3-d CINEMATIC MODEL OF SLOPE EVOLUTION

Abstract

3-d cinematic model demonstrates different landforms evolution under the action of slope processes. Different types of morphological control on slope degradation rate were analyzed. Including three morphological characteristics into model - gradient, vertical curvature, and horizontal one - enables to describe different types of relief development and elucidate some peculiarities of landforms morphology. Horizontal curvature may effect notably the shape of developing landforms. Its influence consists in graduation of surface ribs, flattening of summits, pedimentation at the foot of salient hemianticline shaped parts of landforms. The role of horizontal curvature in graduation of planar ribs of relief is analogue to that of vertical curvature in destruction of profile steps. Some features of pedimentation were simulated: joint of pediments having different base levels, "concave" relief formation, convergence of forms during slopes regression.