Skip to main content

Full text of "A theoretical framework for discussion of climatological geomorphology"

See other formats


LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


910.72 
lUloo 


^'-fs^-;^^^-^;;^- 


lYini     nT 


wmmmmm 


The  person  charging  this  material  is  re- 
sponsible for  its  return  to  the  library  from 
which  it  was  withdrawn  on  or  before  the 
Latest  Date  stamped  below.  -^^'5  --^i-^OO 

Theft,  mutilation,  and  underlining  of  books 
are  reasons  for  disciplinary  action  and  may 
result  in  dismissal  from  the  University. 

UNIVERSITY    OF     ILLINOIS     LIBRARY    AT     URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


D€C  "-^WS 


4^^£La4Jg 


AUG  2  7  |S80 
StPllZ  i960 

NOV  0  8  1189 
NHV  0  R  I9J9 


APR  2 
MAY  0  9 


7^ 


'S<B* 


ym 


L161  — O-1096 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign 


http://www.archive.org/details/theoreticalframe01numnn 


OCCASIONAL  PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  GEOGRAPHY 


A  THEORETICAL    FRAMEWORK  FOR  DISCUSSION 


OF  CLIMATOLOGICAL  GEOMORPHOLOGY 


by 
DAG  NllMMEDAL 


23.2  71 1002  87 

39.4 

.29  996  9.2 

51.3 

.31  1294  3.1 

• 

•      •      • 

• 

•      •       • 

28.6  .66  764  2.0 


-zr^ 


1.00  .98  .41  .89 

1.00  .63.76 

1.00.64 

1.00 


^-a  V 


^^ 


•^ 


o 


<9. 


^ 


^ 

> 


APRIL    1972 
PAPER  NUMBER     1 

l'\n.  IKKDKKIC    nnd    JIDII  H  I' \HMIl  KST.    .diiois 

GEOGRAPHY    GRADUATE    STUDENT    ASSOCIATION 

UNIVERSITY      OF      ILLINOIS     at     URBANA     -     CHAMPAIGN 


1  0-7^  f],     ^ 


vl«^ 


A  THEORETICAL  FRAMEWORK  FOR  DISCUSSION 
OF  CLIMATOLOGICAL  GEOMORPHOLOGY 

Dag  Nummedal 


ABSTRACT 


The  paper  outlines  a  theoretical  structure  for  the  synthesis  of 
experimental  data  on  weathering  processes  into  a  predictive  model  for 
rates  of  denudation  in  nature.   Following  a  general  discussion  on  graph- 
ical representation  of  multivariate  functions,  the  relative  rates  of 
chemical  weathering  for  any  temperature  —  runoff  combination  are  deduced, 
A  field  of  i so- weathering  lines  permits  analysis  of  the  sensitivity  of 
weathering  rates  to  variations  in  climatic  parameters. 

The  methodology  developed  is  applied  to  the  process  of  limestone 
dissolution.   Predicted  rates  of  weathering,  based  on  laboratory  deter- 
mined values  of  calcite  solubility,  show  the  same  trend  in  runoff  — 
temperature  dependency  as  do  measurements  in  nature.   More  accurate 
field  data  are  needed  to  improve  our  understanding  of  regional  varia- 
tion in  weathering  rates. 


INTRODUCTION 

Two  basic  ideas  underlie'  the  study  of  climatic  geomorphology.   One 
is  that  different  climates,  by  affecting  processes,  develop  unique  assem- 
blages of  landforms.   Systematic  climatic  geomorphology  is  the  analysis 
of  these  processes  and  forms  plus  their  relationship  to  climate,  and  has 
the  aim  of  defining  morphogenetic  regions  on  a  world-wide  basis.   The 
other  postulates  that  climatically  controlled  landform  features  have  been 
continuously  superimposed  on  each  other  due  to  the  rapid  climatic  fluctu- 
ations throughout  late  Cenozoic  time  (Biidel,  1963)"   Although  evidence 
supporting  these  ideas  is  generally  lacking,  general  agreement  about  their 
validity  appears  to  be  widespread   (stoddart,  1968) o 

Despite  explicit  recognition  of  the  direct  cause  and  effect  rela- 
tionship between  climate  and  geomorphic  processes,  climatic  geomorphology 
still  lacks  the  conceptual  —  methodological  framework  necessary  to  build 
precise  process  —  response  models  which  can  be  subjected  to  field  or 
laboratory  testing.   Consequently,  climatic  geomorphologists,  rather  than 
attacking  the  problem  from  the  process  viewpoint,  correlate  the  world-wide 
distribution  of  some  vaguely  defined  "characteristic"  landforms  with  chosen 
climatic  parameters  thought  to  be  significant  in  the  sculpturing  of  the 


Earth's  surface. 

Although  the  effect  of  climate  on  landforms  was  clearly  recognized 
by  W.  M.  Davis  and  A.  Penck  (see  Stoddart,  1968)  around  the  turn  of  the 
century,  systematic  study  of  correlations  between  climate  and  landforms 
is  a  modern  development.   In  1948  the  leading  German  climatic  geomorphol- 
ogist,  Julius  Biidel,  established  eight  "Pormkreisen",  _i.e.,  zones  of 
broad  landform  homogeneity.  The  extent  and  boundaries  of  these  zones 
were  thought  to  be  related  to  climate  in  general  terms  (Biidel,  1948), 
Partly  because  of  the  mixture  of  climatic  and  morphologic  criteria 
applied  in  defining  the  zones  of  his  1948  classification,  Biidel  later 
revised  his  scheme  by  reducing  the  number  of  zones  to  five,  in  each  case 
using  morphologic  criteria  for  their  definition  (Biidel,  1963). 

Although  this  approach  may  ultimately  yield  a  mappable  classifi- 
cation useful  in  recognition  of  "fossil"  landforms  representing  earlier 
climatic  episodes,  little,  if  anything,  is  gained  in  understanding  the 
inherent  cause  and  effect  relationship.   A  potentially  more  fruitful 
approach  was  taken  by  Louis  Peltier  who  based  his  nine  "Morphogenetic 
Regions"  on  assumed  uniform  intensity  and  relative  significance  of  the 
dominant  geomorphic  processes  within  well-defined  climatic  zones  (Peltier, 
1950).   Peltier  considered  mean  annual  rainfall  and  temperature  as  being 
the  most  significant  climatic  parameters  and  examined  the  hypothetical 
effects  of  each  on  dominant  weathering  and  erosion  processes. 

Peltier's  inductive  approach,  adapted  by  Leopold  et  al. ,  is  a  first 
step  towards  a  process  —  response  model  for  landform  development  (Leopold 
et  al. ,  1964)*  However,  serious  criticism  can  be  raised.  For  one  thing, 
the  analysis  of  the  effects  of  rainfall  and  temperature  on  geomorphic 
processes  does  not  rest  on  precise  quantitative  work  but  rather  on  general 
impressions.  Secondly,  the  climatic  parameters  chosen  are  not  necessarily 
those  of  the  greatest  geomorphic  significance. 

Peltier  himself  partly  answered  the  first  criticism  by  undertaking 
a  unique  quantitative  study  of  such  parameters  as  mean  relief,  mean  valley 
slope  and  drainage  density  for  selected  climatic  zones  (Peltier,  1962). 
Although  objective,  a  morpheme trie  analysis  yields  little  insight  into  the 
operating  processes;  therefore,  Peltier's  approach  is  merely  a  quantita- 
tive version  of  Biidel. 


AN  OBJECTIVE,  SYNTHETIC  APPROACH  TO  CLIMATIC  GEOMORPHOLOGY 

Considerable  effort  has  been  devoted  to  climatic  geomorphology  dur- 
ing the  last  25  years  (for  reviews  see:   Wilson,  1968;  Stoddart,  1968; 
Oilier,  1969).   In  light  of  the  previous  discussion,  however,  one  must 
agree  with  Wilson  that  morphogenetic  analysis  is  still  a  subjective  tech- 
nique by  which  correlation  is  made  between  climate  and  landforms  (Wilson, 
1968).   One  reason  for  slow  progress  in  understanding  may  be  that  a  com- 
plete analysis  of  climatic  geomorphology,  as  hitherto  conducted,  consists 
of  the  examination  of  a  vast  array  of  interrelated  problems,  such  as  the 
recognition  of  regions;  the  interrelationship  of  climate,  process,  and 
landform;  the  existence  of  climatic-morphologic  cycles;  climatic  change 
and  superimposed  features  in  multigenetic  landscapes. 

In  order  to  achieve  an  objective  assessment  of  the  importance  and 
nature  of  the  climatic  impact  on  landform  development,  this  problem- complex 
must  be  broken  down  sufficiently  to  allow  a  precise  analysis  of  cause  and 
effect  in  a  single  chain  of  events.   In  a  morpho-climatic  synthesis,  the 
climatic  parameters  are  the  independent  variables  whose  effect  on  long-run 
equilibrium  landforms  are  to  be  evaluated.   The  obvious  first  step,  there- 
fore, is  to  determine,  as  precisely  as  present  understanding  of  weathering 
and  erosion  permits,  the  rates  of  denudational  processes  as  functions  of 
climatic  variables.   Secondly,  taking  into  account  bedrock  lithology  and 
structure,  different  rates  of  denudation  and  consequent  erosional  landforms 
can  be  evaluated  for  any  combination  of  relevant  climatic  variables.   In 
the  third  stage,  after  having  determined  equilibrium  landforms,  the  effects 
of  tectonism  and  late  Cenozoic  climatic  fluctuations  must  be  analyzed 
before  a  correlation  between  theoretically  deduced  and  real  world  land- 
forms  can  be  made. 

Obviously,  considerable  work  is  needed  at  each  step  before  an  inte- 
grated body  of  knowledge  on  climatic  geomorphology  is  built.   The  present 
paper  outlines  a  methodological  framework  for  step  one.   A  theoretical 
structure  is  developed  permitting  a  synthesis  of  climatic  data  and  experi- 
mental knowledge  on  specific  weathering  processes  into  a  predictive  model 
for  rates  of  denudation  in  nature  as  functions  of  x  number  of  climatic 
variables.   The  general  discussion  concerns  chemical  weathering;  due  to 
scarcity  of  data,  however,  the  specific  process  of  limestone  dissolution 
was  chosen  for  a  numerical  testing  of  predicted  versus  observed  rates  of 


denudation. 


DEFINITIONS  MD   ASSUMPTIONS 

Weathering;   The  process  of  rock  alteration  due  to  instability  of 

minerals  exposed  to  the  atmoorNho^^e. 
Rate  of  weathering:   M,  the  amount  of  mass  per  unit  area  per  unit 
time  which  changes  its  structure  from  one  defined  state  to 
another. 
Erosion;   The  net  removal  of  material  from  an  area. 
Rate  of  erosion;   A,  amount  of  mass  removed  per  unit  area  per  unit 

time. 
This  analysis  is  restricted  to  processes  in  short  run  dynamic  equi- 
librium, _i._e , ,  processes  of  such  type  and  scale  that  (l)  the  rate  of  energy 
outflow  from  the  system  is  equal  to  the  rate  of  energy  input;  and  (2)  while 
climate  remains  unchanged  the  proportion  of  the  total  energy  shared  by  the 
various  weathering  and  erosion  processes  remains  constant. 


THE  THEORETICAL  STRUCTURE 

G-eneral 

The  following  variables  are  used;   while  P  traditionally  represents 
precipitation,  in  this  paper  P  will  stand  for  runoff  unless  otherwise 
specified;  T  is  temperature  and  W  represents  wind.   These  are  directly 
and/or  indirectly  active  agents  of  denudation.   In  each  analysis  a  combi- 
nation of  these,  or  related  variables  such  as  intensity  of  precipitation, 
heat  fluctuations,  etc.,  must  be  applied.   The  effects  of  man,  animals, 
vegetative  cover  and  soil  organisms  are  to  some  extent  related  to  climate, 
hence  an  indirect  climatic  impact  on  landforming  processes.   An  explicit 
functional  relationship  between  the  rate  of  denudation  and  these  factors 
is  presently  impossible  to  construct  and  they  are  combined  into  one  var- 
iable, R.   Gravity,  although  the  prime  agent  of  erosion,  is  completely 
independent  of  climatic  factors  and  has  no  place  in  a  study  of  climatic 
geomorphology.   Obviously,  weathering  and  erosion  are  interdependent, 
therefore,  the  rate  of  one  process  must  be  included  in  the  expression  for 


the  other.   The  following  functional  equations  can  be  derived: 

M  =  f  (P,  T,  W,  R,  a)  (i) 

A  =  g  (P,  T,  W,  R,  m)  (ii) 

Time  is  included  as  an  implicit  variable  in  both  functions.   In  morpho- 
climatic  regionalization  annual  means  (for  the  variables  P  through  a)  are 
most  conveniently  used;  effects  of  climatic  change  through  time  can  be 
analyzed  if  the  explicit  time-dependency  of  the  variables  can  be  derived. 
Annual  fluctuations  in  rates  of  denudation  at  a  given  locality  are  ana- 
lyzed by  applying  monthly  mean  values  for  the  variables. 

The  rate  of  weathering  or  erosion  may  be  graphically  represented 
by  a  five  dimensional  surface.   P,  T,  W  and  R  are  climatically  inter- 
related; when  their  effects  on  geomorphic  processes  are  considered,  how- 
ever, they  are  independent  as  a  first  approximation.   To  depict  this  sur- 
face, two  arbitrary  variables,  X..  and  X  ,  are  considered  (Pig.  l) .   The 
relationship  between  M  and  any  one  of  the  variables  is  obtained  by  pro- 
jecting from  the  surface  into  the  corresponding  plane.   For  a  constant 
value  of  X   (notation  X  ) ,  M  as  a  function  of  X-,  is: 

M  =   f  (X-,  ,  X  ),  with  X^  .  .  .  X  assumed  constant. 

In  Pig.  1  this  curve  on  the  M  surface  is  labeled  P  -  P',  its  projection 

in  the  MX  plane  is  p  -  p'.   M^  =   f  (O,  X  )  where  M   >  0    (in  Pig.  1 

Mq  =  0). 

Isolines  are  defined  as  the  locus  of  points  in  variable  space  which 

correspond  to  a  constant  value  of  the  dependent  variable  in  observation 

space.   Mathematically,  isolines  in  five  dimensional  space  are  given  by 

any  combination  of  X,  .  .  .  X^-  which  makes  f  (X,  .  .  .  X^)  a  constant. 

1        p  1        5 

In  the  three  dimensional  case  depicted  in  Pig.  1  isolines  will 
appear  as  the  projection  in  XX  plane  (d  -  d')  of  the  curve  cut  by  the 
intersection  of  the  M  surface  and  a  plane  parallel  to  the  X-,  X  plane  at 
a  given  height  (D  -  D')»   This  plane  represents  constant  value  of  M. 

Along  an  isoline  the  total  differential  of  the  f- function  is  zero. 
Still  considering  X  and  X  as  the  only  variables  the  following  relation 
for  the  isoline  is  derived: 


Fig.l.    Weathering  rate   ,  M,  as  function  of  two  variables,  X]   and  X2-     For  a  constant 
value  of    X2    (X2),    M  as  a  function  of  X]   is  given  by  the  line    P  -  P,    which  is  projected 
into  the    MX"!  plane  as    p  —  p  .    D  —  D    is  the  trace  of  the  intersection  between  the 
M  surface  and  a  plane  representing  a  given  constant  rate  of  weathering.  The  projection 
of    D  -  D    into  the    X-|X2    plane  gives  the  i  so-weathering  line    d  -  d  . 


7 


Hence,  (ill) 

dx,    _      ax^ 
d)(7  "     "af~" 


ax, 


dX-,  /  dX   gives  the  slope  of  an  isoline  in  the  X-.  X  diagram.   These 
curves  are  convex  to  the  ori, 
an  increase  in  f ,  i.e.  when: 


curves  are  convex  to  the  origin  when  an  increase  in  variable  X.  implies 


aXj 


^'   >  0  (i  =  1,  2) 

Equation  III  demonstrates  the  magnitude  of  change  in  variable  X-, 
needed  to  compensate  for  a  given  change  in  X  in  order  to  keep  weathering 
(or  erosion)  at  a  constant  level  of  intensity.   Rather  than  operating 
with  traditional  morphogenetic  regions,  the  concepts  of  "iso-weathering 
lines"  and  "iso-erosion  lines",  lines  in  X^X  space  along  which  weather- 
ing and  erosion  have  constant  intensity  are  introduced.   The  exact  shape 
of  the  lines  is  determined  by  equation  III.   These  isolines  are  spatial 
and  can  be  mapped.   They  indicate  for  example  the  increase  in  temperature 
that  compensates  for  a  given  decrease  in  precipitation  to  retain  a  con- 
stant weathering  rate. 


Chemical  Weathering 

All  further  discussion  is  restricted  to  chemical  weathering,  where 
total  annual  runoff,  P,  and  mean  annual  water  temperature,  T  (averaged 
over  the  time  when  T  >  0  C),  are  considered  the  only  significant  var- 
iables. 

Rates  of  chemical  weathering,  as  conceived  by  Peltier  (l950), 
Leopold  et  al.  (l964)  and  Wilson  (l968)  are  shown  in  Pig.  2,  a,b,c.   They 
indicate  an  increase  in  the  rate  of  chemical  weathering  from  dry-cool  to 
humid-warm  climates.   However,  the  boundary  lines  between  the  various 
zones  are  rather  arbitrarily  drawn  and  no  quantitative  assessment  of  rates 
of  weathering  can  be  made. 


Pelt 


ler 


Leopold,  Wolman  and  Miller 


30 

— 

T           I        /«            I            «           I       i    1           •            1           • 

'                             \     STRONG 

\      / 

/ 

'            MODERATE          ^^/ 

\                     y 

20 

" 

— 

N.                               / 

— 

10 

V>                   / 

WEAK                 / 

n 

1              I     _.X    .Zl 1 1 1 1 1 L. 

30 


20 


10 


T 1 r- 


'         I        '         '         •        '         I 


HIGHEST 


INTERMEDIATE 


LOWEST 


J i I L. 


100 


200 


200 


u 

o 


LU 

I- 
< 


LU 


< 

Z 


< 


30 


20 


10 


M     ' 
\ 

\ 
\ 
\ 
\ 


^         \ 


J L— .1 1 


Wilson 


ANNUAL    PRECIPITATION     (    CM 


Fig. 2.    Relative  rates  of  chemical  weathering  as  function  of  mean  annual  temperature 

and  precipitation.    Modified  after    Peltier  (1950),     Leopold    at.  al.  (1964)    and    Wi  Ison  (1968). 


Based  upon  principles  in  the  last  paragraph  a  field  of  iso- 
weathering  lines  for  chemical  weathering  can  be  generated  (Pig.  3> 
a  and  b) .   For  processes  of  chemical  weathering,  except  limestone  solu- 
tion, the  rate  of  weathering  increases  with  temperature.   For  many  proc- 
esses the  increase  is  approximately  exponential  (oilier,  1969).   However, 
to  simplify  analysis  a  monotonically  increasing  function,   M  a  h  (t), 
(  oc   means  proportional  to)  is  asi^^nTned.   Clccaj.y,  rate  of  weathering 
increases  v\^ith  runoff.   However,  the  increase  is  less  than  linear  because 
higher  runoff  reduces  the  probability  that  the  chemical  solutions  will 
reach  equilibrium.   Hence,   M  is  proportional  to  some  increasing  function 
of  P,  M  a  k  (p). 

The  rate  of  chemical  weathering  can  be  written: 

Ma  h  (t)  .  k  (p)  (IV) 

Based  on  these  assumptions,  the  weathering  rate  surface  takes  the 
shape  shown  in  Pig.  '^a.        M  is  zero  when  P  is  zero  because  no  water  is 
available  to  transport  the  solution  products.   M  must  also  be  zero  when 
T  ^  0  C  because  water  is  frozen.   Depending  on  the  process,  however, 
the  increase  in  M  as  soon  as  temperature  rises  above  freezing  may  be  slow 
or  rapid.   The  iso-weathering  lines  are  always  convex  to  the  origin  and 
asymptotic  to  the  P  or  T  axis.   When  h  (t)  and  k  (p)  are  explicitly 
defined,  equation  III  determines  the  exact  slope  of  the  lines  at  any  point. 

Pig.  3t>  illustrates  iso-weathering  lines  corresponding  to  five 
equidistant  weathering  intensities  (M-,  .  .  .  M,;^)  in  Pig.  3a.   Based  on 
this  iso-line  chart  the  following  general  conclusions  about  chemical 
weathering  can  be  derived:   (l)  for  low  temperature  environments  (tundra 
and  cold  continental  climates)  no  appreciable  chemical  weathering  occurs 
regardless  of  runoff;  (2)  for  high  temperatures  and  low  runoff  (hot 
deserts)  a  small  increment  in  precipitation  causes  a  relatively  large 
increase  in  weathering  rate  (because  iso-lines  are  densely  spaced  par- 
allel to  the  P  axis);  (3)  for  humid  hot  climates  (tropical  rainforest) 
increased  runoff  causes  a  relatively  small  increase  in  weathering  rates, 
whereas  a  minor  temperature  rise  causes  a  large  increase  in  weathering 
rate.   Thus  in  hot  deserts  local  variations  in  rates  of  chemical  weather- 
ing are  determined  primarily  by  variations  in  runoff,  whereas  in  hot 
humid  climates  temperature  variations  have  the  most  significant  effects 


10 


Fig.  3a.     Rate  of  chemical  weathering  as  function  of  runoff    (P)    and  temperature    (T). 


Mo  M^         Mc 


Fig.  3b.     Iso-weathering  lines    M-]    .  .  .  M5     in  the    PT  plane  correspond  to  weathering 
intensities    M^    .  .  .  M5     in  fig.  3a.     Superposed  on  the  isoline  chart  are    Peltier's    (1950) 
three  zones  of  chemical  weathering. 


11 


on  the  weathering  rate. 

Peltier's  three  zones  of  chemical  weathering  can  be  superposed  on 
the  isoline  chart  (Pig.  3t)).  P  in  Peltier's  diagram  refers  to  precipi- 
tation, while  here  it  indicates  runoff.  This  partly  explains  why  the 
boundaries  between  Peltier's  zones  at  low  temperatures  follow  the  same 
trend  as  the  isoline s,  while  at  higher  temperatures  where  runoff  consti- 
tutes a  smaller  percentage  of  the  precipitation  they  cut  across  the  iso- 
weathering  lines. 

When  the  exact  h  (t)  and  k  (p)  functions  are  known,  numerical 
values  for  the  weathering  rate  for  any  P  -  T  combination  can  be  derived. 
Of  course  the  graphs  do  not  reveal  any  more  information  than  can  be 
deduced  directly  from  the  functions  but  they  do  make  visualization  easier. 
Furthermore,  when  analysis  of  a  complex  group  of  processes  is  undertaken 
and  only  the  general  shape  of  the  partial  functions  is  known,  a  graphical 
representation  permits  an  assessment  of  the  relative  importance  of  changes 
in  the  independent  variables. 

I so- weathering  lines  in  a  precipitation  -  temperature  diagram 
(thermohyet  diagram)  are  well  suited  to  the  study  of  local  annual  varia- 
tions in  weathering  rates.   Thermohyet  diagrams  form  more  or  less  regular 
closed  loops  with  characteristic  shape  and  orientation  for  each  climatic 
regime  (Strahler,  1969).   The  orientation  of  the  diagrams  relative  to  the 
field  of  is o- weathering  lines  determines  the  annual  variation  in  weather- 
ing intensities. 

Pig.  4  shows  a  hypothetical  is o- weathering  chart,  modelled  after 
the  one  previously  derived  for  chemical  weathering.   Mean  monthly  precipi- 
tation, P',  (runoff  data  are  not  available)  and  temperature,  T,  are  the 
axis  variables;  weathering  rates  I-,  .  .  .  I^  are  numbered  in  order  of 
increasing  intensity.   Superposed  on  the  weathering  chart  are  thermohyet 
diagrams  representative  of  four  different  climatic  regimeso 

Iquitos,  Peru,  represents  equable  tropical  rainforest  climate  and 
consequently  a  moderate  range  of  variation  in  weathering  rate.   The  unique 
combination  of  cool  -  wet  winters  and  warm  -  dry  summers  characteristic 
of  a  Mediterranean  regime  (Santiago,  Chile)  results  in  a  thermohyet  dia- 
gram whose  long  axis  is  subparallel  to  the  iso- weathering  lines,  _i«_e» 
the  rate  of  chemical  weathering  is  practically  constant  throughout  the 
year.   Maximum  annual  fluctuation  in  rate  of  chemical  weathering  is  found 


12 


MEAN    ANNUAL    TEMPERATURE    (  °C  ) 


I 
o 


o 


CO 

o 


o 


CO 

^ 

3- 

-n 

Q 

(D 

>< 

< 

Q 

■D 

«n 

Q 

O 

3 

?■ 

i^ 

3 

(D 

U" 

Q 

(D 

n 

3 

n 

H 
u- 

— 

Q 

CD 

3 

Q 

n 

-1 

3 



u- 

o 

fD 

. 

Q 

zr 

^ 

•< 

A 

->■ 

(D 

"D 

o 

"*■ 

Q 



-f-. 

Q_ 

-^ 

ro 



— 

Q 

(/> 

Q 

D 
Q^ 

A 

o 

CO 

^\ 

— 

Q 

c3" 

13 
CD 

3 
I/) 

Q 

_f. 

CD 

N 

o 

■D 

; — 

H 

n 

CD 

o 

rr 

in 

2: 

CD 

CD 

3 

CD 

13 

Q_ 

Q 

n 

D 

— !• 

Q 

CD 

(B 

-i 

— T 

Q 

-^~\ 

Q 

3 

3 
-»-» 

(D 

O 

c 

fD 

o 

O 

Q 

n 

(D 
in 

3- 
(D 

n 

i' 

i' 

n 

CD 

Q 

n 

Q 

i 

Jo 

o 

3 

r^ 

CD 

CO 

CO 

CD 

i' 

Q 

, 

Q 

CD 

3 

-Q 

l/l 

(/) 

— ♦- 

C 

— 

3 

Q 

Q 

-+• 

CQ 

IQ 

o 

CD 

O 

en 

-^ 

Q 

in 

^^ 

c 

n 

(D 

CD 

CD 

— 

C 

O 

"D 

9 

O 
in 
CD 
Q_ 

O 

3 

c: 
> 


"D 

m 
n 


o 


n 


c>o 


13 


in  climatic  regimes  with  warm  -  wet  siimmers  and  cool  -  dry  winters. 
Examples  are  Parana,  Brazil,  representing  tropical  savanna  climate,  and 
Omaha,  Nebraska,  representing  continental  climate. 


CHEMICAL  WEATHERING  OP  LIMESTONE:   A  CASE  STUDY 

Extensive  studies  have  been  made  of  limestone  regions  and  the  impor- 
tance of  solution  weathering.   Thus  the  role  of  climate  in  denudation  is 
well  documented  (Sweeting,  1965,  1966).  Denudation  of  limestone  has  been 
chosen  to  illustrate  the  applicability  of  the  previously  developed  theory 
for  the  following  reasons:   (l)  weathering  rates  are  very  high.   In  areas 
such  as  the  Alaskan  panhandle  and  western  Noiway,  where  limestone  weather- 
ing is  most  efficient,  estimated  denudation  rates  range  from  5  to  8  meters 
per  thousand  years  (Corbel,  1959);  (2)  the  relatively  homogeneous  chemical 
composition  of  the  rock  simplifies  analysis;  (3)  laboratory  experiments 
and  widespread  field  measurements  provide  adequate  data  supply.   However, 
limestone  weathering  does  have  the  opposite  temperature  dependency  to  the 
one  assumed  in  the  general  discussion  of  chemical  weathering. 

The  following  chemical  reactions  are  involved  in  the  solution  of 
limestone: 

(V) 

(hco^)~        (vi) 

Ca"^"*"   +   2  (HCO^)"   (VII) 

CaCO  is  soluble  in  pure  water  but  concentration  of  calcium  and 
bicarbonate  ions  is  very  low.   Pirst  when  a  weak  carbonic  acid  is  formed 
by  the  reaction  of  atmospheric  CO^  with  water  (eq.  v) ,  limestone  solu- 
tion proceeds  at  high  rate.   The  equilibrium  amount  of  CO   in  water 
increases  with  increased  partial  pressure  of  CO^  in  the  air  and  decreases 
with  increasing  temperature  of  the  water  (Miller,  1952).   The  solubility 

of  CaCO  ,  therefore,  shows  parallel  behavior. 
3 
Although  Miller's  analysis  of  the  relationship  between  temperature 

and  solubility  of  calcium  carbonate  is  fundamental  to  the  study  of  lime- 
stone weathering,  the  laboratory  results  are  not  directly  applicable  to 


H^O     +      00^ 

" 

HjCOj 

H2CO3 

^ 

H-^     + 

CaCO       +      h"^     + 

(HCOj)" 

-•:^ 

14 


the  natural  process.   The  following  complications  affect  limestone  weather- 
ing.  The  amount  of  CO  in  water  is  influenced:   (l)  by  the  speed  and  size 
of  falling  raindrops;  (2)  by  the  amount  of  decaying  organic  matter  in  the 
soils;  (3)  by  the  action  of  soil  bacteria  and  photosynthesis  of  green 
plants.   The  permeability  of  the  rock  and  the  presence  of  minerals  other 
than  calcite  in  the  limestone  affect  solubility.   Some  of  these  factors 

I  ,1 

have  been  analyzed  and  concentration  of  Ca   ions  is  known  for  various 
kinds  of  equilibria  (Garrels  and  Christ,  1965).   A  limitation  to  the 
applicability  of  these  results,  however,  is  that  many  limestone  dissolving 
processes  in  nature  never  attain  equilibrium. 

The  methodology  developed  earlier  in  the  paper  is  applicable  to  a 
study  of  the  regional  variation  in  the  rate  of  limestone  weathering.   Mean 
annual  water  temperature  and  runoff  are  considered  to  be  the  only  signif- 
icant variables.   Predicted  rate  of  solution  is  based  on  laboratory  deter- 
mined parameters. 


The  Model 

Using  Miller's  (l952)  experimental  results  on  the  change  in  solu- 
bility of  CaCO  with  temperature  of  water,  while  assuming  a  constant  CO 

3  2 

pressure  equal  to  the  average  partial  pressure  of  CO  in  the  atmosphere 

(P     =  3«5*10   mb),  the  weathering  rate  can  be  expressed  as: 
C0_ 

M  =  P  (a  -  b  T)  (VIII) 

where  P  is  runoff,  T  is  temperature,  and  a  and  b  are  coefficients.   The 
relationship  between  solubility  and  temperature  is  not  exactly  linear, 
but  within  the  limited  temperature  range  affecting  processes  in  nature, 
the  linear  function  is  a  good  approximation.   The  direct  proportionality 
between  M  and  P  assumes  that  runoff  is  always  saturated  with  calcium  and 
bicarbonate  ions  before  it  is  drained  off  the  limestone  area.   The  valid- 
ity of  this  assumption  is  questionable  for  high  runoff  and  bedrock  of  low 
permeability.   However,  the  agreement  with  observed  data  is  reasonably 
good.   Functions  with  a  rate  of  increase  significantly  less  than  linear 
(square  root  and  logarithmic)  were  tried  and  found  to  give  values  for  M 
which  are  far  too  low.   With  the  following  dimensions: 


15 


M  =  tons/km  /year;   P  =  mm/year;   T  =   C 

the  coefficients  have  the  following  values: 

2 
a  =  0.58  tons/km  /mm 

b  =  0.011  tons/km  /iiim/°C 

Equation  (VIIl)  yields  the  following  expression  for  the  iso-weathering 
lines  in  the  P  -  T  plane: 

M. 

P  =  V^iT-  (IX) 

a  -  b  T 

where  M.  designates  any  constant  weathering  rate.   M  is  a  linear  function 
of  T  for  constant  P  with  slope  -Pb,  _i._e.  the  slope  increases  with 
higher  runoff.   M  is  zero  when  T  equals  a/b.   (a/b  =   53  C,  expressed 
as  T  in  Pig.  5j.   For  constant  temperature,  M  is  a  linear  function  of  P 
with  slope   a  -  bT.   The  rate  of  weathering  surface  (Pig.  5)  is  convex 
with  its  "ridge"  along  the  diagonal  from  the  upper  left  to  the  lower 
right.   Iso-weathering  lines,  therefore,  will  be  curved  from  upper  right 
to  lower  left  in  the  P  -  T  diagram  shown  in  Pig.  6.   The  isolines  never 
cross,  nor  do  they  intersect  the  P  =s  o  and  T  =  53  C  lines. 

Pig.  6  illustrates  the  predicted  weathering  rates  (tons/km  /year) 
for  any  P  -  T  combination.   The  diagram  indicates  that  within  the  realm 

of  naturally  occurring  climates,  the  rate  of  limestone  weathering  varies 

2 
between  zero  and  800  tons/km  /year. 

An  interesting  feature  of  this  diagram  is  the  trend  of  the  gradi- 
ent of  the  isoline  field.  Rate  of  weathering  increases  from  dry  -  warm 
to  cool  -  moist  climates  in  contrast  to  the  general  pattern  of  chemical 
weathering  derived  previously.   However,  similar  to  other  processes  of 
chemical  weathering,  limestone  dissolution  is  most  sensitive  to  temper- 
ature variations  in  hot  -  wet  climates  and  precipitation  variations  in 
cool  -  dry  climates. 


Observations 

Corbel  (l959)  has  gathered  data  on  the  rate  of  denudation  of  cal- 
careous terrain  in  various  climatic  zones  from  tundra  to  humid  tropical.. 
Rates  were  calculated  from  measured  concentration  of  calciiim  and 


16 


M  =     P  (  a-bT  ) 


M  =    P  (  a  -  bT  ) 


Fig. 5.    Graphic  representation  of  the  surface  generated  by  the  equation 
M  =     P  (  a    -    bT  ).     See  text. 


u 


400 


300 


RATE  OF  WEATHERING 
tons/km2/year 


10 


20 


30 


TEMPERATURE    ( °C ) 


40 


50 


Fig. 6.     Rate  of  weathering  of  limestone  as  function  of  mean  annual  temperature 
and  runoff.  Numerical  values  based  on  laboratory  determined  solubility  of    CaCOo- 
""""■■"""       indicates  upper  boundary  of  naturally  existing  climates. 


18 


bicarbonate  in  the  runoff  water.   However,  only  in  a  few  cases  was  the 
amoiint  of  actual  runoff  measured,  and  in  no  case  was  the  average  temper- 

ature   of  the  runoff  water  given. 

2 
In  tundra  climates  rates  varying  from  35  tons/km  /year  to 
2 
110  tons/km  /year  are  found.   Maximum  intensity  seems  to  be  in  cool 

2 
humid  west  coast  climates  with  rates  varying  from  3OOO  tons/km  /year 

2 
in  British  Columibia  and  southern  Alaska,  1000  tons/tan  /year  in  western 

2 

Norway  to  3O8  tons/km  /year  in  the  Ben  Nevis  area  of  Scotland.   In  frost 

free  areas  such  as  coastal  Ireland,  the  rate  decreases  to  approximately 

2 
100  tons/km  /year. 

Little  limestone  weathering  occurs  in  warm  dry  climates  as  illus- 
trated by  the  Los  Alamos  area  of  New  Mexico  where  the  rate  is  estimated 

2 
to  be  1.0  ton/km  /year.   Southern  Florida  with  a  humid  subtropical  cli- 

2 
mate,  has  a  denudation  rate  of  about  I3  tons/km  /year  while  at  Key  West 

the  rate  is  close  to  zero.   The  tropical  rainforest  climate  at  San  Andres 

2 
island  off  Colombia  gives  a  rate  of  about  25  tons/km  /year. 

The  data  listed  here  suggest  that  trends  derived  from  our  model 
are  actually  found  in  nature.   The  predicted  rates,  however,  have  a  nar- 
rower range  than  those  actually  measured.   With  more  precise  climatic 
data  on  rainfall,  runoff  and  water  temperature  together  with  parameters 
expressing  vegetation,  basin  topography  and  lithology,  considerable 
improvement  in  the  model  is  expected. 


CONCLUSION 

The  methodological  framework  developed  in  this  paper  serves  two 
major  purposes:   (l)  when  the  functional  relationship  between  rate  of 
weathering  and  each  separate  variable  can  be  deduced  from  physical  and/or 
chemical  considerations,  then  a  mathematical  or  graphical  analysis  of  the 
total  function  permits  the  derivation  of  relative  intensities  of  weather- 
ing for  any  two  specified  climatic  environments.   Furthermore,  the  rela- 
tive sensitivity  of  the  weathering  rate  to  changes  in  any  variable  can  be 
deduced  from  the  trend  and  spacing  of  the  isolines;  (2)  where  experi- 
mental data  on  an  idealized  weathering  process  are  available,  the  method- 
ology provides  a  basis  for  analyzing  the  goodness  of  fit  between  pre- 
dicted and  observed  rates.   Also,  it  clearly  points  out  the  type  of 


19 


data  needed  in  order  to  increase  basic  understanding  of  the  climatic 
effects  on  rates  of  denudation. 


20 


REFERENCES 


Biidel,  J.,  1948.   Die  klima  -  morphologischen  Zonen  der  Polarlander, 
Erdkimde,  vol.  2,  p.  22-53. 

,  1963 •   Klima  -  genetische  Geomorphologie,  Geographische 


Rundschau,  vol.  15,  p.  269-285. 

Corbel,  J.,  1959.   Erosion  en  terrain  calcaire.   (Vitesse  d' erosion  et 
morphologie) ,  Annales  de  geographie,  vol.  68,  p.  97-120. 

Garrels,  R.M.  and  Christ,  C.L.,  1965.   Solutions,  minerals  and  equilibria. 
New  York:  Harper  and  Row.   p.  74-91. 

Leopold,  L.B.,  Wolman,  M.G.  and  Miller,  J. P.,  1964.   Fluvial  Processes  in 
Ge omor pholo gy .   San  Francisco:  Freeman  and  Co.   p.  40-46. 

Miller,  J. P.,  1952.   A  portion  of  the  system  calcium  carbonate,  carbon 
dioxide,  water,  American  Journal  Science,  vol.  250,  p.  161-203. 

Oilier,  C,  1969.  Weathering.   New  York:  American  Elsevier. 

Peltier,  L. ,  1950.   The  geographic  cycle  in  periglacial  regions  as  it  is 
related  to  climatic  ge omor pho logy,  Annals,  Association  of  American 
Geographers,  vol.  40,  p.  214-236. 

,  1962.   Area  sampling  for  terrain  analysis,  Professional  Geog- 
rapher, vol.  14,  p.  24-28. 

Stoddart,  D.R.,  1968.   Climatic  geomorphology:  Review  and  re-assessment. 

Progress  in  Geography  (Vol.  l) .   London:  Edward  Arnold,   p.  160-222. 

Strahler,  A.N. ,  1969.   Physical  Geography.   New  York:  John  Wiley  and  Sons, 
p.  230-235. 

Sweeting,  M.M. ,  1965.   Denudation  in  limestone  regions:  A  symposium. 
Introduction,  Geographical  Journal,  vol.  I3lj  p.  34-56. 

,  1966.   The  weathering  of  limestones.   With  particular  reference 

to  the  carboniferous  limestones  of  northern  England. 

In:  G.H.  Dury  (ed.).  Essays  in  Geomorphology.   New  York:  American 

Elsevier,   p.  177-210. 

Wilson,  L. ,  1968.  Morphogenetic  classification.   In:  R.W.  Fairbridge  (ed.). 
The  Encyclopedia  of  Geomorphology.   New  York:  Reinhold.   p.  717-729. 


Papers  Published 

No.  1  -  Dag  NuiMiedal,  A  Theoretical  Framework  for  Discussion  of 
Climatological  Geomorpholog^  April  I972. 

No.  2  -  Charles  Christian,  ^ocial  Areas  ^  Spatial  C^ 
Community  of  Chicago;  1950-1960  —  April,  1972. 


The  Geography  Graduate  Student  Association  expresses  its  appreciation 
to  Mrs.  Howard  Roepke,  who  typed  the  manuscripts  without  charge,  to 
Lee  Slorp,  who  designed  the  cover,  to  Sue-Ann  Schuessler  for  her 
printing  services,  to  publication  series  advisors.  Dr.  Charles  Alexander 
and  Dr.  John  Jakle,  who  aided  in  many  ways,  and  to  Drs.  Jerome  Pellmann, 
Howard  Roepke  and  Joseph  Russell  for  their  financial  assistance.