Work

Short Communication: Numerically simulated time to steady state is not a reliable measure of landscape response time

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: . This manuscript is a call to the landscape evolution modeling community to develop benchmarks for model comparison. We illustrate the use of benchmarks in illuminating the strengths and weaknesses of different landscape evolution models (LEMs) that use the stream power process equation (SPPE) to evolve fluvial landscapes. Our examples compare three different modeling environments—CHILD, Landlab, and TTLEM—that apply three different numerical algorithms on three different grid types. We present different methods for comparing the morphology of steady-state and transient landscapes, as well as the time to steady state. We illustrate the impact of time step on model behavior. There are numerous scenarios and model variables that we do not explore, such as model sensitivity to grid resolution and boundary conditions, or processes beyond fluvial incision as modeled by the SPPE. Our examples are not meant to be exhaustive. Rather, they illustrate a subset of best practices and practices that should be avoided. We argue that all LEMs should be tested in systematic ways that illustrate the domain of applicability for each model. A community effort beyond this study is required to develop model scenarios and benchmarks across different types of LEMs.

Source: Earth Surface Dynamics

DOI: 10.5194/esurf-12-1227-2024

Authors: Nicole M. Gasparini, Adam M. Forte, Katherine R. Barnhart