The International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG) Working Group on Denudation and Environmental Changes in Different Morphoclimatic Zones (DENUCHANGE): Scientific need, research objective, key activities and products

Abstract

Abstract Denudation, including both chemical and mechanical processes, is of high relevance for Earth surface and landscape development and the transfer of solutes and sediments from headwater systems through main stem of drainage basin systems to the world oceans. The better understanding of possible effects of ongoing and accelerated environmental changes on present-day denudation requires systematic and quantitative studies on the actual drivers of denudational processes in differentiated landscape controls. Only if we have an improved knowledge of drivers, mechanisms and rates of contemporary denudational processes across a range of different selected climatic environments, possible effects of global environmental changes on denudation can be better assessed. However, a systematic geomorphologic comparison of present-day denudation rates in different defined climatic zones combined with a coordinated analysis and compilation of the respective key controls of denudation that is presently occurring in clearly defined drainage basin systems in the different selected morphoclimatic settings is still largely missing. The International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG) Working Group on Denudation and Environmental Changes in Different Morphoclimatic Zones (DENUCHANGE) is since 2017 helping to close this still existing knowledge gap and contributes to a better understanding of the possible effects of global environmental changes on contemporary Earth surface systems.