Soil weathering dynamics and erosion in a dry oceanic area of the southern hemisphere (Otago, New Zealand)

Landscape evolution is driven by tectonics, climate and surface denudation. In New Zealand, tectonics and steep climatic gradients cause a dynamic landscape with intense chemical weathering, rapid soil formation, and high soil losses. In this study, soil, and elemental redistribution along two adjacent hillslopes in East Otago, New Zealand, having different landscape settings (ridge versus valley) are compared to identify soil weathering and erosion dynamics. Fallout radionuclides (Pu239+240) show that over the last similar to 60 years, average soil erosion rates in the valley (similar to 260 [t-km(-2)-year(-1)]) are low compared to the ridge (similar to 990 [t-km(-2)-year(-1)]). The ridge yields up to 26% lower soil weathering intensity than the topographical-protected valley. The lowest soil weathering intensity is found at both hilltop positions, where tors (residual rocks) are present and partially disintegrate. The soil weathering intensity increases with distance from tors, suggesting that tors rejuvenate the chemical weathering signature at the hilltop positions with fresh material. The inversed and decreasing weathering degree with all soil depth indicates that the fresh mineral contribution must be higher at the soil surface than at the bedrock weathering front. Higher erosion rates at the exposed ridge may be partially attributed to wind, consistent with rock abrasion of tors, and low local river sediment yields (56 [t-km(-2)-year(-1)]). Thus, the East Otago spatial patterns of soil chemistry and erosion are governed by tor degradation and topographic exposure.

Automated summary

The soil chemical weathering and erosion dynamics in East Otago, New Zealand are influenced by tectonics and climatic gradients, with different landscape settings of valleys and ridges leading to varying rates of soil erosion.