Formation of evenly spaced ridges and valleys

This movie shows the evolution of a model landscape over 600 kyr under the combined influence of bedrock uplift, stream incision, and soil creep. Competition for drainage area (a proxy for water flux) among the irregularly spaced, incipient valleys that arise in the random initial surface eventually leads to an equilibrium landscape with evenly spaced valleys. Horizontal tick interval is 200 m, vertical tick interval is 20 m. See Perron et al., 2009, Nature.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• geomorphology
• geology
• numerical model
• landscape evolution