Mapping Mountain Landforms and Its Dynamics: Study Cases in Tropical Environments
Source abstract
Abstract
High mountain areas are critical for water security and natural hazard dynamics, as well as glacier and ecosystem conservation in a warming world. We present a brief account of the methodological steps for geomorphological mapping in mountain areas, including the required scale, the legends, technology, and software. We analyze the best imagery sources and their combination with fieldwork and geographical information systems (GIS), in performing accurate cartography. In addition, we present two case studies in which we apply several methods described previously. Firstly, we carried out a classical and digital geomorphological mapping of Cerro Chirripó (Talamanca Range). Secondly, we studied the Reserva Biológica Alberto Manuel Brenes (Central Volcanic Range), where we used UAVs to map high-resolution fluvial geomorphology. This methodological framework is suitable for future geomorphological surveys in mountain areas worldwide. Moreover, the case studies can give ideas on the application of these approaches to different mountainous environments.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Species Distribution and Climate Change · Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation · 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Laboratorio de Teledetección Ambiental (TeleAmb), Departamento de Ciencias Geográficas, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Playa Ancha, Avda. Leopoldo Carvallo 270, Playa Ancha, Valparaíso 2360002, Chile
Escuela de Geografía, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 2060, Costa Rica
Department of Geosciences, University of Padova, Via Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy
References (90)
Show source-provided references
1. Robinson, A.H., Morrison, J.L., Muehrcke, P.C., Kimerling, A.J., and Guptill, S.C. (1995). Elements of Cartography, John Wiley and Sons Inc.
2. Old and New Trends in Geomorphological and Landform Mapping10.1016/B978-0-444-53446-0.00002-1 ↗
3. Cook, S.J., Clarke, L.E., and Nield, J.M. (2015). Structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry. Chapter 2, Section 2.2. Geomor-phological Techniques, British Society for Geomorphology. Online edition.
4. Geomorphons—A pattern recognition approach to classification and mapping of landforms10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.11.005 ↗
5. Using data-driven algorithms for semi-automated geomorphological mapping
6. Geomorphology, land use, and environmental impacts in a densely populated urban catchment of Costa Rica10.1016/j.jsames.2021.103560 ↗
7. Geospatial technologies and digital geomorphological mapping: Concepts, issues and research10.1016/j.geomorph.2011.06.027 ↗
8. Registration of Multiresolution Remote Sensing Images Based on L2-Siamese Model10.1109/JSTARS.2020.3038922 ↗
9. Hyun, C.-U., Park, M., and Lee, W.Y. (2020). Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)-Based Wildlife Detection: A Review and Case Studies in Maritime Antarctica. Animals, 10.10.3390/ani10122387 ↗
10. A bird’s-eye view of geology: The use of micro drones/UAVs in geologic fieldwork and education10.1130/GSATG232GW.1 ↗
11. Low-cost UAV applications in dynamic tropical volcanic landforms
12. Glacial geomorphological mapping: A review of approaches and frameworks for best practice10.1016/j.earscirev.2018.07.015 ↗
13. Mapping landslide displacements using Structure from Motion (SfM) and image correlation of multi-temporal UAV photography10.1177/0309133313515293 ↗
14. Integration of Terrestrial and UAV Photogrammetry for The Assessment of Collapse Risk in Alpine Glaciers
15. Application of Multispectral Sensors Carried on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to Trophic State Mapping of Small Reservoirs: A Case Study of Tain-Pu Reservoir in Kinmen, Taiwan10.3390/rs70810078 ↗
16. Sedimentological characterization of Antarctic moraines using UAVs and Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry10.3189/2015JoG15J086 ↗
17. Investigating snowpack volumes and icing dynamics in the moraine of an Arctic catchment using UAV photogrammetry10.1111/phor.12217 ↗
18. Using UAV acquired photography and structure from motion techniques for studying glacier landforms: Application to the glacial flutes at Isfallsglaciären10.1002/esp.4044 ↗
19. Combination of UAV and terrestrial photogrammetry to assess rapid glacier evolution and map glacier hazards10.5194/nhess-18-1055-2018 ↗
20. UAV-based spatiotemporal thermal patterns of permafrost slopes along the Qinghai–Tibet Engineering Corridor10.1007/s10346-018-1028-7 ↗
21. Rapid melting dynamics of an alpine glacier with repeated UAV photogrammetry10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.12.039 ↗
22. Technical aspects related to the application of sfm photogrammetry in high mountain
23. High-accuracy UAV photogrammetry of ice sheet dynamics with no ground control10.5194/tc-13-955-2019 ↗
24. Kyriou, A., Nikolakopoulos, K., and Koukouvelas, I. (2021). How Image Acquisition Geometry of UAV Campaigns Affects the Derived Products and Their Accuracy in Areas with Complex Geomorphology. ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Infor., 10.10.3390/ijgi10060408 ↗
25. A new symbol-and-GIS based detailed geomorphological mapping system: Renewal of a scientific discipline for understanding landscape development10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.01.026 ↗
26. Structure and contents of a new geomorphological GIS database linked to a geomorphological map—With an example from Liden, central Sweden10.1016/j.geomorph.2007.06.014 ↗
27. Glacial geomorphology and geographic information systems10.1016/j.earscirev.2007.06.003 ↗
28. Kriz, K. (1998). Geomorphological mapping in the Swiss Alps and Prealps. Hochge-birgskartographie Silvretta’98. Wiener Schriften zur Geographie und Kartographie, Institut für Geographie der Universität Wien.
29. Clarke, L. (2013). Section 2.6: Geomorphological mapping. Geomorphological Techniques (Online Edition), British Society for Geomorphology.
30. Geomorphology of glaciated gorges in a granitic massif (Gredos range, central Spain)10.1080/17445647.2018.1468829 ↗
31. Post-seismic monitoring of cliff mass wasting using an unmanned aerial vehicle and field data at Egremni, Lefkada Island, Greece10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107306 ↗
32. Late Pleistocene glacial evolutionary stages in the Gredos Mountains (Iberian Central System)10.1016/j.quaint.2012.10.038 ↗
33. Sequence and chronology of the Cuerpo de Hombre paleoglacier (Iberian Central System) during the last glacial cycle10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.09.021 ↗
34. Equilibrium Line Altitude Fluctuation on the South West Slope of Nevado Coropuna Since The Last Glacial Maximum (Cordillera Ampato, Perú)10.3989/Pirineos.2015.170008 ↗
35. Pearce, D.M., Ely, J.C., Barr, I.D., and Boston, C.M. (2017). Glacier Reconstruction. Geomorphological Techniques, British Society for Geomorphology.
36. Slow dynamics in debris-covered and rock glaciers in Hofsdalur, Tröllaskagi Peninsula (northern Iceland)10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.06.005 ↗
37. Geomorphology of the Hérens valley (Swiss Alps)10.1080/17445647.2014.999135 ↗
38. Weyl, R. (1980). Geology of Central America, Gebrüder Borntraeger.
39. Ballman, P. (1976). Eine Geologische Travese des Ostteils der Cordillero de Talamanca, Costa Rica (Mittelamerika), N. Jb. Geol.Palaont.Mh.
40. Sequence stratigraphy of deep and shallow water deposits from an evolving Island Arc: The upper cretaceous and tertiary of Southern Central America10.1007/BF02536785 ↗
41. Geologie der Alpinen Zone des Chirripó- Massives (Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica, Mittelamerika)
42. Kappelle, M. (2016). The Paramo ecosystem of Costa Rica’s highlands. Costa Rican Ecosystems, The University of Chicago Press.10.7208/chicago/9780226121642.001.0001 ↗
43. Exploring extreme rainfall impacts on flow and turbidity dynamics in a steep, pristine and tropical volcanic catchment10.1016/j.catena.2019.104118 ↗
44. Headwaters drive streamflow and lowland tracer export in a large-scale humid tropical catchment10.1002/hyp.13841 ↗
45. End member and Bayesian mixing models consistently indicate near-surface flowpath dominance in a pristine humid tropical rainforest10.1002/hyp.14153 ↗
46. Otto, J.C., Prasicek, G., Blöthe, J., and Schrott, L. (2018). GIS Applications in geomorphology. Comprehensive Geographic Information Systems, Elsevier.10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.10029-6 ↗
47. Demek, J., and Embleton, C. (1978). Classification of geomorphological maps according to scale. Guide to Medium-Scale Geomorphological Mapping, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences.
48. Peña, J.L. (1997). Leyenda para mapas geomorfológicos a escalas 1:25.000/1:50.000, Cartografía Geomorfológica Básica y Aplicada.
49. Methodological procedures for glacier modeling and the calculation of the Equilibrium Line Altitude10.4067/S0718-34022020000200321 ↗
50. Verstappen, H.T., Zuidam, R.V., Meijerink, A.M.J., and Nossin, J.J. (1991). The ITC System of Geomorphologic Survey: A Basis for the Evaluation of Natural Resources and Hazards, ITC.
51. Schoeneich, P., and Reynard, E. (1993). Comparaison des systèmes de légendes français, allemand et Suisse. Principes de la légende IGUL. Cartographie géomorphologiques, cartographie des risques, Institut de Géographie, Travaux et Recherches.
52. Reynard, E. (1993). Comparaison de Cartes géomorphologiques à Différentes échelles: Le cas de la vallée de la Morge. Cartographie Géomorpho-logique-Cartographie Des Risques, Institut de Géographie Lausanne.
53. ‘Structure-from-Motion’ photogrammetry: A low-cost, effective tool for geoscience applications10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.08.021 ↗
54. Vollmer, M. (1999). Kriechender alpiner Permafrost: Digitale photogrammetrische Bewegungsmessung. [Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Geography].
55. Surface geometry, thickness changes and flow fields on creeping mountain permafrost: Automatic ex-traction by digital image analysis10.1002/1099-1530(200012)11:4<315::AID-PPP365>3.0.CO;2-J ↗
56. Leprince, S., Ayoub, F., and Avouac, J. (2022, August 03). Earth Surface Monitoring with COSI-Corr, Techniques and Applications. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, Available online: https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009AGUFMIN43D1171L.
57. Leprince, S., Ayoub, F., Klinger, Y., and Avouac, J.-P. (2007, January 23–28). Co-Registration of Optically Sensed Images and Correlation (COSI-Corr): An operational methodology for ground deformation measurements. Proceedings of the 2007 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Barcelona, Spain.10.1109/IGARSS.2007.4423207 ↗
58. Image georectification and feature tracking toolbox: ImGRAFT10.5194/gi-4-23-2015 ↗
59. Brief Communication: 2014 velocity and flux for five major Greenland outlet glaciers using ImGRAFT and Landsat-8
60. Basal conditions at Engabreen, Norway, inferred from surface measurements and inverse modelling10.1017/jog.2018.45 ↗
61. Geomorphological mapping: Methods and applications10.1016/B978-0-444-53446-0.00024-0 ↗
62. (2005). CARTA-Costa Rica Airborne Research and Technology Applications. Aerial Photographs Scale 1:25,000 of Costa Rica, Costa Rica Government.
63. Guidelines on the use of structure-from-motion photogrammetry in geomorphic research10.1002/esp.4637 ↗
64. Topographic structure from motion: A new development in photogrammetric measurement10.1002/esp.3366 ↗
65. Adopting deep learning methods for airborne RGB fluvial scene classification10.1016/j.rse.2020.112107 ↗
66. Geomorphic classification of rivers
67. Classification of river morphology and hydrology to support management and restoration10.1007/s00027-015-0438-z ↗
68. Glacial geomorphology of the Chirripó National Park, Costa Rica10.1080/17445647.2019.1625822 ↗
69. Geomorphology of the Upper General River Basin, Costa Rica
70. Tropical Paleoglacial Geoheritage Inventory for Geotourism Management of Chirripó National Park, Costa Rica
71. Quesada-Román, A. (2016). Peligros geomorfológicos: Inundaciones y procesos de ladera en la cuenca alta del río General (Pérez Zeledón), Costa Rica. [Tesis de Maestría en Geografía con énfasis en Geografía Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México]. Posgrado en Geografía.
72. Late Quaternary glaciation of Costa Rica10.1130/0016-7606(2002)114<0547:LQGOCR>2.0.CO;2 ↗
73. Mapping glacial landforms on the Chirripó massif, Costa Rica, based on Google Earth, a digital elevation model, and field observations
74. Quaternary Glaciers and Climate on Cerro Chirripó, Costa Rica10.1006/qres.2000.2142 ↗
75. Glacial limitation of tropical mountain height10.5194/esurf-7-147-2019 ↗
76. Cosmogenic Cl-36 surface exposure dating of late Quaternary glacial events in the Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica10.1017/qua.2018.133 ↗
77. Equilibrium-line altitude and temperature reconstructions during the Last Glacial Maximum in Chirripó National Park, Costa Rica10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102576 ↗
78. Tropical glacier reconstructions during the Last Glacial Maximum in Costa Rica10.22201/cgeo.20072902e.2021.1.1600 ↗
79. Timing of deglaciation in the Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica10.3354/cr001081 ↗
80. Humedales del Parque Nacional Chirripó, Costa Rica: Características, relaciones geomorfológicas y escenarios de cambio climático10.15517/rbt.v66i4.31477 ↗
81. Insight into the stable isotopic composition of glacial lakes in a tropical alpine ecosystem: Chirripó, Costa Rica10.1002/hyp.13286 ↗
82. Esquivel-Hernández, G., Mosquera, G.M., Sánchez-Murillo, R., Quesada-Román, A., Birkel, C., Crespo, P., Célleri, R., Windhorst, D., Breuer, L., and Boll, J. (2019). Moisture transport and seasonal variations in the stable isotopic composition of rainfall in Central American and Andean Páramo during El Niño conditions (2015–2016). Hydrol. Process.10.1002/hyp.13438 ↗
83. Chirripó hydrological research site: Advancing stable isotope hydrology in the Central American Páramo10.1002/hyp.14181 ↗
84. Precision forestry using remote sensing techniques: Opportunities and limitations of remote sensing application in forestry
85. Langhammer, J., Lendzioch, T., Miřijovský, J., and Hartvich, F. (2017). UAV-Based Optical Granulometry as Tool for Detecting Changes in Structure of Flood Depositions. Remote Sens., 9.10.3390/rs9030240 ↗
86. Loli, M., Mitoulis, S.A., Tsatsis, A., Manousakis, J., Kourkoulis, R., and Zekkos, D. (2022). Flood characterization based on forensic analysis of bridge collapse using UAV reconnaissance and CFD simulations. Sci. Total Environ., 822.10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153661 ↗
87. Remote sensing of tropical ecosystems: Atmospheric correction and cloud masking matter10.1016/j.rse.2012.08.035 ↗
88. Template for high-resolution river landscape mapping using UAV technology10.1016/j.measurement.2017.10.023 ↗
89. A geomorphologic GIS-multivariate analysis approach to delineate environmental units, a case study of La Malinche volcano (central México)10.1016/j.apgeog.2010.01.003 ↗
90. Seijmonsbergen, A.C. (2013). The Modern Geomorphological Map. Treatise on Geomorphology, Elsevier.10.1016/B978-0-12-374739-6.00371-7 ↗