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ABSTRACTSemiarid areas face challenges in the availability of water for domestic, agricultural and industrial use. The freshwater availability in semi-arid is limited due to low periods of rainfall and high evaporation rate. Groundwater resource is the only promising source of freshwater in semi-arid regions. The increased demand for freshwater in the semiarid region has increased the demand for groundwater exploration. The availability of groundwater in the subsurface is influenced by the subsurface geology, geomorphological properties and climatical condition of the region. This review aimed to analyse and combine pieces of available information on groundwater potential assessments in the central part of Tanzania. Central TANZANIA is within the craton basement rocks, where most aquifers are crystalline and fractured crystalline rocks. The groundwater origin, movement and existence rely upon numerous geomorphological and geological factors. Because of the terrain's geology and the compartmentalization of aquifers, determining the groundwater potential is difficult in basement terrain. Studying the geomorphology and geology of groundwater recharge zones is the key to exploring groundwater availability. The integration of geomorphological, geological and geophysical information yields a promising groundwater potential zone for placement of a well. The selection of the geophysical methods depends on the nature and geology of the area. Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) can be utilized in combination with other geophysical methods in fractured and weathered crystalline rocks in the semiarid environment, as in the Dodoma region, because it is the best geophysical tool for groundwater exploration in the fractured aquifer.

Societal Impact Statement Lavaka, large gullies in Madagascar, can cause problems for farmers and for infrastructure, but these features also have beneficial aspects that have generally been overlooked. They provide plant refugia, and commonly host species that would otherwise not thrive on the grassy uplands. Farmers sometimes make use of lavaka to plant crops that require more protection or soil moisture. Colonial narratives blame lavaka erosion on poor land management but ignore their pre‐human‐settlement existence on the landscape and the ecological functions they serve. The knowledge and wisdom of Malagasy farmers are key to better understanding the complex roles that lavaka plays in the landscape. Summary This paper combines a review of lavaka—erosional gullies in Madagascar's grass‐covered highlands—with new observations of their importance as ecological patch environments for a wide range of plants not seen elsewhere within the grassy biome. Lavaka play a role as a natural refugia for flora that would otherwise not thrive on the exposed and infertile hillslopes, and local farmers exploit their topography and sediment deposits to grow a variety of crops. We provide a classification scheme for lavaka based on the extent to which they have been colonised by vegetation. Our analysis is based on observations made over many field seasons in the highlands as well as interviews with Malagasy farmers living with lavaka on their land. We emphasise the importance of local knowledge and environmental wisdom in the analysis of landscape evolution, and we conclude that lavaka, while certainly an erosional problem in many places, can nonetheless provide valuable ecosystem services and agricultural opportunities that should not be overlooked.

Agricultural land cover in the U.S. Midwest is a major source of nutrient pollution that has led to impairment of stream water quality. This study examines the impact of a forested state park on nutrient concentrations within an agriculturally dominated watershed. Water samples were collected over a 2‐year study period from eight stream sampling sites along four creeks and processed for total nitrogen (TN), nitrate (NO3−‐N$$ {\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}\hbox{-} \mathrm{N} $$), total phosphorus (TP), and orthophosphate (PO43−‐P$$ {\mathrm{PO}}_4^{3-}\hbox{-} \mathrm{P} $$). Hydrology, channel morphology, and remotely sensed land cover and vegetation data were also collected and analyzed within the study area. Results indicate that water quality responses to a forested state park vary between TN, NO3−‐N$$ {\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}\hbox{-} \mathrm{N} $$, TP, and PO43−‐P$$ {\mathrm{PO}}_4^{3-}\hbox{-} \mathrm{P} $$, and water quality variables are uniquely influenced by watershed and stream characteristics. The greatest water quality benefits most frequently occurred within the two smallest study streams with the greatest residence times and proportion of watershed areas within the forested state park. Overall, the greatest improvements to water quality occurred during periods of low stream discharge and when riparian vegetation was greenest. The results of this study suggest that conservation of forested areas within agriculturally dominated watersheds can provide water quality improvements in the U.S. Midwest. Targeting watersheds that drain small streams with long residence times for conservation may be most beneficial to improving water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the evolution of karst rocky desertification (KRD) in control areas of diverse geomorphologic types and its correlation with land use provides valuable insights for identifying priority areas and implementing effective treatment measures. Employing Remote Sensing (RS) and GIS, this research quantitatively examines the evolution of KRD and its relationship with land use in the karst mountain and gorge areas of Guizhou Province over the period 2010 to 2020. The findings reveal continuous improvement in KRD across the study areas, albeit with noticeable regional disparities. Notably, the karst mountain region exhibited significantly higher change areas and rates of KRD, non-KRD, light KRD, and moderate KRD compared to the gorge area, underscoring better desertification control in the former region. A discernible correlation emerges between different karst geomorphologic types, the distribution and changes in land use types, and the evolution of KRD. Land use change emerges as a pivotal factor influencing the improvement of KRD in these areas. Changes in land use patterns corresponded with a decrease in KRD in dry land, other woodland, grassland, and bare land across both regions. However, the response of KRD to land use patterns varied across control areas with different geomorphologic environments, resulting in geographical differentiation in KRD evolution. Key land use conversions, notably from shrubland to forestland and dry land to garden land in the gorge, and shrubland to forestland in the mountain, contributed significantly to KRD dynamics in these regions. Notably, in the gorge area, KRD primarily occurred in garden land, other woodland, dry land, and grassland. In contrast, in the mountain area, KRD was prevalent in shrubland, dry land, and grassland, highlighting distinct responses and contributions to its evolution. The study observes substantial land use change in KRD-improved areas, particularly in the gorge region. Notably, the responsiveness of KRD to woodland conversions (shrubland, forestland, other woodland) varied across different geomorphologic environments. The dynamics of rocky desertification occurrence (RDO) and the occurrence structure of KRD in various land use types exhibited significant differences between the two regions. The gorge area demonstrated generally higher RDO, with a relatively stable and simpler occurrence structure of KRD compared to the more dynamic and varied structure observed in the mountain area. The sequencing of KRD occurrence in both areas displayed stability in specific land use types, with varying intensities noted between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's third Moon mission Chandrayaan-3, has successfully deployed a lander and a rover at a high-latitude location on the Moon to conduct in situ scientific studies that will potentially improve our understanding on the primary crust formation and subsequent modification processes. While the primary landing site (PLS) was situated at 69.367621°S lat., 32.348126°E long., an alternate landing site (ALS) was selected at nearly the same latitude but ~450 km west of PLS, as a contingency. We carried out a detailed study of the geomorphology, composition and temperature characteristics of ALS using the best-ever high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) and ortho-images, and datasets obtained from Chandrayaan-1 and the on-going Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter along with a well-established thermophysical model. Results indicate that like PLS, ALS is also an interesting site for carrying out in situ scientific studies from any future lunar-landing mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurements, recorded as time series (TS), of urban meteorology, including temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS), and pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, and CO), in three different geographical morphologies (basin, mountain range, and coast) are analyzed through chaos theory. The parameters calculated at TS, including the Lyapunov exponent (λ > 0), the correlation dimension (DC < 5), Kolmogorov entropy (SK > 0), the Hurst exponent (0.5 < H < 1), Lempel–Ziv complexity (LZ > 0), the loss of information (<ΔI> < 0), and the fractal dimension (D), show that they are chaotic. For the different locations of data recording, CK is constructed, which is a proportion between the sum of the Kolmogorov entropies of urban meteorology and the sum of the Kolmogorov entropies of the pollutants. It is shown that, for the three morphologies studied, the numerical value of the CK quotient is compatible with the values of the exponent α of time t in the expression of anomalous diffusion applied to the diffusive behavior of atmospheric pollutants in basins, mountain ranges, and coasts. Through the Fréchet heavy tail study, it is possible to define, in each morphology, whether urban meteorology or pollutants exert the greatest influence on the diffusion processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cueva del Viento, located in the Canary Islands, Spain, is the Earth's sixth‐longest lava tube, spanning 18,500 m, and was formed approximately 27,000 years ago. This complex volcanic cave system is characterized by a unique geomorphology, featuring an intricate network of galleries. Despite its geological significance, the geomicrobiology of Cueva del Viento remains largely unexplored. This study employed a combination of culture‐dependent techniques and metabarcoding data analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of the cave's microbial diversity. The 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding approach revealed that the coloured microbial mats (yellow, red and white) coating the cave walls are dominated by the phyla Actinomycetota, Pseudomonadota and Acidobacteriota. Of particular interest is the high relative abundance of the genus Crossiella, which is involved in urease‐mediated biomineralization processes, along with the presence of genera associated with nitrogen cycling, such as Nitrospira. Culture‐dependent techniques provided insights into the morphological characteristics of the isolated species and their potential metabolic activities, particularly for the strains Streptomyces spp., Paenarthrobacter sp. and Pseudomonas spp. Our findings underscore the potential of Cueva del Viento as an ideal environment for studying microbial diversity and for the isolation and characterization of novel bacterial species of biotechnological interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human settlements have historically thrived near rivers due to enhanced navigation and trade, and the availability of water supply and resources. The use of night light data, representing economic activities, provides a novel approach to studying the interactions between human activity and rivers over time. Here, we use the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) stable night light data from 2000 to 2013 as a proxy for human presence and activities to quantify the statistical relationships between night light presence and intensity in the Indus Basin, Asia. We test how these data are affected by proximity to trunk channels and by channel type (single/multi-thread) in the study area. We find that night light presence is enhanced by 26% within a 0 to 5 km proximity range of the Indus River and its tributaries, relative to the basin as a whole. We interpret this to represent increased human presence and activity within this zone. However, the mean intensity is lower near the river and higher away from the river, signifying denser settlements, such as towns and cities, which are preferentially located away from the Indus and its tributaries. Moreover, the enhancement of lit pixels signifying human presence and activities is increased by 18% near single-thread sections of the Indus River, compared to segments of the Indus displaying multi-thread morphologies. We suggest that this is due to the enhanced stability of single-threaded channels, relative to mobile multi-threaded channel reaches. This study demonstrates how night lights are an important tool in studying the relationship between human presence and river dynamics in large catchments such as the Indus, and we suggest that these data will have an important role in assessing differential flood spatial and social vulnerability at a regional scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Quaternary strata on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau contain rich information about the paleoclimate and environmental evolution, record the evolution process of the Quaternary regional tectonics, paleogeography, and geomorphology of the plateau, and are extremely important areas for studying the Quaternary geological events and regional environmental evolution. According to a comprehensive analysis of the regional stratigraphic data and the development and evolution characteristics of the biota, based on the differences in the lithostratigraphic units, sedimentary characteristics, landforms, and drainage systems, the Quaternary strata on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its surrounding areas are divided into five stratigraphic regions: the Tarim region, Loess Plateau region, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region, Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau region, and India-Ganges region. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau stratigraphic region is divided into seven stratigraphic sub-regions: the West Kunlun-Karakorum, Altun-Qilian Mountains, Qaidam-Hehuang, East Kunlun-Bayan Har, Qiangtang, East Xizang-West Yunnan-West Sichuan, and Gangdise-Himalayan sub-regions. This paper briefly describes the lithostratigraphic units of the seven stratigraphic sub-regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. According to the lithostratigraphic sequence and its sedimentary characteristics, stratigraphic contact relationship, formation age, and evolution of the biota in each stratigraphic sub-region, the Quaternary tectonic paleogeographic evolution of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is divided into four stages. (1) The inherited differential uplift stage since the Pliocene (2.6−1.8/1.5 Ma): the regional sedimentary differences were significant, and the stratigraphic distribution was limited, the alluvial-proluvial sandy conglomerate was widely developed along the piedmont, and fluvial and lacustrine deposits were developed in the low-lying areas between the mountains. (2) The mountain range flattening stage (1.8/1.5−1.2/0.8 Ma): the erosion unconformity surfaces around the plateau were widely distributed, large rivers were formed, and lake sediments developed in the intermountain basins and the hinterland of the plateau. (3) 1.2/0.8−0.128 Ma: the plateau continued to rise in a large range, with significant topographic differences and intensified mountain erosion. At about 0.8 Ma, the plateau uplifted above the snow line and entered the cryosphere, mountain glaciers developed, and the alpine arid environment gradually formed. (4) 0.128 Ma-: the mountains rose and erosion intensified, and intermountain basins and lakes were widely distributed. There were significant differences in the regional sedimentary characteristics, and the sedimentary types developed toward diversification. The modern plateau landform pattern was basically formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvements in simulating and communicating the evolutionary trajectory of river morphology in response to environmental forcing over multi‐decadal timeframes would foreshadow the development of "foresight competency" in river management, whereby resource managers could strategically plan toward the most preferred of several plausible futures. Of the six steps in foresight competency, visioning, which involves translating scientific forecasts into a format useable by resource managers via a user‐friendly and interactive decision support tool that supports transparent decision‐making, is the least well developed. The approach requires converting forecasting model outputs into metrics of channel evolution that highlight transitions either within or between channel morphology states. Here, seven process‐based state transition metrics are proposed covering channel planform, morphological stability, corridor belt width, floodplain connectivity, bank erosion rate, bedform habitat diversity, and ecohydraulic diversity. To aid decision support, the metrics are converted into graphical indicators that are intuitive for management use and assembled into several prototype dashboard‐style graphical user interfaces designed to facilitate interactivity. A proof‐of‐concept illustration is provided and priorities in development toward a fully operational decision support tool are discussed. Such developments are critical in ensuring the practical relevance of geomorphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broad‐scale mapping of stream channel and floodplain geomorphic metrics is critical to improve the understanding of geomorphic change, biogeochemical processes, riverine habitat quality, and opportunities for management intervention. The Floodplain and Channel Evaluation Tool (FACET) was developed to provide an open‐source tool for automated processing of digital elevation models (DEMs) to generate regional‐scale estimates of bank height, channel width, floodplain width, and a suite of other fluvial geomorphic dimensions that can be summarized at the stream reach‐ or catchment‐scale. FACET was tested on 3‐m DEMs covering the Delaware River watershed and 85% of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in the United States (U.S.) and on 1‐m DEMs for a subset of the study area. Accuracy was assessed from data collected at 67 field sites in the study area. FACET successfully measured geomorphometry for over 270,000 stream reaches (88% of streams attempted) in the study area. Factors that reduced the ability of FACET to accurately estimate geomorphic metrics included errors in DEM hydro‐conditioning, gradually sloping banks, incised stream channels, and the use of fixed input parameters to define buffer lengths. Even with these limitations, FACET was able to map regional patterns in stream and floodplain geomorphometry providing a robust dataset that can enhance modeling and management efforts throughout the mid‐Atlantic region, U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional mapping of bedforms in submarine canyons relied on vessel‐mounted and towed sensors, but their fine‐scale geomorphology and shallow structure requires higher resolution datasets. This study utilizes a high‐resolution dataset obtained from an autonomous underwater vehicle, combined with seismic reflection profiles and sediment cores, to analyse bedform sets within a 25.6 km long submarine canyon (canyon C14) in the northern South China Sea. A train of crescent‐shaped axial steps, indicative of cyclic steps formed by supercritical turbidity currents, is imaged along the canyon. Axial steps in the upper course show erosional truncations and sub‐horizontal reflectors on the lee and stoss sides, respectively, pointing to erosional–depositional cyclic steps formed by confined flows with high erosional capacity. This is facilitated by canyon narrowness and steeper axial gradient. After a transition segment, the lower course widens, with a gentler axial gradient, resulting in increased asymmetry and wavelength of axial steps. Backset bed deposits on the stoss sides of these steps indicate depositional cyclic steps with higher aggradation. Sediment filling, almost padding each cyclic step associated scour suggests the reworking of previously formed bedforms by gravity flows fed by destabilization processes on the canyon sidewalls and upstream lee faces and, possibly, by shelf‐edge and uppermost slope spillover into the canyon. At the lowermost course, cyclic steps transition to a furrow field, likely associated with flow velocity reduction facilitated by canyon floor widening and a further decrease in slope gradient. Flow braiding and re‐convergence, related to the erosion of fine‐grained deposits within the canyon floor, should have played a role to produce furrows under supercritical conditions. This work enhances our understanding of the detailed morphology and shallow relief configuration of bedforms in deep‐water submarine canyons, providing insights into their causative processes and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muography is an imaging technique that relies on the attenuation of the muon flux traversing geological or anthropogenic structures. Several simulation frameworks help to perform muography studies by combining specialized codes: for muon generation through muon transport to muon detector performance. This methodology is precise but requires significant computational resources and time. We present an end-to-end python-based MUographY Simulation Code, which implements a muography simulation framework capable of rapidly estimating muograms of any geological structure worldwide. This framework considers the generated muon flux as the observation point; the energy loss of muons passing through the geological target; the integrated muon flux detected by the telescope and estimates the 3-D density distribution of the target using algebraic reconstruction techniques. The simulations ignore the relatively small muon flux variance caused by geomagnetic effects, solar modulation and atmospheric conditions. We validate the code performance by comparing our simulation results with data from other frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The north-south trending strike-slip faults within the basement of the Zagros fold and thrust belt, which are inherited from the Pan-African construction phase, were reactivated during the suturing and convergence of Arabia and Central Iran since the Late Cretaceous and influenced the NW-SE trending structures of the Zagros belt. Among most of these transverse faults, the Kazerun fault which delineates the western boundary of the salt plugs in the Zagros belt near longitude 51.5°E is described in detail as the most significant transverse strike-slip fault recognized in the belt. Here, during the course of our investigations we found new evidence indicating that the north-south trending Kazerun fault system can be extended southwards to the coast of the Persian Gulf as evidenced by a prominent escarpment marking the west side of the Mand anticline as well as the observations of surface faulting associated with the right-lateral motion of recent geomorphic features. However, the north-south trending Razak fault has also been recognized as one of the major transverse faults in the Zagros basement. Right-lateral strike-slip motion along the Razak fault strands can be inferred from the associated lateral offset of stream beds observed on satellite images, aerial photos and on the field. Unlike what have been previously suggested, this study concludes that the southern ends of some of the north-south trending strike-slip faults which cross the NW-SE structures of the Zagros belt are not turned into thrusts striking ESE, sub-parallel to the fold axes, but instead the southern continuation of the north-south trending faults can be extended southwards to the coast of the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Amazon is the largest drainage basin on Earth and contains a wide variety of abiotic landscape features. In spite of this, the geodiversity in this basin has not yet been objectively evaluated. We address this knowledge gap by combining a meta-analysis of an existing global geodiversity map and its components with a systematic literature review, to identify the key characteristics of geodiversity in the Amazon drainage basin (ADB). We also evaluate how these global geodiversity component maps, that are based on the geology, geomorphology, soils and hydrology, could be refined to better reflect geodiversity in the basin. Our review shows that geology—through lithological diversity and geological structures—and hydrology—through hydrological processes that influence geomorphology and soil diversity—are the main determinants of geodiversity. Based on these features, the ADB can be subdivided into three principal regions: (i) the Andean orogenic belt and western Amazon, (ii) the cratons and eastern Amazon, and (iii) the Solimões-Amazon river system. Additional methods to map geomorphological and hydrological diversity have been identified. Future research should focus on investigating the relationship between the geodiversity components and assess their relationship with biodiversity. Such knowledge can enhance conservation plans for the ADB. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Geodiversity for science and society'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGs) is to protect globally significant geoheritage and geodiversity, but quantitative evidence on the global representativeness of geodiversity components (i.e. geology, soils, geomorphology and hydrology) in these geoparks is in short supply. Here, we provide a first assessment by deriving a global map of geodiversity to test whether the presence of geodiversity components in UGGs is representative for the global availability and distribution of geodiversity. Using openly accessible global datasets and a newly developed workflow, we have calculated metrics for each geodiversity component and a global geodiversity index; we then quantified whether UGGs represent global geodiversity and then compared their components to a randomized spatial distribution of geoparks. Our results show that lithological and topographical diversity are more represented in UGGs than outside these sites, while soil type and hydrological diversity are not significantly different. Furthermore, individual soil types and lithological classes are under-represented and unevenly distributed in Asian and European UGGs. This is probably caused by the concentration of geoparks in Asian and European mountains. To better conserve geodiversity, we suggest an initiative to consider the protection and representation of all geodiversity components in their global context. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Geodiversity for science and society'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relic coastal landforms (fossil corals, cemented intertidal deposits, or erosive features carved onto rock coasts) serve as sea‐level index points (SLIPs), that are widely used to reconstruct past sea‐level changes. Traditional SLIP‐based sea‐level reconstructions face challenges in capturing continuous sea‐level variability and dating erosional SLIPs, such as tidal notches. Here, we propose a novel approach to such challenges. We use a numerical model of cliff erosion embedded within a Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the most likely sea‐level scenarios responsible for shaping one of the best‐preserved tidal notches of Last Interglacial age in Sardinia, Italy. Results align with Glacial Isostatic Adjustment model predictions, indicating that synchronized or out‐of‐sync ice‐volume shifts in Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets can reproduce the notch morphology, with sea level confidently peaking at 6 m and only under a higher than present erosion regime. This new approach yields insight into sea‐level trends during the Last Interglacial. Plain Language Summary: Scientists typically investigate the position of sea level in geological time using the elevation, age, and characteristics of fossil marine organisms living in shallow water (e.g., coral reefs), beach deposits, or erosional features that were formed near the sea level. However, these indicators offer only fragmented, if not only point‐like information in time and not a continuous sea‐level record. To overcome this issue, we use a numerical model that reconstructs the shape of tidal notches (i.e., indentations created close to sea level in carbonate cliffs). We compare model‐generated notch shapes with the real shape of the tidal notch, and we produce a set of continuous sea‐level histories that are more likely to have produced one of the best‐preserved fossil tidal notches in the Orosei Gulf, Sardinia, Italy, carved during the Last Interglacial highstand, 125.000 years ago. Our findings suggest that whether the ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland melted at the same time or separately, both scenarios could reproduce the actual shape of the tidal notch we observe at present. Our findings indicate that the erosion rate during that period was higher than present and the sea level is very likely to have reached up to 6 m. Key Points: Cliff erosion modeling and Monte Carlo analysis indicate tidal notch geometry can offer a continuous record of past sea level variabilityThe geometry of Orosei's tidal notch, Italy can be replicated through simultaneous or asynchronous Antarctic–Greenland ice melting scenariosThe morphology of the Last Interglacial notch is more efficiently replicated using higher‐than‐present erosion rates and a 6 m sea‐level peak [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the core area of human activities and economic development in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, the hilly oasis zone of Xinjiang directly affects the regional sustainable development and stability of the ecosystem. Understanding the effects of different geomorphic types on vegetation distribution is crucial for maintaining vegetation growth and development, especially the improvement in the terrestrial ecological environment in arid areas under the background of climate change. However, there are few studies on the effect of spatial differences in detailed geomorphic types on vegetation distribution patterns. Therefore, this paper divides the Xinjiang hilly oasis zone into six geomorphologic level zones and innovatively investigates the influence of detailed geomorphologic types on the spatial distribution of vegetation and vegetation cover. Further, the area proportion of detailed landform types corresponding to different vegetation coverage in each geomorphic area was quantitatively calculated. Finally, the Geodetector method was used to detect the drivers of interactions between vegetation and the environment. The findings are shown as follows: (1) In the same climate zone, the spatial differentiation of landforms has a great influence on the vegetation distribution, manifesting as the significantly different vegetation distribution in different landform types. Grassland is the main vegetation type in the erosion and denudation of Nakayama; cultivated vegetation and meadows have a larger coverage in the alluvial flood plain and alluvial plain; and the distribution of vegetation in the Tianshan economic zone is characterized by obvious vertical zoning with the geomorphology. (2) The landform type and morphological types are the strongest driving factors for vegetation coverage with q values of 0.433 and 0.295, respectively, which effectually fill the gap caused by only using two terrain indicators, slope and elevation, to study the relationship between landforms and vegetation. (3) In addition, the improved nonlinear interaction resulting from the double factor of landform type and slope is 0.486, which has a stronger control on vegetation coverage than the single factor of landform type. These findings are conducive to enhancing the supply services of vegetation to the ecosystem in arid areas as well as providing important scientific guidance for the construction of ecological civilization and sustainable development in Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses the role of remote sensing technology in geomorphological research, specifically in landscape dynamics and erosion monitoring. Over the past two decades, advancements in remote sensing technologies such as RADAR, LiDAR, and UAVs have provided high-resolution data, enabling researchers to detect, quantify, and model changes in topography with unprecedented accuracy and resolution. The integration of GNSS, IMU, AI, and machine learning techniques has further enhanced the ability of remote sensing to assess topographic changes. The document highlights ten research papers in a special issue of Remote Sensing that demonstrate the various applications of these advanced techniques, including neotectonic investigations, analyses of ephemeral channels, and the quantification of soil erosion in vineyards. The document also discusses studies focusing on gully erosion and presents a review of process-based soil erosion models. Overall, these contributions showcase the advancements in these methodologies and provide insights into landscape dynamics across a variety of geomorphological and tectonic contexts. The document concludes by highlighting three areas that will form the basis of future research in remote sensing techniques: the use of AI and machine learning, real-time monitoring with high spatial and temporal resolution, and the democratization of high-accuracy data acquisition techniques. [Extracted from the article]

Slope length is an important factor in soil erosion modeling, and the reasonable automatic extraction of slope length is of great significance in soil erosion research. However, previous studies have mainly focused on the regional scale, and how to effectively extract slope length at the slope scale deserves further research. In this study, a slope length extraction algorithm based on slope streamlines method (SSM) is proposed for the slope length extraction problem in geomorphology, and it is compared with three existing slope length calculation methods. The experimental results show that the new method can quickly calculate the length of slope streamlines, and the extracted slope lengths have better accuracy; the coefficients of determination demonstrates a better overall fitting effect of the four extraction methods, with coefficients of determination exceeding 0.7; this indicates that the use of SSM has similar accuracy and stability to other methods in calculating slope lengths. Among all the calculation methods, SSM has a better overall fitting effect for slope length calculation, and the obtained slope length value domain range is relatively small and concentrated in a small range, which expresses the slope length better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question: Riparian vegetation and seed banks are the foundation of functional riparian zones, yet insight in the processes that explain their composition is limited. We tested three theories fundamental to dispersal and environmental filtering of riparian seed banks and vegetation. Combining these theories, we expected hydrochory to lead to increased species richness downstream in both soil seed bank and vegetation with accumulation restarting after a lake section, and geomorphological filtering to lead to higher similarity of seed bank and vegetation composition locally and within lakes, slow‐flowing sections and rapids, respectively, than between them. Location: Svartån, a free‐flowing river in central Sweden. Methods: We surveyed riparian vegetation and conducted a germination experiment on riparian soil seed bank cores from lakes, slow‐flowing sections and rapids. We combined these with trait data on seed dispersal syndromes, floating capacity of seeds and seed longevity. We analysed differences throughout the system with linear models and between process domains with Kruskal–Wallis tests and similarity in community composition with the Horn–Morisita similarity index. Results: Our results indicated that species richness did not increase downstream and was relatively similar throughout lakes, slow‐flowing sections and rapids for both riparian seed banks and vegetation. Seed floating capacity was similar throughout these river sections, too, and seed longevity was higher in seed banks than in vegetation. Conclusions: Geomorphology and hydrochory were not as important drivers in this area for riparian seed bank and vegetation composition as expected. In the area and on the scale studied here, other local and regional environmental factors and dispersal syndromes are more likely to be determinants of riparian dynamics and composition. Continued studies of riparian seed banks can help improve our understanding of riparian composition and functioning in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and well-being, highlighting coping strategies, mental health services, and community support initiatives. Topics include the challenges faced by vulnerable populations, the importance of accessible mental health resources, and the role of social connections in promoting mental well-being during the pandemic.

Freshwater habitats display a high degree of heterogeneity in both space and time. This heterogeneity is a result of the hierarchical interplay of hydrology and geomorphology, producing the physical habitat template to which biological communities respond and interact. Thus, it follows that any effort to fully understand the complexity of these systems requires a spatial and temporal perspective of heterogeneity at multiple scales within a hierarchical framework. In this study we 1) test if fish assemblage structure differs between hydrogeomorphically distinct, off-channel patches of the Upper Mississippi River, USA, 2) identify which species are driving differences in assemblages between patch types and, 3) assess which hydrogeomorphic variables are associated with fish assemblages and if these are the same suite of variables responsible for the physical differentiation of patches. Different fish assemblages were associated with hydrogeomorphically distinct patches, importantly, sub-groups of backwaters. Species including the Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, 1819, the Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus (Lesueur in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1829), and the Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum (Lesueur, 1818) were influential in driving differences in assemblages. Fish assemblages did not respond to the same suite of hydrogeomorphic variables responsible for the physical character of patches, although there was some overlap. Instead, they responded to patch-scale characteristics and long-term hydrology and, in the case of backwaters, which navigation pool they were located in. We suggest that classification of hydrogeomorphic character across multiple spatio-temporal scales is critical. This classification should be done prior to sampling so patches can be targeted based on their physical character to draw out key habitat-assemblage relationships. We also contend that broad classification of habitats (e.g., floodplain lake vs backwater) may be too simplistic. Instead, individual characteristics defining the physical nature of a habitat need to be linked to biological responses across scales. A more nuanced understanding of these relationships is needed to improve restoration and management outcomes with respect to increasing or maintaining heterogeneity in the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic species face imperilment at a disproportionate rate compared with terrestrial organisms and are experiencing rapid rates of extinction. For aquatic organisms, large-scale ecosystem processes can influence the suitability of local habitats over short and long timescales, determining patterns of biodiversity and species' distributions. Connecting landscape-level processes to both local habitat requirements and occupancy helps effectively conserve imperiled species. Crayfish may be particularly affected by geomorphological processes such as floodplain connectivity because they use both aquatic and terrestrial environments in floodplain ecosystems, relying on groundwater and seasonal inundation to fulfill life-history requirements. However, we lack studies connecting landscape-level variables to the presence/absence of burrowing crayfish. The primary objective of this study was to combine crayfish collections from a single field season and a geospatial dataset to determine if select landscape-scale environmental variables affect the distribution of burrowing crayfish in a Black Prairie watershed in the Mobile River Basin in Alabama, USA. We evaluated the presence/absence, composition, and abundance of burrowing crayfish with respect to channel migration, channel sinuosity, floodplain connectivity, and land use. We predicted burrowers would be in areas within a stream channel's migration path, areas near streams with a greater sinuosity, areas with greater floodplain connectivity, and predominantly forested areas and that species composition and abundance would also covary with landscape-level variables. Crayfish were more likely to be present in areas near relatively sinuous streams and in areas with relatively high floodplain connectivity but were also associated with areas outside the channel migration path and in areas with limited forest cover. However, composition and abundance were not associated with landscape-level variables. Identifying landscape-scale factors associated with burrowing crayfish presence/absence will allow researchers to determine drivers of watershed-wide biodiversity and provide a better understanding of how ecology and geomorphology can be integrated to create effective management plans for watersheds that harbor many species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Lavaka, large gullies in Madagascar, can cause problems for farmers and for infrastructure, but these features also have beneficial aspects that have generally been overlooked. They provide plant refugia, and commonly host species that would otherwise not thrive on the grassy uplands. Farmers sometimes make use of lavaka to plant crops that require more protection or soil moisture. Colonial narratives blame lavaka erosion on poor land management but ignore their pre‐human‐settlement existence on the landscape and the ecological functions they serve. The knowledge and wisdom of Malagasy farmers are key to better understanding the complex roles that lavaka plays in the landscape. Summary: This paper combines a review of lavaka—erosional gullies in Madagascar's grass‐covered highlands—with new observations of their importance as ecological patch environments for a wide range of plants not seen elsewhere within the grassy biome. Lavaka play a role as a natural refugia for flora that would otherwise not thrive on the exposed and infertile hillslopes, and local farmers exploit their topography and sediment deposits to grow a variety of crops. We provide a classification scheme for lavaka based on the extent to which they have been colonised by vegetation. Our analysis is based on observations made over many field seasons in the highlands as well as interviews with Malagasy farmers living with lavaka on their land. We emphasise the importance of local knowledge and environmental wisdom in the analysis of landscape evolution, and we conclude that lavaka, while certainly an erosional problem in many places, can nonetheless provide valuable ecosystem services and agricultural opportunities that should not be overlooked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The province of Chimborazo located in the northern Andes of Ecuador presents many intrinsic factors, which contribute to the occurrence of mass movements, leaving in many of the cases registered damages of materials and loss of life. The recent landslide of March 26, 2023, in the Alausí canton is an event of great interest due to the magnitude of the occurred destruction and the corresponding fatalities. Therefore, there are two predominant objectives of the current study, of which the first has been to determine the most relevant characteristics of this mass movement by identifying and analyzing the geomorphology of the recorded slope movement and the lithological units involved, by field work and through geophysical surveys. Secondly, we performed a preliminary study of the possible triggers of the movement by means of the historical analysis of the precipitations during the months of January to March of the last decade and the study of the recent seismic series. However, through the obtained analysis, it is determined that the study site is composed of three distinctive lithological units. The observed mass movement is of the rotational type, as result of the intense rainfall that occurred during the first quarter of 2023, being hereby the most probable triggering factor. This corresponds to a 600% increase in the average monthly rainfall compared to the period from 2010 to 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased flood magnitude and frequency due to climate change can reduce the population productivity of organisms such as amphibian and fish species in river and stream systems; therefore, conserving habitats that maintain high productivity under such conditions is crucial. Here, we examined the relationship between the freshwater productivity of anadromous salmonids (measured as fry migrating to the ocean per spawner) and catchment hydrogeomorphology and identified the characteristics of rivers and streams that are prone to flood disturbance.We surveyed the spawner abundance and number of fry of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and measured environmental factors, including the average catchment slope and stream power, as characteristics of hydrogeomorphology, in 10 streams in the Shiretoko Peninsula, northern Japan. We then used generalised linear mixed models to predict the freshwater productivity of pink salmon populations in each catchment across the study region under current and future climatic conditions.The productivity of pink salmon in the study region differed among the sampled catchments and was negatively affected by the average catchment slope, stream power, and maximum daily precipitation averaged over the catchment. Namely, flood disturbance reduced the freshwater productivity of pink salmon, and salmon productivity in individual catchments was explained by catchment hydrogeomorphology. The predicted future productivity with increased precipitation was also lower than the current productivity.Our approach can be applied to other salmonids that have similar spawning behaviour to pink salmon. Highly productive catchments under the future climatic conditions predicted by the present study should be prioritised for conservation to ensure a sustainable salmonid population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We integrate multidisciplinary observations to provide a regional-scale synthesis of river drainage reconfiguration in Southland (New Zealand) between the Miocene and the Holocene. Distributions of sedimentary clasts, including alluvial gold, garnets and chromite, are combined with freshwater fish genetics, surface geomorphology, and basement geology to constrain river drainage directions and interconnections through time. River evolution in much of the South Island has been dominated by localised tectonic uplift linked to distant Alpine Fault tectonism. In the southeast, the rise of ranges between Central Otago and Southland severed initial long-distance southward drainage and gold transport and isolated fish species. Plio-Pleistocene range uplift caused the recycling of older alluvial gold deposits into the new Southland river systems. The most significant Southland drainage reorientations have occurred through the Pleistocene, in parallel with similar processes in Central Otago. In particular, the Pomahaka River has evolved geomorphologically from a Southland-linked catchment to become a major tributary of the Clutha catchment, with associated biological evolution of distinctive endemic freshwater fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil corals are commonly used to reconstruct Last Interglacial (∼125 ka, LIG) sea level. Sea level reconstructions assume the water depth at which the coral lived, called the 'relative water depth'. However, relative water depth varies in time and space due to coral reef growth in response to relative sea level (RSL) changes. RSL changes can also erode coral reefs, exposing older reef surfaces with different relative water depths. We use a simplified numerical model of coral evolution to investigate how sea level history systematically influences the preservation of corals in the Bahamas and western Australia, regions which house >100 LIG coral fossils. We construct global ice histories spanning the uncertainty of LIG global mean sea level (GMSL) and predict RSL with a glacial isostatic adjustment model. We then simulate coral evolution since 132 ka. We show that preserved elevations and relative water depths of modelled LIG corals are sensitive to the magnitude, timing and number of GMSL highstand(s). In our simulations, the influence of coral growth and erosion (i.e. the 'growth effect') can have an impact on RSL reconstructions that is comparable to glacial isostatic adjustment. Thus, without explicitly accounting for the growth effect, additional uncertainty is introduced into sea level reconstructions. Our results suggest the growth effect is most pronounced in western Australia due to Holocene erosion, but also plays a role in the Bahamas, where LIG RSL rose rapidly due to the collapsing peripheral bulge associated with Laurentide Ice Sheet retreat. Despite the coral model's simplicity, our study highlights the utility of process-based RSL reconstructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological advancement and exponential rise in the human population have led to severe modification of the land surface area. These human‐induced geomorphic modifications are considered as an active geomorphic process that interrupts dynamic equilibrium between landform and anthropogeomorphologic processes. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of Nir's 'Index of potential anthropic geomorphology' used to quantify anthropogeomorphic process (AGP) impact. The model was applied in 11 talukas (sub‐districts) of Goa State, India. Goa is a good candidate to understand the impact of anthropogeomorphological process because it has a varied topography with different geomorphological landforms along with rapid increase in urbanisation and mining activities which are anthropocentric. Decadal results show that, during 1991, 2001, and 2011, the tourism hubs of North Goa Bardez (0.32, 0.36, and 0.40) and Tiswadi (0.44, 0.42, and 0.47) required least attention to curb human impact, while the major economic and tourism hubs of South Goa Marmugao (0.55, 0.53, and 0.40) and Salcete (0.40, 0.40, and 0.40) surprisingly showed no increase but instead a decline in the values. In addition, prominent mining talukas Bicholim (0.25, 0.30, and 0.20), Quepem (0.45, 0.39, and 0.15), and Sanguem (0.24, 0.22, and 0.18) also showed declining values, which is indicative of decreased human activities. The index results suggest 'no requirement of urgent and efficient measures' in any talukas because none of the values have been found to be above 0.50, which according to the model represents considerable damage to geomorphology. However, Goa is a world‐renowned tourism destination and all these talukas have witnessed massive urban development, high literacy rate, and exponential growth in National State Domestic Product and mining activities, especially since the turn of the millennium, which are contrary to Nir's index results. Therefore, the model has been found to be over‐generalised and ineffective in indicating actual AGP at the meso level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The Jornada Basin Long‐Term Ecological Research Site (JRN‐LTER, or JRN) is a semiarid grassland–shrubland in southern New Mexico, USA. The role of intraspecific competition in constraining shrub growth and establishment at the JRN and in arid systems, in general, is an important question in dryland studies.Using information on shrub distributions and growth habits at the JRN, we present a novel landscape‐scale (c. 1 ha) metric (the 'competition index', CI), which quantifies the potential intensity of competitive interactions. We map and compare the intensity of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa, Torr.) competition spatially and temporally across the JRN‐LTER, investigating associations of CI with shrub distribution, density, and soil types.The CI metric shows strong correlation with values of percent cover. Mapping CI across the Jornada Basin shows that high‐intensity intraspecific competition is not prevalent, with few locations where intense competition is likely to be limiting further honey mesquite expansion.Comparison of CI among physiographic provinces shows differences in average CI values associated with geomorphology, topography, and soil type, suggesting that edaphic conditions may impose important constraints on honey mesquite and growth. However, declining and negative growth rates with increasing CI suggest that intraspecific competition constrains growth rates when CI increases above c. 0.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Located in the Basin of Mexico, the eastern shore of former Lake Texcoco sustained a variety of human occupations throughout the Holocene, including preceramic hunter‐gatherers, incipient agriculturalists, and a variety of settlements in the ceramic periods. Nonetheless, the environmental dynamics of occupations on the lakeshore have not been fully addressed. The Archaic preagricultural Texcoco Man site (>5000 B.C.E.) and the Late Formative TX‐LF‐14 site (c. 550‐200 B.C.E.), among others, occupy this fluvio‐lacustrine transitional environment. Few stratigraphic works in and around the sites have been performed. Consequently, it is difficult to understand the dynamics of the sedimentary system in space and time. This work highlights and describes the fluvio‐lacustrine sedimentary dynamics and the resulting landscape that past societies inhabited on the eastern shore of Texcoco Lake. Because the study area has been altered by historic and modern draining, our work employs Lake Santiaguillo and its main tributary, the Tejamen River in the Durango state, as a modern analog to study their sedimentary dynamics. The analyses of surface geomorphology in the Texcoco study area were employed to corroborate the modern analog interpretation. To achieve these goals, we conducted a GIS‐based morphometric analysis and LANDSAT‐8 imagery to study the variations in landforms through wet and dry events. The results indicate an increase in the lake volume, low bifurcation in the active fluvial channels, few inundated surfaces, and the presence of bird‐foot deltaic channels during high precipitation events. In contrast, low precipitation events are characterized by reduced lake volume, increased fluvial channel bifurcation, and expanded floodplains. This heterogeneous landscape thus provided a rich source of diverse natural resources of saline and freshwater aquatic habitats. Simultaneously, constant or recurring flooding events generated a challenging landscape for prehistoric settlers who implemented diverse technologies, such as the construction of tlateles, on the levees of deltaic channels to reduce the risk and impact of flooding events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantification of bedrock river incision dynamics in tectonically active landscapes is an essential component of tectonic-geomorphology and hydrological studies. The channel incision is dependent on channel width. It is invariably observed in the field and in numerical models that the channel width varies with the spatial changes in tectonics, lithological, and climatic zones due to geomorphic forcing causing variability in rock uplift and erodibility. However, estimating channel width in the field and numerical modelling is tedious and often limited by terrain inaccessibility. We present an ArcGIS-based methodology to extract centerline and channel width using channel polygon extent derived from open-source high-resolution Google Earth images. The channel polygon boundary is used to extract a river centerline. The orthogonal line segment from the centerline is used to compute the river width continuously along the entire channel course in the ArcGIS platform, which is accurate in comparison to the other manual methods. We demonstrate the methodology on the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers in Garhwal Himalaya, which has variable width along with different geological segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural destructive forces produced by active tectonics have the potential to alter the geomorphology of any terrain. In this work, Uttarakhand was selected as a study region to study the influence of active tectonics through geomorphometric analysis. In addition, the geomorphic parameter anomaly was compared with the seismicity data of Uttarakhand. The digital elevation data was analyzed on the GIS platform to evaluate the geomorphic parameters in 22 selected basins of the 4th-order. The computed values were grouped into three active tectonic classes – high, medium, and low. The significant findings of this study identify Uttarkashi, Chamoli, and Pithoragarh districts of highly dissected heterogeneous landforms that contain higher drainage bifurcation with a higher dendritic pattern of drainage streams, higher relief, higher frequency of earthquake events, low erosional potential due to strong lithological resistance, and the youthful phase of basin landforms with narrow and steep V-shaped valleys. History of seismic events suggests strong active tectonics dominance in the aforementioned districts due to the various active seismotectonic features such as the MCT, Vaikrita Thrust, Almora Thrust, Tons Thrust, Bhilangana Thrust, etc. Moreover, the results can also be employed to estimate seismic hazards and assist in disaster mitigation and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Himalayan Mountain range is prone to landslides and its influential factors vary from region to region. To identify these factors, it is essential to have comprehensive information about the study area. This study aims to assess Landslide Susceptibility Mapping in parts of the Aglar watershed in the Lesser Himalayas using the frequency ratio method in the GIS environment. An inventory map in the first place of landslide events was prepared using satellite data and field survey studies. In this study, pertinently, sixteen conditioning factors were considered as slope, aspect, profile curvature, plan curvature, elevation, relative relief, geology, distance to stream, distance to road, normalized difference vegetation index, stream power index, topographic wetness index, rainfall, distance to lineaments, geomorphology, and land use land cover based on the local topography and climate. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the study area, subsequently, the frequency ratio of each factor was analyzed. This determined the correlation between landslide classes and each class of conditioning factors. A thorough analysis was conducted to select the most significant factors using the higher and lower prediction ratio values. This study was eventually conducted by comparing three susceptibility maps that were created based on prediction ratio values. To confirm the comparison, the ROC–AUC curve was utilized. The accuracy of the results was evaluated through a prediction rate and success rate curve, resulting in 78.5 and 80.7%, respectively, demonstrating a commendable performance. In this paper, the significance of different conditioning factors is evident in the increase of the very high susceptible area from 2.44 to 5.99% and eventually to 8.44%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the 6th to 7th of February 2023, a storm surge struck Ras El-Bar, Nile Delta coast and attacked the resort facilities, with a wave height and velocity in deep water of 7.2 m and 12.7 m/sec respectively. The wind speed was 12.84 m/s, blowing from the NW and the WSW quadrants. This was an unwitnessed event revealed from the study of similar time interval from 1998 to 2022. Synchronizing with this event on the 6th of February 2023, was Kahramanmaraş Turkey Earthquakes. Consequently, the shoreline receded for about −30 m and with a drop in sea-level of about −40 cm. Furthermore, considerable changes in the beach morphology from a dissipative to a cuspate-related, intermediate tidal flat transverse bar with a rip profile. These are either related to the change in the morphodynamic or sedimentary budget, and resulting due to seawater scouring of bottom sediments for more than −30 cm. Two days preceding the Earthquakes an isostatic rise in sea-level (+20 cm) at the Turkish coast compared to the Mediterranean records, which is interpreted due to regional underwater seismic activities. The drop in the sea-surface height does not happen due to seawater outflow to the Atlantic Ocean. However, the sea-level regained its normal position because of the refill occurring from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. The pumice pieces, organic peat, and starfish distributed at Ras El-Bar coast, and thrown from the Northern Mediterranean indicate that the Egyptian coast was subjected to a little tsunami with average height of 14 cm. It is minimized due to enforced wave shifting from high pressure over Egypt to the low-pressure sinks.

This study investigated the geodiversity of the Archipelago Sea in the northern Baltic Sea, focusing on geological features and their spatial distribution. By adapting methods used in previous Baltic Sea studies, we conducted spatial analyses of geological data sets including bedrock type, seabed substrates and seabed structures. Bedrock and substrate data were freely available, while seabed structures were modelled from bathymetry data. Geodiversity was quantified using a geodiversity index, which considers the variety of physical elements, roughness and area of the unit. The analyses revealed a diverse seabed environment in the Archipelago Sea with varying geodiversity throughout the study area. Significant features contributing to geodiversity included bedrock fracture and fault zones and large end-moraine formations. Similar patterns have been observed in terrestrial areas of Finland. The analyses also detected relations between archipelago zonation and geodiversity with areas of open sea more homogeneous than the middle and inner archipelago. This study formally recognises the complexity of the seabed in the Archipelago Sea and highlights the importance of understanding the geological processes shaping the region. The results can inform maritime spatial planning and sustainable resource management.