Journal article
Linking hydrological connectivity to gully erosion in savanna rangelands tributary to the Great Barrier Reef using Structure‐from‐Motion photogrammetry
Land Degradation & Development, Vol.31(1), pp.20-36
2020
Abstract
Gully erosion is a major land management challenge globally and a particularly significant issue in dry-tropical savanna rangelands tributary to the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. This study investigated linkages between hillslope hydrological connectivity pathways and gully geomorphic change in the Burdekin River basin. High resolution (0.1 m) topographic and land cover data derived from low-cost aerial (via Unmanned Aircraft System, UAS) structure-from-motion with multi-view stereo photogrammetry (SfM) was used to map fine-scale connectivity patterns and quantify headcut retreat at the hillslope scale (~150,000 m2). Very high resolution (0.01 m) topographic models derived from ground-based (via hand-held digital camera, GB) SfM, were used to quantify the morphology and geomorphic change of several gully arms (300-700 m2) between 2016 and 2018. Median linear, areal, and volumetric headcut (n=21) retreat rates were 0.2 m yr-1, 0.8 m2 yr-1, and 0.3 m3 yr-1, respectively. At all study sites, the points where modelled hydrological flow lines intersected gullies corresponded to observed geomorphic change, enabling spatially explicit identification of gully extension pathways as a result of overland flow. Application of an index of connectivity demarcated parts of the hillslope most connected to the gully network. Bare areas, roads and cattle trails were identified as important runoff source areas and hydrological conduits driving gully extension. GB SfM accurately reconstructed complex morphologic features including undercuts, overhangs, rills and flutes, providing insights into within-channel erosion processes. This study contributes to an improved understanding and modelling of hydrogeomorphic drivers of gully erosion in degraded savanna rangelands, ultimately benefiting gully management.
Details
- Title
- Linking hydrological connectivity to gully erosion in savanna rangelands tributary to the Great Barrier Reef using Structure‐from‐Motion photogrammetry
- Authors
- Jack Koci (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastRoy C Sidle (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastBen Jarihani (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastMatthew J Cashman (Author) - US Geological Survey, United States
- Publication details
- Land Degradation & Development, Vol.31(1), pp.20-36
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Date published
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.1002/ldr.3421
- ISSN
- 1085-3278
- Copyright note
- Copyright (C) 2020. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Koci, J, Sidle, RC, Jarihani, B, Cashman, MJ.Linking hydrological connectivity to gully erosion in savanna rangelands tributary to the Great Barrier Reef using structure‐from‐motion photogrammetry. Land Degrad Dev. 2020; 31: 20– 36. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3421, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3421. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450644202621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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