An investigation of the geometric controls on the morphological evolution of small-scale salt terrains, Cardona, Spain

Small-scale terrains on salt materials were surveyed with a Total Station and a series of digital elevation models (DEMs) constructed. Two sets of observations were made, eight months apart, during which the terrains underwent significant erosion. The difference in elevation shown by the DEMs, calculated by subtraction, is a measure of surface erosion of the salt terrains. The erosion rate was analysed with respect to four terrain parameters calculated in the software. High erosion rates, and their strong control by terrain slope, are demonstrated, supporting an earlier study using erosion pins. Slope profile curvature is also indicated as having some influence. The combination of scanning Total Station and DEM software is shown to be an effective tool for investigating rapid geomorphic change at this scale of study.