Adler, R., Africa's badlands - At last we know how vegetation disappeared from the Sahara, New Scientist, 163 (2195), 22-22, 1999.


Albright, L.B., Magnetostratigraphy and biochronology of the San Timoteo Badlands, southern California, with implications for local Pliocene-Pleistocene tectonic and depositional patterns, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 111 (9), 1265-1293, 1999.

The San Timoteo Badlands expose nearly 2000 m of nonmarine sedimentary rocks ideally situated temporally and spatially to address questions regarding major tectonic events that occurred in southern California from latest Miocene to medial Pleistocene time. These events include development of the San Andreas-San Jacinto fault system and uplift of the Transverse Ranges. The badlands sequence also spans three of the four most recent North American Land Mammal "ages" and therefore coincides with important trans-Beringian and Neotropical mammal dispersal events. No other terrestrial sequence in North America records relatively continuous deposition over this interval of time. Magnetostratigraphy and mammalian biochronology provide a temporal framework that allows greater resolution of the geologic and biotic events recorded within the sequence than previous studies on this region, Data show that the sequence extends from chron C3An.2n, ca, 6.3 Ma, at the lowest part of the section in the study area, to within the Brunhes chron, or younger than 0.78 Ma, near the top. Refined age estimates for geologic and biotic events recorded within the sequence indicate that (1) a Peninsular Ranges basement source south of the badlands region dominated deposition from before 6.3 Ma to about 4.6 Ma, after which time the provenance shifted to a San Gabriel Mountains basement source from the north; (2) deposition of San Gabriel Mountains-type material continued until as recently as ca, 0.70 Ma, although sediments from the San Bernardino Mountains appeared in the northwesternmost area of the badlands ca, 1.5 Ma; (3) the late Hemphillian Mount Eden Local Fauna is dated as 5.6 Ma, compared,vith previous estimates of 5.0-5.4 Ma; (4) the early Irvingtonian Fl Casco Local Fauna is 1.3-1.4 Ma; and (5) the Shutt Ranch Local Fauna is ca, 0.7-0.99 Ma, Paleomagnetic data show that the badlands region may be slightly rotated in a counterclockwise direction, contrary to previous models predicting clockwise rotation in right-lateral shear zones.

Alexander, D.E., Badlands in Cohesive Sediments Nothing Is Simple, Journal of the Geological Society, 139 (MAR), 212-212, 1982.


Andersen, M., The good Badlands - Comment, Natural History, 105 (6), 6-6, 1996.


Anderson, J.L., and J.M. Porter, Astragalus-Tortipes (Fabaceae), a New Species From Desert Badlands in Southwestern Colorado and Its Phylogenetic- Relationships Within Astragalus, Systematic Botany, 19 (1), 116-125, 1994.

Astragalus tortipes is a new species from the southern flank of Sleeping Ute Mountain in southwestern Colorado that grows with mixed desert scrub on Mancos Shale badlands overlain by pediment gravel. Based on phylogenetic estimations using parsimony, the new species is placed as a member of Barneby's sect. Lonchocarpi subsect. Lonchocarpi and is compared morphologically to other astragali. Astragalus tortipes is characterized by its hyper-reflexed pod, a character unique in North American Astragalus.

Baker, C.L., Pediment Broadening in South-Dakota Badlands, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 62 (12), 1531-1531, 1951.


Baker, C.L., Yardangs in South-Dakota Badlands, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 62 (12), 1532-1532, 1951.


Barendregt, R.W., and E.D. Ongley, Slope Recession in the Onefour-Badlands, Alberta, Canada - Initial Appraisal of Contrasted Moisture Regimes, Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 16 (2), 224-229, 1979.


Bedell, D., The good Badlands, Natural History, 105 (6), 6-6, 1996.


Benito, G., M. Gutierrez, and C. Sancho, Erosion Rates in Badland Areas of the Central Ebro Basin (Ne- Spain), Catena, 19 (3-4), 269-286, 1992.

Erosion rates have been estimated for two badland areas in the Ebro Basin ("El Barranco" and "La Charca" plots) using direct measurement techniques. These measurements were made by means of erosion pins and a microtopographic profile gauge. Measurements with erosion pins at the "El Barranco" plot indicate highest erosion rates around rills and at rill junctions. In contrast, at the "La Charca" plot, only small differences between erosional rates for rill and interrill areas are observed. Microtopographic profiles carried out in "El Barranco" show irregular ground lowering, greater in rill than in interrill areas. At "La Charca", similar denudation rates are observed in rill and interrill areas. Erosion rates determined with the microtopographic profile gauge were 7 and 19 mm/year in "El Barranco" and "La Charca" plot respectively, and close to 6 and 17 mm/year respectively, using erosion pins.

Benito, G., M. Gutierrez, and C. Sancho, The Influence of Physicochemical Properties On Erosion Processes in Badland Areas, Ebro Basin, Ne-Spain, Zeitschrift Fur Geomorphologie, 37 (2), 199-214, 1993.

Studies carried out in two experimental sites on recently incised Holocene valley-fill sediments, and on a slope of exposed Tertiary clay indicate that erosion processes and rates are strongly related to the chemical characteristics and physico-chemical behaviour of alkaline soils. Overland flow is the prevailing processes in non-dispersive materials producing erosion rates of 8-20 mm/year on the slope and 6-9 mm/year on the valley fill. The highest rill density is associated with both a high sodium content and a high clay dispersion index, yielding erosion rates of 14-22 mm/year on the slope and 5-8 mm/year on the valley fill. Piping is the dominant erosion process under high clay dispersivity conditions, creating a positive feedback of pipe collapse producing rill incision, which increases erosion in interrill areas. Temporal variations in erosion rates in the nondispersive horizons are strongly related to total rainfall whereas a more random distribution was found in the dispersive-day horizons. In dispersive horizons clay is flushed away even during low intensity precipitation. In non-dispersive horizons, detachment and transport of clay aggregates is more selective and depends directly on the shear stress and stream power of the runoff. For the total period of measurement, similar erosion rates in rill and interrill areas indicate a short term equilibrium between the main components of the badland system.

Bouma, N.A., and A.C. Imeson, Investigation of relationships between measured field indicators and erosion processes on badland surfaces at Petrer, Spain, Catena, 40 (2), 147-171, 2000.

Indicators were obtained to measure and predict rill erosion and mass wasting in biancana and calanchi-like badland areas. Rainfall simulation experiments were used to find a relationship between soil moisture change and sediment concentration behaviour. This relationship appeared to be able to show, in its role as indicator, differences between materials affected by various degrees of rill erosion or mass wasting. Indicators explaining this relationship are surface characteristics, runoff and infiltration characteristics and chemical and mineralogical soil properties. From the experimental study it was concluded that the high infiltration capacity in materials affected by mass wasting resulted in an unstable soil and a high degree of erodibility. The materials which were more affected by rill erosion or had a continuous crust at the surface were saturated earlier during the experiment than the other materials. This saturation caused an increase in runoff. The mechanism is explained as the system crossing a threshold after which flow hydraulics at the surface are more important fur erosion processes than dynamic soil properties and infiltration characteristics. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Branca, M., and M. Voltaggio, Erosion Rate in Badlands of Central Italy - Estimation By Radiocesium Isotope Ratio From Chernobyl Nuclear Accident, Applied Geochemistry, 8 (5), 437-445, 1993.

The input of Cs-137 into the troposphere from the Chernobyl nuclear accident made intriguing the use of fallout Cs-137 as a tool for estimating the rate of soil erosion over Europe. The present paper reports on the adoption of Cs-137/Cs-134 activity ratio to differentiate the vertical distribution of Cs-137 prior to and following the Chernobyl accident. The Cs-137/Cs- 134 activity ratio in the radioactive cloud is required to calculate pre and post-1986 Cs-137 amounts, considering that the whole Cs-134 was actually derived from Chernobyl. By using this procedure, the erosion rates could be evaluated for the badland area, the Paglia River basin (central Italy), before and after the Chernobyl accident. Nine sites from two areas of this basin were sam ed and analyzed. Erosion rates, ranging from 1.5 to 8.4 mm/a were measured, the values depending both on the basin lithology and site slope. These first results are consistent with those yielded by quantitative geomorphologic methods.

Brookes, I.A., Solute Sources and Transport in an Ephemeral Badland Catchment, Southeastern Alberta, Canada - Discussion, Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 25 (8), 1338-1338, 1988.


Brooks, E.G., 'Badlands', Kenyon Review, 21 (2), 62-62, 1999.


Brown, R.W., Distribution of Plant Communities in South-Eastern Montana Badlands, American Midland Naturalist, 85 (2), 458-&, 1971.


Bryan, R.B., A.C. Imeson, and I.A. Campbell, Solute Release and Sediment Entrainment On Microcatchments in the Dinosaur Park Badlands, Alberta, Canada, Journal of Hydrology, 71 (1-2), 79-106, 1984.


Bryan, R.B., I.A. Campbell, and A. Yair, Postglacial Geomorphic Development of the Dinosaur-Provincial- Park Badlands, Alberta, Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 24 (1), 135-146, 1987.


Bufalo, M., and D. Nahon, Erosional Processes of Mediterranean Badlands - a New Erosivity Index For Predicting Sediment Yield From Gully Erosion, Geoderma, 52 (1-2), 133-147, 1992.

The experimental catchment basin of St. Genis (Hautes-Alpes, France) was used to study pluvial erosion of the Terres Noires (Jurassic marls) in badlands during the years 1986 to 1989. The regional climate is of Mediterranean type. Three simple gullies (262 m2, 1110 m2, 1620 m2) were equipped for collecting pluviometric and hydrosedimentologic data. The annual average rate of erosion, calculated during the study period, is of the order of 190 t ha-1 yr-1 for an average rainfall of 840 mm/yr. The hydrodynamic behavior of marly slopes regulates the evolution of overland flow, and therefore erosional processes. Rainfall simulations in the field emphasized the low permeability of these marls, which is 5 mm/h for an initially dry soil. On the other hand, minimum rainfall required (P(t) in mm) to produce overland flow is a function of the duration of the initial period of dryness (T(d) in days) according to the equation: P(t) = 3T(d)0.4 The combination of the hydrologic characteristics of marls and of the kinetic energy of rainfall defined an erosivity index EKE (effective kinetic energy) which correlates well with measurements of sediment yield obtained at the mouth of simple gullies. This index is used to model the relationships between rainfall events and specific sediment yield (SSY) by the equation: SSY (t ha-1) = 3.38EKE X 10(-2) whose linear correlation coefficient is R = 0.91. This equation provides a good estimate of ssy at the scale of an individual episode of rainfall as well as at the scale of an annual pluviometric cycle.

Butler, J., H. Goetz, and J.L. Richardson, Vegetation and Soil - Landscape Relationships in the North- Dakota Badlands, American Midland Naturalist, 116 (2), 378-386, 1986.


CalvoCases, A., and A.M. Harvey, Morphology and development of selected badlands in southeast Spain: Implications of climatic change, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 21 (8), 725-735, 1996.

Four areas were selected to represent a range of processes characteristic of badland surfaces in southeast Spain: Petrer and Monnegre in Alicante, Vera and Tabernas in Almeria. At Petrer, rilling and swelling processes produce a deeply cracked surface drained by a finely textured network of shallow rills. At Monnegre, piping and rilling are differentially developed on slopes ultimately controlled by basal incision. At Vera, aspect-controlled lichen and vegetation cover produce a sequence of badland development within which the relative importance of piping, mass movement and rilling varies through the sequence. At Tabernas, simple overland flow is the dominant process, but aspect influences rill network density and badland evolution. The factors controlling badland development can be grouped into those related to gross morphology, to surface cover and runoff generation, and to material properties. These factors are effective over varying timescales, implying that morphological response times differ among the selected badlands.

Calzolari, C., and F. Ungaro, Geomorphic features of a badland (biancane) area (Central Italy): characterisation, distribution and quantitative spatial analysis, Catena, 31 (4), 237-256, 1998.

The biancana landscapes, rather common in several Italian areas, have a very complex morphology. Different geomorphic features often occur along the same hillslope. From a morphological survey of an experimental site in southern Tuscany, the forms were classified, and their distribution analysed. Spatial analysis of the biancane provided insights into the range of forces responsible for their formation and evolution. The results confirm an evolutionary trend from an original gently sloping surface to a complex biancana landform, emphasising a trend from the taller bean forms to the terminal souffle-like and cone forms. The presence of scarp and sliding forms in the most sloping areas and along the residual surfaces supports the hypothesis of a process influenced by base level, acting initially by small mass movements. Spatial analysis did not reveal any systematic trend in the variability of the erosional features along the slopes. Variographic analysis showed that selected morphological attributes are spatially auto-correlated over a short range, suggesting that the erosive processes responsible for morphogenic evolution of biancane act mostly on a local scale. The strong geometric anisotropy detected in directions parallel to the main jointing Systems also indicated a broader scale tectonic control of biancane evolution, probably in an early stage of their formation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

Campbell, I.A., Erosion Rates in Steveville-Badlands,Alberta, Canadian Geographer, 14 (3), 202-216, 1970.


Campbell, I.A., Canadian Landform Examples .3. Badlands of Dinosaur-Provincial- Park, Alberta, Canadian Geographer-Geographe Canadien, 31 (1), 82-87, 1987.


Carman, M.F., Formation of Badland Topography, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 69 (6), 789-&, 1958.


Cerda, A., and P. GarciaFayos, The influence of slope angle on sediment, water and seed losses on badland landscapes, Geomorphology, 18 (2), 77-90, 1997.

By means of simulated rainfall the influence of the slope angle on the soil, water and seed erosion has been studied on badland surfaces. Slope angle has a clear positive effect controlling soil erodibility and erosion rates, but it does not have any influence on the volume of runoff after 40 minutes of rain at an intensity of 55 mm h(-1). In contrast, slope angle has a clear influence on runoff initiation, with cracks and crusts as the main factors controlling the time to pending and time to runoff. Both pending and runoff initiation start earlier on pediments than on slopes, where more cracks exist. Steady-state infiltration rates and seed losses have an inverse relationships with slope angle. Pediments have 40 times lower erosion rates and 6 times higher seed losses than slopes. The different behaviour of seed losses between pediment and slope is due to the strategy of the seeds against erosion processes.

Cerda, A., Seasonal and spatial variations in infiltration rates in badland surfaces under Mediterranean climatic conditions, Water Resources Research, 35 (1), 319-328, 1999.

This paper investigates the spatial and temporal variations of infiltration rates on badland landscapes under Mediterranean climatic conditions of the eastern Iberian Peninsula. Soil infiltration was measured under simulated rainfall and by cylinder infiltrometer for typical winter, spring, summer, and autumn conditions. The spatial variability of infiltration within the badland landscapes is determined by the two main geomorphological units: slopes and pediments. Slopes show greater steady state infiltration rates than pediments (averaging 6.6 and 11.9 mm h(-1), respectively), but they generate faster runoff and the runoff curves are steeper than on the slopes. For short thunderstorms, pediments generate more runoff because soils on the slopes have a wider and deeper crack network, which favors higher infiltration rates at the beginning of the rainfall. However, for simulated storms of 40 min duration, the runoff rate on the slopes (74.3%) is slightly greater than on the pediments (72.5%) due to their lower steady state infiltration rate. For both slopes and pediments, greater steady state infiltration rates were measured under simulated rainfall (fc) for summer (18.9 and 11.6 mm h(-1)) than for winter (11.8 and 6.8 mm h(-1)), spring (3.8 and 8.7 mm h(-1)), and autumn (4.1 and 8.3 mm h(-1)) for slope and pediment positions, respectively. Measurements by means of cylinder infiltrometer (ifc) confirm these seasonal trends. On the pediment plots, ifc varies from 43 mm h(-1) in winter to 26 mm h(-1) in spring, rises to 62 mm h(-1) in summer, and finally drops to 26 mm h(-1) in autumn. For the slope positions, ifc has a similar seasonal trend: 18 mm h(-1) in winter, 9 mm h(-1) in spring, 52 mm h(-1) in summer, and 10 mm h(-1) in autumn. Measurements by means of cylinder infiltrometer results in 3 times greater steady state infiltration rates due to the effect of water depth pressure and crust development under simulated rainfall. In summer the development of wide and deep cracks results in macropore flow, and these are important factors in pipe initiation.

Churchill, R.R., Aspect-Related Differences in Badlands Slope Morphology, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 71 (3), 374-388, 1981.


Clarke, M.L., and H.M. Rendell, The impact of the farming practice of remodelling hillslope topography on badland morphology and soil erosion processes, Catena, 40 (2), 229-250, 2000.

Badland landforms, created in Plio-Pleistocene clay landscapes of the Basilicata region of southern Italy, form marginal features in a semi-arid landscape dominated by the widespread cultivation of subsidised cereals. These badland features are high relative relief forms exhibiting a high drainage density and steep slopes, with slope angles typically in excess of 35 degrees. Economic incentives to increase agricultural productivity have resulted in the practice of remodelling these marginal areas using heavy earth-moving equipment. Remodelling the badland features creates longer slopes at lower angles, which can be cultivated using conventional farm machinery. These changes in hillslope morphology have altered the degree to which soil erosion processes operating in these areas are spatially coupled. In the badland areas, erosion and deposition are strongly localised with minimal sediment delivery to ephemeral or perennial channel systems. The economically-driven change in land use from visually striking badland areas to newly remodelled fields for agricultural use results in an increase in the coupling of drainage networks and a net increase in soil erosion. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Dardis, G.F., Quaternary Erosion and Sedimentation in Badland Areas of Southern-Africa, Catena, 1-9, 1989.


Deboer, D.H., and I.A. Campbell, Spatial Scale Dependence of Sediment Dynamics in a Semi-Arid Badland Drainage-Basin, Catena, 16 (3), 277-290, 1989.


Deboer, D.H., and I.A. Campbell, Runoff Chemistry As an Indicator of Runoff Sources and Routing in Semiarid, Badland Drainage Basins, Journal of Hydrology, 121 (1-4), 379-394, 1990.

The temporal variations of runoff chemistry during a storm even reflect the dynamics of runoff and solute sources. This study concerns the use of runoff chemistry to investigate runoff generation and routing in semi-arid, badland basins drained by ephemeral streams. Discharge, sediment concentration, and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured at the outlets of a 20.2 hectare and a 7.9 hectare basin. Runoff samples were analysed for sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, and sulphate. EC values ranged from 255 to 800-mu-S cm-1. During the initial phase of flow, EC values dropped sharply owing to the flushing effect. The EC reached a minimum around the time of peak flow, and slowly increased during the falling stage owing to the dissolution of suspended sediment and, during large storms, the influx of solute-rich water from tunnel systems and shale surfaces. Sodium was the dominant cation, and variations of sodium concentration were similar to those of EC. The concentrations of the remaining cations showed little variation throughout a storm event. Cation composition was controlled by the displacement of sodium from the exchange sites by divalent cations. Sulphate concentration was strongly correlated with EC, and showed the same pattern of variation throughout a runoff event. Nevertheless, for a similar EC, sulphate concentrations were proportionally lower in runoff from sandstone and pediment surfaces, and proportionally higher in tunnel flow, runoff from shales, and during initial flushing. The SO4-EC relationship hence proved to be a sensitive indicator of the start of tunnel flow and runoff generation on the shales, even though each variable had little value when used separately.

Dick, G.S., R.S. Anderson, and D.E. Sampson, Controls on flash flood magnitude and hydrograph shape, Upper Blue Hills badlands, Utah, Geology, 25 (1), 45-48, 1997.

Although many arid badland channels erode rapidly, channel flows appear to be rare, raising the issue of the character and frequency of flows responsible for channel erosion, Using an acoustic stream gauge, we recorded nine flash flood hydrographs over a 3 yr period from the Upper Blue Hills badlands, Utah, with maximum discharges up to similar to 0.9 m(3)/s. Flow hydrographs reveal bores and rapid depth changes that are similar to flash floods observed elsewhere. Bore and hydrograph peak translation velocities are greatest in narrow channel segments, Rapid runoff generation during short-duration thunderstorms produced complex hydrographs whose shapes appear to reflect channel network geometry, Storm runoff response is highly sensitive to antecedent moisture, which greatly reduces the regolith infiltration capacity, High antecedent moisture coupled with a relatively low intensity, long-duration rainstorm produced the largest flow event. Estimating flow frequency in this landscape therefore requires knowledge of the distributions of both storm sizes and temporal spacing relative to the short time required for the regolith infiltration capacity to recover following wetting, here roughly 24 hr, Landscape changes can be produced not only by rare, large rainfall events, but by a broad range of storm size and frequency under optimal antecedent moisture conditions.

Donahue, J.J., Topographic Inversion of Badland Buttes in Montana, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 96 (7), 911-917, 1985.


Edwards, R., Military Badlands Too Dangerous to Sell, New Scientist, 144 (1950), 4-4, 1994.


Embleton, C., Badland Geomorphology and Piping - Bryan,R, Yair,a, Geographical Journal, 150 (JUL), 260-260, 1984.


Evans, J.E., and D.O. Terry, The Significance of Incision and Fluvial Sedimentation in the Basal White River Group (Eocene-Oligocene), Badlands of South- Dakota, Usa, Sedimentary Geology, 90 (1-2), 137-152, 1994.

A newly defined lithostratigraphic unit, the Chamberlain Pass Formation (CPF), records the initial episode of incision, fluvial sedimentation, and pedogenesis in SW South Dakota following the retreat of the Cretaceous Interior Seaway. The CPF is Middle(?) to Late Eocene in age, and consists of fluvial sandstone and mudstone. Pedogenic modification of the unit has created a distinctive pedostratigraphic unit, the Interior Paleosol Series. The CPF thickens from west to east, achieving a maximum channel-belt thickness of greater-than-or-equal-to 11 m. Paleoflow data indicate that deposition of the CPF was restricted to a fault-controlled basin southeast of the Black Hills uplift. Sandstones in the CPF were derived from a recycled sedimentary rock source area to the west. In contrast, sandstones in the overlying Chadron Formation (Late Eocene) had a variety of sources including the Precambrian core rocks of the Black Hills uplift. Deposition of the CPF brackets four significant Paleogene changes in baselevel that occurred in this region. These events were: (1) Late Cretaceous to Middle(?) Eocene relative baselevel fall, weathering and erosion of the Cretaceous Pierre Shale to form the Yellow Mounds Paleosol, and fluvial incision; (2) Middle(?) to Late Eocene relative baselevel rise and deposition of the CPF; (3) Late Eocene relative baselevel fall, weathering and erosion of the CPF to form the Interior Paleosol, and fluvial incision; and (4) Late Eocene to Oligocene relative baselevel rise and deposition of the Chadron Formation. The first event was probably eustatic, the second was controlled primarily by local subsidence in a fault-bounded basin, the third records the tectonic uplift and unroofing of the Black Hills, and the fourth event was probably primarily controlled by eustasy, but other factors may have been important.

Farabegoli, E., and C. Agostini, Identification of Calanco, a badland landform in the northern Apennines, Italy, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 25 (3), 307-318, 2000.

Calanco (plural, calanchi) is a term widely used in the northern Apennines, Italy, to define a type of badland formed in clayey bedrock. However, no precise geomorphological definition of calanco has been established and a variety of map symbols are used to indicate the presence of calanco landforms. With the aim of developing an improved approach to identifying calanchi, a group of experienced surveyors identified 24 catchments with calanco characteristics among 67 catchments located between Bologna and Faenza in the northern Apennines. The morphology of each catchment was classified using traditional quantitative geomorphic approaches including fieldwork, map interpretation, hypsometric curve construction and computation of the annual sediment yield. Consideration of the parameters produced by these approaches indicated that none was capable of representing the presence of calanchi unequivocally and the basins were grouped into five classes on the basis of number and type of calanco criteria that they met. A characteristic of calanchi that is evident on topographic maps is crenulation of the contour lines and in this study a new topographic parameter was developed to represent the degree of contour crenulation. This parameter, LO/LF, is defined as the ratio of the actual length of a contour line (LO) to the length of the same line smoothed by an algorithm based on a moving average (LF). Calculated values of LO/LF ranged from 1.05 to 1.38. To test whether high values of the contour crenulation parameter were associated with calanchi, LO/LF values were added to other criteria for the five classes of catchment. Class 1 catchments, consisting of 14 of the 24 calanchi catchments identified in the field, displayed all of the criteria defining calanchi, and were characterized by the highest values of LO/LF (mean value 1.27 +/- 0.15). It is proposed, therefore, that the contour crenulation ratio (LO/LF) may be useful in identifying the calanco landform. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Faulkner, H., D. Spivey, and R. Alexander, The role of some site geochemical processes in the development and stabilisation of three badland sites in Almeria, Southern Spain, Geomorphology, 35 (1-2), 87-99, 2000.

Samples of both surface and subsurface soils were collected on various surfaces in three badland areas of differing ages (Tabernas, Vera and Mocatan), in Almeria province, southern Spain. Data were explored with the aim of identifying any diagnostic geochemical relationships between site EC, pH, sediment size and SAR, which might constitute typical 'signatures' for site materials, with some success. Data for the three sites are further used to explore the hypothesis that changes in site geochemistry through time are involved in badland stabilisation. It was found that: (1) the physico- chemical properties of the three sites can be differentiated by the functional relationship between EC and SAR, and this may represent a useful tool in characterising sites where piping predominates; (2) there is some (equivocal) evidence that sediment size distribution may play an additional role in site diagnosis and evolution; and (3) surfaces appear to lose sodium over time, the suggestion being that sodium is either progressively buffered by calcium during leaching, or exchanges with hydrogen on the cation exchange sites under a vegetation cover. Since other research suggests that smectite can also relocate down the profile on some marl sites, reducing hydraulic conductivity and suppressing pipes, we argue that the surface at Tabernas may be capable of long-term autostabilisation in which piping intensity progressively reduces. However, this possibility really applies only to fine- grained, densely structured materials, and evidence from the silty Triassic-rich unit in the Mocatan basin suggests that without a high clay content, piping may be expected to increase through time. From this standpoint, contemporary badland morphology at Mocatan does not represent an early stage of the forms seen in Vera and Tabernas. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Feight, J.J., Underground Pipelines Change Badlands Grazing Patterns, North Dakota Farm Research, 34 (2), 23-24, 1976.


Finlayson, B.L., J. Gerits, and B. Vanwesemael, Crusted Microtopography On Badland Slopes in Southeast Spain, Catena, 14 (1-2), 131-144, 1987.


Garciafayos, P., T.M. Recatala, A. Cerda, and A. Calvo, Seed Population-Dynamics On Badland Slopes in Southeastern Spain, Journal of Vegetation Science, 6 (5), 691-696, 1995.

The dynamics of seed population on slope surfaces were studied to test the hypothesis that the lack of vegetation on badlands is caused by seed removal by erosion. The initial soil seed bank and two years of seed rain and seed removal by erosion were estimated in two small catchments, and a seed balance was constructed. In addition, six rainfall simulation experiments were performed to test the susceptibility of seeds to be removed by overland flow. A variety of soil surface conditions, rainfall characteristics and plot sizes were used in these experiments. Soil seed bank densities are low, but enough for the development of plant cover. Seed losses due to erosion after natural rains were low (< 13 %), and in agreement with seed losses from simulated rainfall experiments. After two years, seed inputs in the seed rain were greater than seed outputs through seed removal, which resulted in a continuous increase in the numbers of seeds in the soil bank. These results point out that seed removal by erosion is not the key factor explaining the lack of vegetation on badlands. It is suggested that other factors, such as those related to seed germination and seedling survival, may play an important role.

Gerits, J., A.C. Imeson, J.M. Verstraten, and R.B. Bryan, Rill Development and Badland Regolith Properties, Catena, 141-160, 1987.


Godfrey, A.E., Wind erosion of Mancos Shale badland ridges by sudden drops in pressure, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 22 (4), 345-352, 1997.

One process of erosion of Mancos Shale badlands near Hanksville, Utah, appears to be caused by nearly instantaneous drops in air pressure accompanying gusts of wind. A series of sharp-crested bedrock ridges trend nearly perpendicular to the strong, gusty southwesterly winds that precede cold fronts passing through the area. The Bernoulli effect, resulting from the explosive onset of wind gusts in which the wind over the ridges can accelerate from 7 to 14m s(-1), can cause nearly instantaneous pressure drops of 1.27 mmHg. This provides a unit lifting force of 0.01697N. Since the average gravitational force acting on a unit area of the crust is only 0.00883N, this force is sufficient to lift the crust, exposing the underlying weathered shale chips to further wind erosion. Soils susceptible to this type of erosion consist of polygonally cracked surface crust averaging 1.2 cm thick overlying a porous subsoil of silt-sized shale chips. The arid environment permits complete soil drying between weather fronts, greatly reducing the cohesion that would occur if the soil were moist. The pressure drops, and the erosion caused by them, were observed on the lee side of bedrock ridges about 10m high, within 1m of the ridge crest. Landforms resulting from this process are micro-cirque forms located near the ridge crests. Continued development of micro-cirques eventually forms cliffs on the lee sides of the ridges. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Green, C.P., Badland - Geomorphology and Piping - Bryan,Rb, Yair,a, Earth-Science Reviews, 20 (3), 253-254, 1984.


Groves, P., 'Badlands', Poetry Review, 87 (4), 67-67, 1997.


Guardia, R., F. Gallart, and J.M. Ninot, Soil seed bank and seedling dynamics in badlands of the Upper Llobregat basin (Pyrenees), Catena, 40 (2), 189-202, 2000.

In the badlands of the Upper Llobregat basin, vegetation is sparse and heterogeneous. The harsh conditions generated with the formation of the badlands involve a regressive succession. On the upper part of the slope, a sharp change can be seen between dense communities and denuded badland slopes. Nevertheless. recolonization of thc badlands rarely occurs. Scarce seed availability or low capacity of seeds to germinate in such unfavorable conditions may be the main causes. The soil seed bank was sampled in two micro-catchments; a total of 105 soil cores were extracted along three parallel transects. Soil samples were washed through a set of sieves, and seeds were separated and identified, Seedling emergence and mortality were also recorded monthly from April 1990 to December 1991, on two permanent plots in a nearby micro-catchment. An unexpected soil seed bank was found. A relatively high species number has been found with rather small and slightly heterometric seeds. Strong relation between seed bank composition and established vegetation has been detected. Seedling emergence occurred mainly from May to August. The species composition was also dominated by the most frequent species in the badlands and in the soil seed bank. Seedling mortality does not appear to be directly associated with the erosive processes, as it occurred throughout the year. It seems that seedling survival rates could be sufficient to ensure persistence of the current vegetation in badland areas. We conclude that there is no single reason that can explain the low vegetation cover in badlands but rather there is a combination of several restrictive factors. Lack of seed availability within the reduced favorable period for germination and low seedling establishment contribute in part to this low colonization. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Gutierrez, M., C. Sancho, G. Benito, J. Sirvent, and G. Desir, Quantitative study of piping processes in badland areas of the Ebro Basin, NE Spain, Geomorphology, 20 (3-4), 237-253, 1997.

In the Ebro Basin, piping is an ubiquitous erosion process in badland areas, occurring in two main situations: on slopes of exposed Tertiary clays and in recently incised silty-clay Holocene valley-fill sediments. The quantitative importance of the main factors controlling piping processes in those conditions was obtained by statistical analysis based on multiple and stepwise regressions. Piping erosion is strongly related to a high sodium absorption ratio (SAR) which favours clay dispersion. However, the statistical analysis indicates that the chemical characteristics and the physical-chemical behaviour are a necessary condition but are not sufficient on their own to develop piping processes. On the slopes, piping is controlled by the physical and chemical properties of the material such as the dispersion index, the granulometric fraction smaller than 4 mu m, pH and crack density. In the valley-fill sediments, piping is mainly controlled by the sulphate concentration in the water extract from saturated paste, which is also associated with high SAR values, and the dispersion index. In both geomorphic situations, piping is always related to high crack density and high topographic gradient. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.

Harris, T.G., Tvs Urban Badlands, Psychology Today, 9 (10), 4-4, 1976.


Hehn, V.N., B.J. MacFadden, L.B. Albright, and M.O. Woodburne, Magnetic polarity stratigraphy and possible differential tectonic rotation of the Miocene-Pliocene mammal-bearing San Timoteo Badlands, southern California, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 141 (1-4), 35-49, 1996.

The San Timoteo Badlands, consisting of the Mt, Eden beds conformably overlain by the San Timoteo beds, is a 3000 m thick sequence of nonmarine sediments deposited in a tectonically active region in southern California. Paleomagnetic samples were collected from 132 sites within these badlands. A composite magnetostratigraphic section for this sequence correlates to the MPTS from the late part of chron C3An.1n to the early part of chron C2r.2r, between about 6 and 2.3 Ma. The classic late Hemphillian (late Miocene) Mt. Eden fossil mammal quarry occurs near the base of the composite section within chron C3r, between 5.8 and 5.3 Ma. Although the overall unit- mean declinations indicate negligible or slight counterclockwise (CCW) vertical-axis rotation (- 8.8 degrees +/- 4.9 degrees), analysis of declination subsets from different parts of the section suggest possible differential small-block rotation within the San Timoteo Badlands: Prior to 3.5 Ma (represented by the Mt. Eden beds) there is negligible rotation; the overlying portion of the San Timoteo Badlands (represented by the lower San Timoteo beds) dated between 3.5 and 2.3 Ma (chrons C2An.3n to C2r.2r), indicate significant apparent CCW rotation (R +/- dR) of - 20.7 degrees +/- 5.20. These data suggest decoupling of the upper part of the San Timoteo Badlands and independent CCW vertical-axis rotation relative to the lower part of this sequence.

Howard, A.D., Erosion Rates and Channel Gradients in Natural and Man-Induced Badlands, Transactions-American Geophysical Union, 54 (4), 274-274, 1973.


Howard, A.D., and G. Kerby, Channel Changes in Badlands, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 94 (6), 739-752, 1983.


Howard, A.D., Badland morphology and evolution: Interpretation using a simulation model, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 22 (3), 211-227, 1997.

A drainage basin simulation model is used to interpret the morphometry and historical evolution of Mancos Shale badlands in Utah. High relief slopes in these badlands feature narrow divides and linear profiles due to threshold mass-wasting. Threshold slopes become longer in proportion to erosion rate, implying lower drainage density and higher relief. By contrast, in slowly eroding areas of low relief, both model results and observations indicate that drainage density increases with relief, suggesting control by critical shear stress. Field relationships and simulation modelling indicate that the badlands have resulted from rapid downcutting of the master drainage below an Early Wisconsin terrace to the present river level, followed by base level stability. As a result, Early Wisconsin alluvial surfaces on the shale have been dissected up to 62 m into steep badlands, and a Holocene alluvial surface is gradually replacing the badland slopes which are eroding by parallel retreat. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Hutchinson, P.J., Stratigraphy and Paleontology of Bisti Badlands, San-Juan County, New-Mexico, Aapg Bulletin-American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 65 (3), 562-562, 1981.


Jacobson, M., Digging the badlands, Natural History, 105 (4), 36-41, 1996.


Kendrick, K.J., and L.D. McFadden, Comparison and contrast of processes of soil formation in the San Timoteo Badlands with chronosequences in California, Quaternary Research, 46 (2), 149-160, 1996.

The degree of soil development associated with geomorphic surfaces in the San Timoteo Badlands area (STB), California allows correlation of the surfaces. Soil development indices, based on field descriptions and laboratory analysis, provide a basis for comparison of these soils to each other and to dated soil chronosequences at Cajon Pass, Merced, and Anza, California. The soils in this study record a complex tectonic and climatic history, include preserved surfaces intermediate in soil development to those at Cajon Pass, and do not preserve a record of the major late Pleistocene to early Holocene aggradational event observed elsewhere in the region. Pedogenesis is similar to that of regional soils in southern California. With time, the profiles develop progressively thicker argillic horizons, and they increase in redness, clay, and secondary iron oxide content, and amount and thickness of clay films. With increasing soil age the ratio of dithionite- extractable Fe to total Fe increases, while the ratios of Fe2+ to Fe3+ and of oxalate- to dithionite-extractable Fe decrease. These trends are more subdued in the STB than elsewhere in the region, perhaps because the slightly higher temperature and lower precipitation of the STB may slow the rate of transformation of ferrihydrite to hematite. We use weighted means of soil development indices and rubification index values to compare the soils of this study to those at Cajon Pass, Merced, and Anza. Wide-range age estimates using the maximum limits of these values result in 27,500-305,000 yr for surface Q1, 43,000-570,000 yr for surface 42, and 300,000-700,000 yr for surfaces Q3 and Q4. Weighing most heavily the nearest dated chronosequences, Anza and Cajon Pass, yields best estimates of age. This method constrains the time of formation of the Q1 surface to between 27,500 and 67,000 yr and the 42 surface to 43,000-67,000 yr, and does not change the age estimates of the Older surfaces. (C) 1996 University of Washington.

Kepferle, R.C., Geology of a Portion of the White River Badlands, Pennington County, South-Dakota, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 65 (12), 1379-1380, 1954.


Khasanov, O.K., R.S. Vernik, and T. Rakhimova, Characteristics of Behavior of Plants of Various Ecological Groups Under Cultivation in Chartak Badlands, Soviet Journal of Ecology, 8 (1), 71-73, 1977.


Kock, M.D., and J. Berger, Chemical Immobilization of Free-Ranging North-American Bison (Bison-Bison) in Badlands-National-Park, South-Dakota, Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 23 (4), 625-633, 1987.


Korzhenevskii, V.V., and A.A. Klyukin, Vegetation of Crimean Badlands, Soviet Journal of Ecology, 20 (6), 338-344, 1989.


Kuehn, D.D., A geoarchaeological assessment of bison kill site preservation in the Little Missouri Badlands, Plains Anthropologist, 42 (161), 319-328, 1997.

This paper investigates the relationship between geomorphic processes and the preservation and interpretation of bison procurement localities in the Little Missouri Badlands of western North Dakota. Known archaeological data pertaining to bison procurement are examined within the context of the late Quaternary stratigraphic and geomorphic history of the badlands. Viewed from a geoarchaeological context, the spatial and temporal distributions of bison kill sites appear to be products of the geomorphic history of those landforms most frequently used for bison procurement. These landforms tend to be highly dynamic and therefore not suitable for archaeological site preservation on broad temporal and spatial scales.

Lam, K.C., Patterns and Rates of Slopewash On Badlands of Hong-Kong, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 2 (4), 319-332, 1977.


Laurier, E., The badlands of modernity, Antipode, 31 (3), 334-336, 1999.


Lopezbermudez, F., and M.A. Romerodiaz, Piping Erosion and Badland Development in Southeast Spain, Catena, 59-73, 1989.


Lukey, B.T., J. Sheffield, J.C. Bathurst, R.A. Hiley, and N. Mathys, Test of the SHETRAN technology for modelling the impact of reforestation on badlands runoff and sediment yield at Draix, France, Journal of Hydrology, 235 (1-2), 44-62, 2000.

Physically based distributed models, such as SHETRAN, have the ability to predict the impacts of land management changes in advance of any change taking place. It needs to be shown, though, that they can deliver practical results while accounting for uncertainty in parameter evaluation. As a demonstration, SHETRAN was used to simulate the impact of reforestation on runoff and erosion in a badlands environment in south-east France. A model was first constructed for the 86- ha Laval basin, severely affected by gully erosion. It was then altered to represent this basin as if it were equivalent to the neighbouring 108-ha Brusquet basin, rescued from erosion by reforestation. Simulation uncertainty was quantified as a function of uncertainty in parameter evaluation. A good reproduction was obtained of the observed difference in runoff/rainfall ratio and the two orders of magnitude difference in sediment yield between the basins, as a function of their different vegetation covers and rainfalls, for a 5- year period. The results are encouraging for modelling land use change impacts but indicate also the need to reduce further the uncertainty in model parameter evaluation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Maccherini, S., A. Chiarucci, and V. De Dominicis, Structure and species diversity of Bromus erectus grasslands of biancana badlands, Belgian Journal of Botany, 133 (1-2), 3-14, 2000.

Species richness, diversity and structure were studied in Bromus erectus grasslands on the top of biancana landforms of the Orcia Valley, Tuscany (central Italy). Three community types were recognized : uneven B. erectus grasslands on less stable morphologies, and compact B. erectus grasslands and B. erectus grasslands colonized by Spartium junceum scrub, both on more stable morphologies. The main difference between them was a dramatic decline in species richness and diversity from the former to the latter. The number and cover of annual herbs, many of which are low-growing species (e.g. legumes and graminoids), also decreased significantly in the same order. The frequency of B. erectus was constant (100%) in all three types of community, whereas percentage cover increased sharply (54.2 vs. 85.5%) between uneven and compact grasslands, remaining high in the scrub communities (83.8%). Cover of phanerophytes showed low values in the uneven and compact grasslands, but reached 80% in the scrub communities. The increase in cover of B. erectus caused the disappearance of species typical of the pioneer vegetation of Pliocene clay soils with Artemisia cretacea. Colonization of the compact grasslands by S. junceum induced a reduction in grassland species of the class Festuco-Brometea. The implications of these findings for the conservation of B. erectus grasslands and biancana badlands are discussed.

McCaslin, J.C., Gulf Busy in North-Dakota Badlands, Oil & Gas Journal, 80 (26), 159-160, 1982.


McClenaghan, L.R., J. Berger, and H.D. Truesdale, Founding Lineages and Genic Variability in Plains Bison (Bison- Bison) From Badlands-National-Park, South-Dakota, Conservation Biology, 4 (3), 285-289, 1990.


Mohlenbrock, R.H., Badlands and oases, Natural History, 109 (2), 14-16, 2000.


Navas, A., J. Machin, and B. Navas, Use of biosolids to restore the natural vegetation cover on degraded soils in the badlands of Zaragoza (NE Spain), Bioresource Technology, 69 (3), 199-205, 1999.

In the semiarid central Ebro valley, the soils of the badlands surrounding Zaragoza city exhibit severe degradation features. Nevertheless, poor land management practices and limiting climatic and edaphic factors make the natural regeneration of the soil difficult. The use of sewage sludge as amendment for land rehabilitation is increasingly being considered as a technical solution to reverse this environmental degradation and to restore the original vegetation cover. This paper describes the changes produced on the natural vegetation cover after application of digested sewage sludge (biosolids) to three soil types. Experiments were conducted on plots with two different slope levels by applying different rates of biosolids. When increasing rates of biosolids were applied, the biomass yield increased proportionally, although differences among the different soil types and the level of the slope were observed. To avoid undesirable side-effects, mainly referred to soil pollution (salinity and toxic levels of metals), each case has to bf: individually studied. Therefore, prior to application both characterisation of biosolids and determination of the most suitable application rates to be used are required. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nogueras, P., F. Burjachs, F. Gallart, and J. Puigdefabregas, Recent gully erosion in the El Cautivo badlands (Tabernas, SE Spain), Catena, 40 (2), 203-215, 2000.

Derailed geomorphic observations in El Cautivo badland area, in the semiarid SE of Spain, show a recent renewal of linear channel erosion following a period of aggradation. Prior to this renewal, the landscape was characterized by smooth colluvial pediments on the north-east facing aspects and relatively steep crusted microhillslopes on south-west facing aspects. First-order valleys within the badland landscape were smooth-floored and filled with silty deposits connected with pediment colluvial deposits. The conditions under which valley bottom deposition was replaced by channel Incision were analyzed by a study of flow hydraulics (magnitude-frequency of eroding events vs. resistance of valley floor to water flow) and the pollen sequence in the recently cut deposits. Changes in the vegetation-carpeting the valley bottom seem to be responsible fur the deposition-erosion alternation rather than changes in the magnitude-frequency of major runoff events, given the high sensitivity of flow hydraulics to changes in roughness. Present rainfall rates would not, on their own, be able to erode a well-vegetated valley bottom. Yet, the pollen sequence in the valley Fills demonstrates a progressive deterioration in climatic conditions with the eventual disappearance of groups that require a constant level of soil moisture (Alnus, Corylus, Cyperaceae), An increase in yearly rainfall or a change in temporal patterns would increase infiltration leading to permanent denser vegetation on footslopes and valley floors, helped by the natural water harvesting system. This vegetation cover would reduce the flow velocity and induce the deposition of the colluvium and valley fills, whereas erosion on headslopes would have been active enough to supply the sediments that were deposited downslope or on the valley bottoms. The reactivation of linear erosion would seem, therefore, to be a consequence of the decay of this permanent vegetation, induced by an increase in the duration or severity of drought periods, which meant that the water storage capacity of the valley fillings was insufficient to support it. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Palacioprieto, J.L., and L.V. Selem, Relative Importance of Modeling Processes in Badland Slopes - an Example in Central Mexico, Zeitschrift Fur Geomorphologie, 34 (3), 301-306, 1990.


Phillips, C.P., The badlands of Italy: a vanishing landscape?, Applied Geography, 18 (3), 243-257, 1998.

The Italian badlands, epitomized by calanchi and biancane, are being reclaimed for agriculture, a process driven by historic agricultural reforms and the European Union Common Agricultural Policy. In certain regions this has occurred to such an extent that they are no longer perceived as inhospitable environments but of intrinsic value to the cultural heritage. Soil analysis indicates high exchangeable sodium percentages and organic matter contents below 2 per cent, resulting in an unstable dispersive clay onto which badlands tend to re-establish. This leads to potentially high rates of erosion following reclamation. By establishing the stability threshold, the potential for reversing reclamation can be assessed and the extent to which badlands are vanishing may be determined, (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phillips, C.P., Reclaiming the erosion susceptible landscape of the Italian badlands for arable cultivation, Land Degradation & Development, 9 (4), 331-346, 1998.

During the last 50 years substantial tracts of the Italian badlands have been reclaimed for arable cultivation. It is a process that involves modelling the degraded clay landscape with bulldozers, often resulting in steep, unstable slopes. This work investigates the stability of reclaimed land in these erosion susceptible environments. Aggregate stability is used to assess the soil's erodibility with the aim of determining those physicochemical properties that govern the potential for erosion. Regression analysis demonstrates that the most significant variables in determining soil erodibility are the percentage of organic matter and the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP). Threshold values of 1-2 per cent organic matter and 15 per cent ESP are presented above and below which, respectively, the soils attain a degree of stability. Reclaimed land is on the borderline of these thresholds and therefore represents a potential erosion hazard. However, the stability of reclaimed land was significantly higher than that of the badland parent material, ascribable to a decline in the ESP. The results are supported by a series of soil crust experiments using simulated rainfall in the laboratory. This investigation has implications for land management and landscape conservation. If the organic matter content of reclaimed land is maintained and the ESP reduced, then, when used in combination with other soil conservation techniques, erosion will be minimized. However, this implies that the badland landscape, and its diverse ecology and morphology, may have been permanently lost to agriculture and, as such, should be recognized as a threatened Mediterranean landscape. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Privitera, M., and M. Puglisi, Bryophyte vegetation of the badlands from the Aspromonte Massif (S Italy), Nova Hedwigia, 69 (1-2), 195-210, 1999.

This paper reports on the results of a phytosociological study regarding the bryophyte communities found in some badlands of the Aspromonte Massif (S Italy). The surveyed bryocenoses are referred to the orders Barbuletalia unguiculatae and Tortulo- Aloinetalia bifrontis belonging to the class Barbuletea unguiculatae. In particular, within the order Barbuletalia unguiculatae the following associations have been recognized: Trichostomo crispuli-Aloinetum aloidis, Didymodonto vinealis- Tortuletum muralis and Crossidio squamiferi-Aloinetum aloidis of the alliance Grimaldion fragrantis, Gymnostomo luisieri- Southbyetum nigrellae belonging to Cephaloziello-Southbyion nigrellae, Selaginello denticulatae-Timmielletum barbuloidis of the alliance Homalothecio aurei-Pleurochaetion squarrosae. The order Tortulo-Aloinetalia bifrontis is represented in the investigated area by the associations Acaulo triquetri- Tortuletum brevissimae, Crossidio crassinervis-Aloinetum aloidis with its subassociations typicum and aschismetosum carniolici, included in the alliance Aloino-Crossidion crassinervis.

Regues, D., G. Pardini, and F. Gallart, Regolith Behavior and Physical-Weathering of Clayey Mudrock As Dependent On Seasonal Weather Conditions in a Badland Area At Vallcebre, Eastern Pyrenees, Catena, 25 (1-4), 199-212, 1995.

Studies on badland areas in the Vallcebre basin (Pyrenees) suggest that erosion rates are controlled by the weathering rate of mudrocks. To obtain the temporal pattern of physical weathering and its control on the erosive processes, monitoring of regolith temperatures at different aspect, depth and lithology, and periodical determination of regolith moisture and bulk density were carried out. Changes in surface regolith have also been monitored by means of photographic techniques, using an especially designed tripod. Finally, the hydrological and erosive response of the regolith trough the seasons were studied using rainfall simulations. The results obtained support and confirm previous knowledge on the role of frost action in mudrock weathering and the role of subsequent regolith development and wetness status on infiltration and runoff generation. These seasonal changes of behaviour are so important that they raise serious questions about the validity of observations or experiments carried out in only one season. This work confirms that erosion processes are controlled by regolith formation during winter and regolith depletion by storm rainfall erosion during summer, spring and early autumn. It also raises important points about annual trends of infiltration and erodibility, that should be used as guidelines for modelling runoff and sediment production.

Regues, D., R. Guardia, and F. Gallart, Geomorphic agents versus vegetation spreading as causes of badland occurrence in a Mediterranean subhumid mountainous area, Catena, 40 (2), 173-187, 2000.

Previous evidence on the chief role of physical weathering on badland development in the Vallcebre area (South Eastern Pyrenees) led to the study of the amounts of energy available for the main geomorphic agents, and to analyze the results in the light of the patterns of vegetation cover acid species distribution, in order to explain both the occurrence of these badland forms and their preference fur north-facing (shady) hillslopes. Results showed that the weathering potential provided by freezing is about two orders of magnitude greater than rainfall kinetic energy, and that the former strongly depends on hillslope aspect. The study of vegetation demonstrated that vegetation is poorer in cover and species composition on shady hillslopes than on sunny ones, spontaneous revegetation of these surfaces being restrained by cold thermal conditions rather than by water availability. These results show that the occurrence of these badland areas depends on montane climatic attributes that control geomorphic and biological processes, and that are different from those that promote the occurrence of badlands in dry Mediterranean areas. The preference for northern aspects provides evidence for these differences. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Retallack, G.J., A Paleopedological Approach to the Interpretation of Terrestrial Sedimentary-Rocks - the Mid-Tertiary Fossil Soils of Badlands-National-Park, South-Dakota, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 94 (7), 823-840, 1983.


Retallack, G.J., Trace Fossils of Burrowing Beetles and Bees in an Oligocene Paleosol, Badlands-National-Park, South-Dakota, Journal of Paleontology, 58 (2), 571-592, 1984.


Ryan, W.B.F., Messinian Badlands On Southeastern Margin of Mediterranean Sea, Marine Geology, 27 (3-4), 349-363, 1978.


Sattaur, O., New Pastures in the South-American Badlands, New Scientist, 118 (1609), 34-34, 1988.


Scarth, A., Badland Geomorphology and Piping - Bryan,R, Yair,a, Geography, 68 (300), 288-288, 1983.


Schumm, S.A., The Role of Creep and Rainwash On the Retreat of Badland Slopes, American Journal of Science, 254 (11), 693-706, 1956.


Schumm, S.A., Evolution of Drainage Systems and Slopes in Badlands At Perth- Amboy, New-Jersey, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 67 (5), 597-&, 1956.


Schumm, S.A., Erosion On Miniature Pediments in Badlands National Monument, South Dakota, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 73 (6), 719-&, 1962.


Sirvent, J., G. Desir, M. Gutierrez, C. Sancho, and G. Benito, Erosion rates in badland areas recorded by collectors, erosion pins and profilometer techniques (Ebro Basin, NE-Spain), Geomorphology, 18 (2), 61-75, 1997.

In badland areas of the Ebro Basin, in a semiarid climate, two erosion plots (257 m(2); 5 degrees slope and 128 m(2); 23 degrees slope) on exposed Tertiary clays were monitored over two years (Nov. 1991-Nov. 1993). This material is characterized by high sodium absorption ratios which lead to high soil dispersivity. The dominant erosion processes in both plots are rilling and sheet erosion. Rainfall intensity was recorded at a weather station, connected to a data-logger, sediment production for single events was collected in tanks, and ground lowering was measured every six months by erosion pins and microtopographic profile gauge techniques. Significant runoff was produced only by rainfall events above 5 mm. Another threshold at 20 mm rain was noted. For rainfalls higher than 20 mm, the 23 degrees slope plot shows a greater runoff response than the 5 degrees one. Rainfall events exceeding this threshold showed a higher sediment production for the steeper slope. In the relationship between precipitation and sediment concentration, an envelope curve can be drawn indicating that any rainfall event of a given amount and intensity has a maximum sediment concentration which we speculate to be a function of the runoff sediment transport capacity. Runoff response and sediment yield in the studied plots are controlled by the rainfall and soil characteristics and their seasonal variations. In both plots, the erosion pins show that erosion rates in rill areas are 25-50% higher than in the interrill areas. Sediment yield recorded by collector devices was higher than the rates measured by erosion pins. The erosion rates based on rill cross-sections by profilometers were higher than the ones recorded by collectors.

Smith, K.G., Slope Analysis of Badlands Topography, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 63 (12), 1299-1299, 1952.


Smith, K.G., Erosional Processes and Landforms in Badlands National Monument, South-Dakota, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 69 (8), 975-&, 1958.


Sole, A., R. Josa, G. Pardini, R. Aringhieri, F. Plana, and F. Gallart, How Mudrock and Soil Physical-Properties Influence Badland Formation At Vallcebre (Pre-Pyrenees, Ne Spain), Catena, 19 (3-4), 287-300, 1992.

Soils, regoliths and their parent materials were investigated in relation to the development of badlands in the Pre-Pyrenees, in NE Spain, on Late Cretaceous mudrocks under a mountain Mediterranean climate. Whilst all the soils in the area which are developed on mudrocks show a good structure and support a dense plant cover, the bare parent materials slake very rapidly giving rise to badlands characterized by high erosion rates. Several physical, chemical, mineralogical and micromorphological properties of soils, regoliths and related parent materials were analyzed in order to explain their different susceptibility to erosion and to determine which of all these properties are better related to such erosive behaviour. Only micromorphological and porosity properties were able to explain the erosion susceptibility, whilst mineralogical, chemical and physico-chemical (specific surface area) properties were not. Among the aggregate stability tests performed to estimate the relationships of soil components with the susceptibility to erosion, the Emerson test for macroaggregate evaluation, was particularly well suited. Although no good correlation was found between the Emerson test classes and organic matter content, we observed that the degree of slaking in organic-rich horizons, was always lower than in subsurface horizons and regoliths. Consequently, as far as organic rich aggregates are present in the soil surface, the influence of water in producing slaking, swelling and then erosion, will be minimum. However, when regoliths and rocks are uncovered, the influence of water in these particular materials, through freeze-drying and swell-shrinking, will give rise to mudrock desintegration leading to accelerated erosion.

Sole-Benet, A., A. Calvo, A. Cerda, R. Lazaro, R. Pini, and J. Barbero, Influences of micro-relief patterns and plant cover on runoff related processes in badlands from Tabernas (SE Spain), Catena, 31 (1-2), 23-38, 1997.

Soil surface morphology, soil thickness and their evolution strongly affect infiltration processes. Badland surfaces are characterised by a substantially low plant cover and a reduced soil development controlled by high erosion rates. In the badlands of Tabernas (Almeria, SE Spain), the soil surface morphology exhibits a marked spatial variability, caused by different processes under moisture and temperature alternations in different slope aspects. Previous studies on the area have revealed the different hydrologic behaviour of North-and South- facing surfaces. In this paper, we go into more detail trying to establish the influences of both micro-relief patterns and plant cover on the hydrological behaviour of sixteen representative soil surfaces from the badlands of Tabernas. Rain simulations at a constant intensity of 55 mm/h have been carried out on 16 circular plots of 0.24 m(2), during 30 min, to evaluate runoff, infiltration, and sediment production parameters. Surface morphology has been evaluated by image analysis of photographs, before and after the simulations; the following parameters have been considered: plant cover and type, length and width of cracks, and stoniness. Surface roughness was determined with a laser profile meter. Runoff and erosion responses have been gathered in three and four groups, respectively, which are related to differences in slope gradient, soil depth and surface morphology. Runoff is positively correlated with slope gradient and negatively correlated with plant cover and total cover. Erosion is negatively correlated with lichen cover, with non-cryptogamic plant cover, with total cover and with surface area occupied by cracks. In some aspects, Tabernas badlands have an hydrological behaviour similar to other badlands described elsewhere (i.e., shallow moisture penetration, short times to runoff, different responses in runoff). However, they are particular in the following: (a) apparent morphological stability after rainfall events of high magnitude and intensity, along with high sediment production associated either from micro-rills that follow open cracks in the regolith, or from overland flow on bare, crusted, silty surfaces; (b) runoff enhancement by surface roughness through the channelling effect of the sealed depressions among pedestals and mounds of crustose lichens. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.

Sutherland, R.A., and R.B. Bryan, Solute Sources and Transport in an Ephemeral Badland Catchment, Southeastern Alberta, Canada, Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 25 (2), 167-181, 1988.


Terry, D.O., and J.E. Evans, Pedogenesis and Paleoclimatic Implications of the Chamberlain Pass Formation, Basal White River Group, Badlands of South- Dakota, Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 110 (3-4), 197-215, 1994.

The Chamberlain Pass Formation is a new lithostratigraphic unit representing the first phase of deposition of the Paleogene White River Group in western South Dakota, Analysis of pedogenic features within the channel and overbank deposits of the Chamberlain Pass Formation allows for a refinement of Middle to Late Eocene paleoclimates of this area. Pedogenic features within distal overbank deposits of the Chamberlain Pass Formation have long been recognized and classified as the Interior Paleosol Series (Retallack, 1983). Previous interpretations held that distal overbank sediments and soils of this time were deposited and formed under humid, acidic environments. This research demonstrates that, while this interpretation is correct, soils of the Chamberlain Pass Formation were also subjected to periods of dryness. Pedogenic features preserved within the channel sandstone and proximal overbank deposits (which include root traces, peds, cutans, glaebules, Bt, Btc and Be horizons, silcretes and altered detrital sandstone mineralogy) suggest the formation of Aqualfs, Aquults and Durixerults. Soils appear to have been acidic to slightly alkaline, oxidizing and moderately-to well- drained, depending upon the physiographic position of the soil and the prevailing climate at the time of formation. Soils formed within the channel and proximal overbank deposits represent a new soil series, herein designated as the Weta Paleosol Series. The Weta and Interior Paleosol Series have a catenary soil relationship, based on differences in parent material and soil moisture conditions. Middle to Late Eocene paleoclimate appears to have fluctuated between humid and dry conditions. Within the Weta Paleosol Series, soils formed within one physiographic and climatic regime were successively overprinted by pedogenic features of soils formed during later periods under different physiographic and climatic regimes. This has resulted in the presence of humid climate soil pedorelicts in dry climate soils, dry climate soil pedorelicts within humid climate soils and the overlapping of various physiographically controlled pedogenic processes as baselevels changed. Sediments of similar pedostratigraphic and lithostratigraphic arrangement can be found in Nebraska, northern South Dakota and North Dakota. The recognition of these similar sediments in different basins across the northern Great Plains may allow for an increased understanding of regional tectonic, depositional, climatic and geomorphic events during the Paleogene.

Thorn, C.E., Badland Geomorphology and Piping - Bryan,R, Yair,a, Canadian Geographer-Geographe Canadien, 27 (4), 385-388, 1983.


Thornes, J.B., S. Wise, and A. Gilman, How Old Are the Badlands - Archeological-Evidence From Se Spain, Journal of the Geological Society, 139 (MAR), 212-212, 1982.


Torri, D., A. Colica, and D. Rockwell, Preliminary-Study of the Erosion Mechanisms in a Biancana Badland (Tuscany, Italy), Catena, 23 (3-4), 281-294, 1994.

Italian badlands are present along the Appennini mountains, with an annual precipitation which ranges from 400 to 1200 mm. The genesis of these badlands has often been studied, whereas current processes and erosion rates have only rarely been examined and measured. This paper describes a preliminary study on a badland developed in temperature mediterranean climate and located in SW Tuscany (Italy). The selected site is characterized by biancane, dome-shaped features a few meters in height, generally having a vegetated NNE aspect and severely eroded SSW slope, with a sub-horizontal basal pediment. Field rainfall and runoff experiments were carried out. Field results were substantiated by data collected in specially devised laboratory tests. It was concluded that near-surface pipes - which develop at the point of contact between a surficial layer of weathered and severely fractured regolith and the less fractured and weathered regolith underneath - are the main drainage channels, while rills play a secondary role. Soil detachment is largely due to mechanical and chemical slaking of the regolith during infiltration. The role of runoff is almost solely transport. In particular, it was found that the runoff detachment rate is limited by the rate at which the water front penetrates into the regolith.

Torri, D., and G. Rodolfi, Badlands in changing environments: an introduction, Catena, 40 (2), 119-125, 2000.


Trefil, J., Paleontology in Wyomings Badlands, Smithsonian, 21 (8), 32-&, 1990.


Vallauri, D., J.L. Grossi, and J.J. Brun, Earthworm communities 120 years after forest restoration of badlands, Comptes Rendus De L Academie Des Sciences Serie Iii-Sciences De La Vie-Life Sciences, 321 (12), 1023-1033, 1998.

One hundred and twenty years after restoration of badlands by reforestation with Pinus nigra Am. ssp. nigra, the analysis of the soils on marls of the Saignon experimental watershed (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) demonstrates the potentialities and the driving forces behind the distribution of earthworms in the main site types. The communities are young, and density and biomass are low to normal (up to 49 individuals and 27 g.m(-1), respectively) for these low productivity pine woods. Two main site-directed trajectories would lead marls to a mixed species association: the first one is initiated by the epi-anecic behaviour of Lumbricus terrestris L. in xeric conditions (south-oriented slope, thin soil); the second is initiated by Octolasion cyaneum Sav. (north-oriented slope). ((C) Academie des sciences / Elsevier, Paris.).

Watzman, H., Hope for the badlands - Salt-resistant plants may help farmers keep deserts at bay (vol 167, pg 9, 2000), New Scientist, 167 (2258), 54-54, 2000.


Watzman, H., Hope for the badlands - Salt-resistant plants may help farmers keep deserts at bay, New Scientist, 167 (2255), 9-9, 2000.


Yair, A., H. Lavee, R.B. Bryan, and E. Adar, Runoff and Erosion Processes and Rates in the Zin-Valley- Badlands, Northern Negev, Israel, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 5 (3), 205-225, 1980.