catchment geomorphology of 123 CAF. Geomorphometric analyses are based on the 12.5 m TanDEM-X WorldDEM™, catchment lithology and faults are extracted from 13 regional geological maps, and the frequency of heavy rainfall events capable of activating CAF is derived from a Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) regional climate model. Our results point to a primary climatic control on CAF morphodynamics shown in functional relationships with catchment hydromorphometric characteristics reflecting a high susceptibility to debris flows – the main CAF-constructing process. Catchment properties along the latitudinal gradient reflect the source of significant precipitation events: frontal systems and cut-off lows which mainly originate in the extratropics and become increasingly rare towards the north. The frequency of precipitation extremes can only be correlated to the hydromorphometry and geomorphic maturity of catchments that feature a high degree of sediment transport potential and generally do not cut back far into the Coastal Cordillera. Related to the strongly reduced influence of the Pacific precipitation source towards the east, this additional climatic transition is governed by the orographic effect of the steep W-E gradient in topography. In contrast, source-area lithology is of negligible relevance for CAF catchment morphometry and fan activity. An important indirect influence of tectonics, however, can be seen in the long-term (neo)tectonic activity within the Coastal Cordillera, which in turn shapes catchments and controls the topography.

Late Pleistocene alluvial fan evolution along the coastal Atacama Desert (N Chile). Bartz, Melanie; Walk, Janek; Binnie, Steven A.; Brill, Dominik; Stauch, Georg; Lehmkuhl, Frank; Hoffmeister, Dirk; Brückner, Helmut. In Global and Planetary Change, 190, S. 103091-. 2020.

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Due to their sensitivity to both tectonic activity and climatic variations, coastal alluvial fans (CAF) along the western flank of the Coastal Cordillera in the Atacama Desert (northern Chile) are important geo-archives for unravelling Quaternary environmental change. Our study focuses on terrestrial and marine deposits of five CAF complexes between 20° and 25°S along the coastal zone of the Atacama to identify phases of alluvial fan activity during the Late Quaternary. Based on a combination of luminescence dating and 10Be cosmogenic nuclide exposure dating as well as existing chronological data in the area, insights into climatic variations along the hyper-arid coast are presented for the Late Pleistocene derived from CAF morphodynamics. Activity of alluvial fans could be documented during time spans 95–80 ka, 60–45 ka, 35–20 ka, as well as the Holocene. Numerical dating of marine terrace deposits gives insights into the tectonic uplift of the Coastal Plain in northern Chile during the Late Quaternary period, for which estimated uplift rates between ~0.06 and ~0.57 m/ka were derived. While tectonic activity induces base-level changes, long-term tectonic activity rather indirectly controls alluvial fan activity. We suggest that alluvial fan activity is mainly controlled by atmospheric changes from the Pacific Ocean. Based on our observations, CAF in the hyper-arid Atacama Desert serve as suitable geo-archives for reconstructing climate changes during the Quaternary. In particular, the usefulness of alluvial fan systems in a water-limited environment is important for understanding the palaeoenvironmental evolution in a coastal desert.

Regional study of microplastics in surface waters and deep sea sediments south of the Algarve Coast. Lechthaler, Simone; Schwarzbauer, Jan; Reicherter, Klaus; Stauch, Georg; Schüttrumpf, Holger. In Regional Studies in Marine Science, 40, S. 101488-. 2020.

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Various studies show a contamination of the marine environment with microplastics due to the material persistence and a resulting accumulation. Right now, the environmental impact of microplastics is not fully determined and in order to obtain further information on contaminated areas, water surface samples and (deep sea) sediment from the Atlantic Ocean south of Algarve Coast (Portugal) were taken and analysed. Microfibres, 3 black fibres, were visually detected in 2 of the 20 sediment samples without verifying their polymeric identity. Assuming that they are microplastics, concentration from 0.00–0.29 particles/g dry sediment result. In the eleven water samples, 81.8% contained microplastics including polymeric identification (0.00–14.09 particles/m3) with an average contamination of 1.36 ± 4.03 particles/m3. A significant positive correlation between the microplastic concentration in the water and the average water depth during sampling was identified. This regional study is one of a few that analysed also deep sea sediment and provides results about microplastics as anthropogenic contaminants south of the Algarve coast.

Testing the potential of K-feldspar pIR-IRSL and quartz ESR for dating coastal alluvial fan complexes in arid environments. Bartz, Melanie; Duval, Mathieu; Brill, Dominik; Zander, Anja; King, Georgina E.; Rhein, Alexander; Walk, Janek; Stauch, Georg; Lehmkuhl, Frank; Brückner, Helmut. In Electron spin resonance (ESR) dating in Quaternary studies: evolution, recent advances and applications, 556, S. 124–143. 2020.

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Coastal alluvial fans (CAF) are important geo-archives due to their sensitivity to both tectonic activity and climatic changes. Thus, they can give key insights for geomorphic and sedimentary processes. In this study we test the potential of K-feldspar post infrared-infrared stimulated luminescence (pIR-IRSL) and quartz electron spin resonance (ESR) methods for dating alluvial fan complexes in arid environments. The existing chronological data from marine terraces that interact with CAF make the Atacama Desert in northern Chile an excellent setting for this research. Samples have been collected from alluvial, marine and aeolian sediments embedded in the CAF complexes, allowing evaluation of the different signal properties and bleaching characteristics of the pIR-IRSL and ESR signals over Late Pleistocene time scales. pIR-IRSL dose distributions of clast-rich alluvial fan samples are characterised by higher scatter and demonstrate heterogeneous bleaching, while matrix-rich alluvial fan deposits show rather homogeneous poor bleaching in the dose dispersion as indicated by a modern analogue sample. In contrast, marine and aeolian deposits are homogeneously well bleached, supported by a modern littoral sample. Following the quartz multiple centre (MC) ESR dating approach (Al and Ti centres), bleaching of the different centres prior to deposition has been achieved. While the Ti–H centre provides mostly lower doses than the Ti–Li centre, in most cases the Al centre provides the highest dose values. This pattern is consistent with their respective bleaching kinetics and suggests that the Ti centre signals most likely provide the closest estimate to the true burial dose for samples with doses >200 Gy. ESR and pIR-IRSL ages are consistent at 2σ for the marine, aeolian and clast-rich debris-flow deposits, which is in agreement with existing chronological data in this area. It appears that the mode of sediment transport on alluvial fans, either as matrix- or clast-rich flows, plays an important role in sediment bleaching. While clast-rich alluvial fan deposits are likely better bleached, we cannot exclude insufficient bleaching during matrix-rich alluvial fan flows; our dating results suggest that both pIR-IRSL and ESR dating overestimate the true burial age. The combination of pIR-IRSL and MC ESR dating can be considered as a promising tool for deciphering alluvial fan formation over (Late) Pleistocene time scales.

Oil Extraction as Separation Method for Microplastic in Sediment Samples. Lechthaler, Simone; Stauch, Georg; Schüttrumpf, Holger. M. Cocca, E. Di Pace, M. E. Errico, G. Gentile, A. Montarsolo, R. Mossotti, M. Avella (Hrsg.), S. 282–286. Springer International Publishing, 2020.

[ Abstract ]

Microplastic (MP), plastic particles smaller than 5 mm [1], is widely distributed in the environment [2] and has not only been detected in the aquatic environment [3] but also in terrestrial areas [4]. To understand the whole life cycle of MP it is important to analyse samples from different areas. With the detection of MP in different environmental compartments, it is possible to define sources, entry and transport paths and temporary and ultimate sinks of MP.

Canola Oil Extraction in Conjunction with a Plastic Free Separation Unit Optimises Microplastics Monitoring in Water and Sediment. Lechthaler, Simone; Hildebrandt, Lars; Stauch, Georg; Schüttrumpf, Holger. In Analytical Methods. 2020.

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Microplastics are widely distributed in the environment and to define contamination hot spots, environmental samples have to be analysed by means of cost- as well as time-efficient and reliable standardised protocols. Due to the lipophilic characteristics of plastic, oil extraction as a fast and density-independent separation is beneficial for the crucial extraction step. It was extensively validated (480 experiments) in two test setups by using canola oil and a cost-effective, plastic-free separation unit with spiked microplastic (19 different polymer types) in the density range from ρ = 11 - 1,760 kg/m³ and in the size range from 0.02 mm - 4.4 mm. Thus, an innovative, new method combination was developed and profoundly validated for water and sediment samples using only a short settling time of 15 minutes. Some experiments were also carried out with zinc chloride to obtain additional reference data (particles ≤ 359 µm). The total mean recovery rate was 89.3%, 91.7% within the larger microplastic fraction and 85.7% for the small fraction. Compared to zinc chloride (87.6%), recovery rates differed not significantly with oil (87.1%). Furthermore, size limits were set, since the method works best with particles 0.02 mm ≥ d ≤ 3 mm. The proposed method exhibits higher efficiency (84.8% for 20 - 63 µm) for the potentially most harmful microplastic size fraction than the classic setup using brine solution. As a result, oil is a comparably effective separation medium and offers further advantages for separating water and sediment samples due to its density independence, simple and fast application and environmental friendliness. Based on this, a new extraction protocol is presented here that confirms oil separation as a sound and effective separation in microplastic analysis and identifies previously missing information.

The way of microplastic through the environment – Application of the source-pathway-receptor model (review). Waldschläger, Kryss; Lechthaler, Simone; Stauch, Georg; Schüttrumpf, Holger. In Science of The Total Environment, 713, S. 136584-. 2020.

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Microplastics in the environment is a highly relevant research topic. However, although more and more studies on environmental concentrations of microplastics are published, a profound risk assessment could not be carried out yet. This is mainly attributable to the fact that the current sampling and analysis methods do not provide a representative picture of the environmental pollution, as the fundamental knowledge about transport processes of microplastic is not present, and the ecotoxicological studies therefore cannot consider the relevant exposures of the organisms. To provide a methodological basis for further research and risk assessments, this paper applies the Source-Pathway-Receptor model to the context of microplastics, whereby the current state of knowledge can be compiled in a structured way and important knowledge gaps can be identified.

Surface Roughness Estimation in the Orog Nuur Basin (Southern Mongolia) Using Sentinel-1 SAR Time Series and Ground-Based Photogrammetry. Ullmann, Tobias; Stauch, Georg. In Remote Sensing, 12(19), S. 3200-. 2020.

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This study demonstrates an application-oriented approach to estimate area-wide surface roughness from Sentinel-1 time series in the semi-arid environment of the Orog Nuur Basin (southern Mongolia) to support recent geomorphological mapping efforts. The relation of selected mono- and multi-temporal SAR features and roughness is investigated by using an empirical multi-model approach and selected 1D and 2D surface roughness indices. These indices were obtained from 48 high-resolution ground-based photogrammetric digital elevation models, which were acquired during a single field campaign. The analysis is backed by a time series analysis, comparing Sentinel-1 features to temporal-corresponding observations and reanalysis datasets on soil moisture conditions, land surface temperature, occurrence of precipitation events, and presence and development of vegetation. Results show that Sentinel-1 features are hardly sensitive to the changing surface conditions over none to sparsely vegetated land, indicating very dry conditions throughout the year. Consequently, surface roughness is the dominating factor altering SAR intensity. The best correlation is found for the combined surface roughness index Z-Value (ratio between the root mean square height and the correlation length) and the mean summer VH intensity with an r2 coefficient of 0.83 and an Root-Mean-Square Error of 0.032.

Late Quaternary environments in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia: Vegetation, hydrological, and palaeoclimate evolution. Yu, Kaifeng; Lehmkuhl, Frank; Schlütz, Frank; Diekmann, Bernhard; Mischke, Steffen; Grunert, Jörg; Murad, Waheed; Nottebaum, Veit; Stauch, Georg; Zeeden, Christian. In Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 514, S. 77–91. Elsevier BV, 2019.

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A conceptual model for the interpretation of aeolian sediments from a semiarid high-mountain environment since the late glacial. Stauch, Georg. In Quaternary Research, 91(1), S. 24–34. Cambridge University Press, 2019.

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Different interpretations of accumulation and preservation of aeolian sediments lead to divergent and sometimes contradictory palaeoclimate reconstructions. Although aeolian transport mainly occurs during dry climate, the preservation of the aeolian sediment is a critical factor in many environments in determining the nature of the aeolian sedimentary archive. Analysis of more than 200 optically stimulated luminescence ages for aeolian sands from Tibet shows four different aeolian phases of accumulation. Strong aeolian activity occurred during the last glacial maximum, but hardly any aeolian sediments are preserved. Consequently, the period with the highest aeolian activity is not recorded in the sedimentary record. A phase of aeolian accumulation occurred in the late glacial and the early Holocene. The duration of deposition for this phase is a consequence of the complex topography and an increase in moisture. This phase was punctuated by exceptionally strong accumulation during the Younger Dryas stade. The mid-Holocene is characterised by weak aeolian accumulation and fluvial erosion caused by greater precipitation during the maximum height of the Asian summer monsoon. Aeolian activity resumed in the late Holocene because of drier conditions. The conceptual model provides an approach that can be applied to other mountain and desert margin regions that have limited sediment availability.

Geomorphology of the coastal alluvial fan complex Guanillos, northern Chile. Walk, Janek; Stauch, Georg; Bartz, Melanie; Brückner, Helmut; Lehmkuhl, Frank. In Journal of Maps, 15(2), S. 436–447. 2019.

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The evolution of alluvial fans on the narrow coastal plain of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile is so far poorly investigated. Therefore, a detailed geomorphological map at a scale of 1:7500 of a coastal alluvial fan complex at Guanillos (21°58?S, 70°10.5?W) is provided as a first step to understand the fan?s morphogenesis. Geomorphological mapping was based on a digital elevation model with a resolution of 2?m generated from Pleiades-1 tri-stereo satellite imagery, derived terrain parameters, and on-site field mapping. The resultant map is used to characterize and categorize the overall morphology of the alluvial fan complex. In particular, linear features constructed by primary alluvial fan processes can be differentiated successfully from those developed by secondary processes. Furthermore, the advanced evolutionary state of the fan complex is revealed. We introduce a morphostratigraphic model comprising the fan?s prograde evolution, dissection, and successive abandonment of surface generations.

Response of lake-catchment processes to Holocene climate variability: Evidences from the NE Tibetan Plateau. Yan, Dada; Wünnemann, Bernd; Zhang, Yongzhan; Long, Hao; Stauch, Georg; Sun, Qianli; Cao, Guangchao. In Quaternary Science Reviews, 201, S. 261–279. Elsevier BV, 2018.

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Environmental changes during the late Pleistocene and the Holocene in the Gonghe Basin, north-eastern Tibetan Plateau. Stauch, Georg; Lai, Zhongping; Lehmkuhl, Frank; Schulte, Philipp. In Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 509, S. 144–155. Elsevier BV, 2018.

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Paleolakes in the Gobi region of southern Mongolia. Lehmkuhl, Frank; Grunert, Jörg; Hülle, Daniela; Batkhishig, Ochirbat; Stauch, Georg. In Quaternary Science Reviews, 179, S. 1–23. Elsevier BV, 2018.

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Geochemical imprints of coupled paleoenvironmental and provenance change in the lacustrine sequence of Orog Nuur, Gobi Desert of Mongolia. Yu, Kaifeng; Lehmkuhl, Frank; Diekmann, Bernhard; Zeeden, Christian; Nottebaum, Veit; Stauch, Georg. In Journal of Paleolimnology, 58(4), S. 511–532. 2017.

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In the arid environment, due to the scarcity of a continuous terrestrial archive, lacustrine sequences are often employed as a paleoenvironmental repository. However, numerous spatial and temporal heterogeneities exist concerning previously studied sites in arid central Asia. Furthermore, surveys using a XRF core scanning technique on lacustrine sequences retrieved in hyperarid desert settings are largely rare. Hence, two parallel sediment cores (ONW I; ONW II) were retrieved from Orog Nuur, in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. Continuous, high-resolution elemental abundances at a 1-cm scanning step size were examined in core ONW II using XRF core scanning. To constrain the data quality, elements with high error margins relative to measured peak areas and those elements/proxies below the significance level during the multivariate statistics are excluded for environmental/provenance implications. Based on multivariate statistical evaluation, the bulk-geochemistry of the core sediments are governed by (1) grain-size composition, (2) authigenic productivity (Ca, Cl, CaCO3) in an alkaline environment, (3) allochthonous organic material (TOC and C/Natomic), and (4) terrigenous input via fluvial inflows, as well as quasi-constant aeolian input through the late Quaternary (Al, Si, K, Ti, and Fe). Disparate source lithotypes, as well as authigenic productivity of the lake system existed before and after Termination I. The Holocene was dominated by a distinct high productivity alkaline environment with more felsic and alkaline input relative to the late Pleistocene. This might be attributed to an increased hydrodynamic strength of riverine inflow and/or intensified erosion and weathering of felsic source rocks in the upper catchment of the Orog Nuur. Therefore, in order to gain a better understanding of the bulk-geochemistry of lake sediments, the coupled provenance and environmental signatures, as well as land surface processes in the catchment need to be systematically discerned. Thus, the XRF core scanning data obtained in this study would have practical and complimentary merit for other lacustrine studies focused on the desert realm across the globe.

Project house water: a novel interdisciplinary framework to assess the environmental and socioeconomic consequences of flood-related impacts. Crawford, Sarah E.; Cofalla, Catrina Brüll nee; Aumeier, Benedikt; Brinkmann, Markus; Classen, Elisa; Esser, Verena; Ganal, Caroline; Kaip, Elena; Häussling, Roger; Lehmkuhl, Frank; Letmathe, Peter; Müller, Anne-Katrin; Rabinovitch, Ilja; Reicherter, Klaus; Schwarzbauer, Jan; Schmitt, Marco; Stauch, Georg; Wessling, Matthias; Yüce, Süleyman; Hecker, Markus; Kidd, Karen A.; Altenburger, Rolf; Brack, Werner; Schüttrumpf, Holger; Hollert, Henner. In Environmental Sciences Europe, 29(1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2017.

[ DOI ]

Landscape and climate on the northern Tibetan Plateau during the late Quaternary. Stauch, G.; Schulte, P.; Ramisch, A.; Hartmann, K.; Hülle, D.; Lockot, G.; Diekmann, B.; Nottebaum, V.; Müller, C.; Wünnemann, B.; Yan, D.; Lehmkuhl, F. In Geomorphology, 286, S. 78–92. Elsevier BV, 2017.

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Late Pleistocene glaciations at Lake Donggi Cona, eastern Kunlun Shan (NE Tibet): early maxima and a diminishing trend of glaciation during the last glacial cycle.. Rother, Henrik; Stauch, Georg; Loibl, David; Lehmkuhl, Frank; Freeman, Stewart P. H. T. In Boreas, 46(3), S. 503–524. Wiley, 2017.

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Aeolian sediments on the northern Tibetan Plateau. Stauch, Georg. G. Stauch (Hrsg.). 2017.

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Late Quaternary aeolian sand deposition sustained by fluvial reworking and sediment supply in the Hexi Corridor — An example from northern Chinese drylands. Nottebaum, Veit; Lehmkuhl, Frank; Stauch, Georg; Lu, Huayu; Yi, Shuangwen. In Geomorphology, 250, S. 113–127. 2015.

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Aeolian deposits are frequently used for palaeoenvironmental change studies. Their formation depends on an array of requirements: the supply of material suitable for aeolian transport and favorable conditions of sediment availability and wind strength. In order to infer palaeoenvironmental information from aeolian sand deposits these factors need to be carefully evaluated. We present a study from northern Chinese Hexi Corridor, based on 11 optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dated sediment sections. These represent interchanging aeolian and alluvial deposits under gravel surfaces and aeolian sand in dune fields interrupted by interdunal flood deposits. Investigations in two subareas reveal contrasting geomorphologic and sedimentary histories: (1) sediment deposition during the Pleistocene–Holocene transition (~12ka) followed by deflation during the Holocene and (2) frequent sediment recycling revealed by a wide spectrum of ages throughout the Holocene. The late glacial sediment pulse recorded in the western Hexi Corridor is attributed to high sediment supply, generated by efficient (peri-)glacial sediment production during glacial times in the adjacent Qilian Shan (<5700m asl) and a moisture increase inducing the reworking of those (glacio-)fluvial deposits during the Pleistocene–Holocene transition. The absence of a powerful reworking agent preserved these late glacial deposits in the western Hexi Corridor in contrast to moister eastern parts where Holocene sediment reworking prevailed. Geomorphological and hydrological preconditions of the subareas are discussed and reveal the controlling influence of fluvial processes on sand supply for the aeolian system. While a perennial drainage is missing in the drier western part, the Hei River drainage is fed by higher monsoonal precipitation in the central Hexi Corridor. It maintains a sediment recycling system and has ensured a sufficient sediment supply throughout the Holocene. The study promotes closer consideration of the fluvial influence on aeolian archives in palaeoenvironmental studies from central Asian and other drylands.

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