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A factor analytic approach to the identification of geomorphic processes from soil particle size characteristics
Author(s) -
East Thomas J.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.3290100505
Subject(s) - deposition (geology) , weathering , geology , sediment , environmental science , particle size , sediment transport , drainage basin , hydrology (agriculture) , spatial variability , particle (ecology) , soil science , geomorphology , physical geography , geotechnical engineering , statistics , geography , mathematics , cartography , paleontology , oceanography
Q‐mode factor analysis of soil particle size data is used to identify the three dominant geomorphic processes responsible for the spatial variability of particle size in a catchment on the basaltic Darling Downs landsurface. Three factors are shown to account for 95 per cent of the textural variability of a suite of transported and sedentary materials. The spatial characteristics of groups of samples associated with the three factors suggests that the three factors are associated with suspended sediment transport and deposition, weathering, and bedload transport and deposition respectively. These interpretations are supported by the detailed graphical analysis of the cumulative particle size curves. The spatially variable influence of the three factors and related processes is given by their respective factor loadings which are mappable for the surface layer materials.