Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-336
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-336
26 Feb 2024
 | 26 Feb 2024

A simple model for faceted topographies at normal faults based on an extended stream-power law

Stefan Hergarten

Abstract. Faceted topographies at normal faults have been studied for more than a century. Since the dip angle of the facets is typically much lower than the dip angle of the fault, it is clear that the facets are not just the exhumed footwall, but have been eroded considerably. It has also been shown that a constant erosion rate in combination with a constant rate of displacement can explain the occurrence of planar facets. Quantitatively, however, the formation of faceted topographies is still not fully understood. In this study, the shared stream-power model for fluvial erosion and sediment transport is used in combination with a recently published extension for hillslopes. As a major theoretical result, it is found that the ratio of the tangent of the facet angle and the dip angle of the fault as well as the ratio of baseline length and horizontal width of perfect triangular facets mainly depends on the ratio of the horizontal rate of displacement and the hillslope erodibility. Numerical simulations reveal that horizontal displacement is crucial for the formation of triangular facets. For vertical faults, facets are rather polygonal and much longer than wide. While the sizes of individual facets vary strongly, the average size is controlled by the ratio of hillslope erodibility and fluvial erodibility.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

27 Nov 2024
A simple model for faceted topographies at normal faults based on an extended stream-power law
Stefan Hergarten
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 1315–1327, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1315-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1315-2024, 2024
Short summary
Stefan Hergarten

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-336', Anonymous Referee #1, 10 Jun 2024
    • RC2: 'Reply on RC1', Anonymous Referee #2, 11 Jun 2024
      • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Stefan Hergarten, 08 Jul 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Stefan Hergarten, 08 Jul 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-336', Anonymous Referee #1, 10 Jun 2024
    • RC2: 'Reply on RC1', Anonymous Referee #2, 11 Jun 2024
      • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Stefan Hergarten, 08 Jul 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Stefan Hergarten, 08 Jul 2024

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Stefan Hergarten on behalf of the Authors (18 Jul 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (20 Sep 2024) by Greg Hancock
ED: Publish as is (23 Sep 2024) by Wolfgang Schwanghart (Editor)
AR by Stefan Hergarten on behalf of the Authors (29 Sep 2024)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

27 Nov 2024
A simple model for faceted topographies at normal faults based on an extended stream-power law
Stefan Hergarten
Earth Surf. Dynam., 12, 1315–1327, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1315-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-12-1315-2024, 2024
Short summary
Stefan Hergarten

Model code and software

A simple model for faceted topographies at normal faults Stefan Hergarten https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10473156

Video supplement

Formation of triangular facets at normal faults Stefan Hergarten http://hergarten.at/openlem/facets

Stefan Hergarten

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Faceted topographies are impressing footprints of active tectonics in geomorphology. This paper investigates the evolution of faceted topographies at normal faults and its interaction with the river network theoretically and numerically. As a main result beyond several relations for the the geometry of facets, the horizontal displacement associated to normal faults is crucial for the dissection of initially polygonal facets into triangular facets bounded by almost parallel rivers.