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How to Make a Barranco: Modeling Erosion and Land-Use in Mediterranean Landscapes

Author

Listed:
  • C. Michael Barton

    (School of Human Evolution & Social Change and Center for Social Dynamics & Complexity, PO Box 872402 SHESC, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA)

  • Isaac Ullah

    (School of Human Evolution & Social Change and Center for Social Dynamics & Complexity, PO Box 872402 SHESC, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Arjun Heimsath

    (School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE), Arizona State University, PO Box 876004, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

We use the hybrid modeling laboratory of the Mediterranean Landscape Dynamics (MedLanD) Project to simulate barranco incision in eastern Spain under different scenarios of natural and human environmental change. We carry out a series of modeling experiments set in the Rio Penaguila valley of northern Alicante Province. The MedLanD Modeling Laboratory (MML) is able to realistically simulate gullying and incision in a multi-dimensional, spatially explicit virtual landscape. We first compare erosion modeled in wooded and denuded landscapes in the absence of human land-use. We then introduce simulated small-holder (e.g., prehistoric Neolithic) farmer/herders in six experiments, by varying community size (small, medium, large) and land management strategy (satisficing and maximizing). We compare the amount and location of erosion under natural and anthropogenic conditions. Natural (e.g., climatically induced) land-cover change produces a distinctly different signature of landscape evolution than does land-cover change produced by agropastoral land-use. Human land-use induces increased coupling between hillslopes and channels, resulting in increased downstream incision.

Suggested Citation

  • C. Michael Barton & Isaac Ullah & Arjun Heimsath, 2015. "How to Make a Barranco: Modeling Erosion and Land-Use in Mediterranean Landscapes," Land, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-29, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:4:y:2015:i:3:p:578-606:d:52581
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Barton, C. Michael & Ullah, Isaac I.T. & Bergin, Sean M. & Mitasova, Helena & Sarjoughian, Hessam, 2012. "Looking for the future in the past: Long-term change in socioecological systems," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 241(C), pages 42-53.
    2. Joan Bernabeu & Oreto García Puchol & Salvador Pardo & Michael Barton & Sarah B. McClure, 2014. "AEA 2012 Conference Reading: Socioecological dynamics at the time of Neolithic transition in Iberia," Environmental Archaeology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(3), pages 214-225, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. James D. A. Millington & John Wainwright, 2016. "Comparative Approaches for Innovation in Agent-Based Modelling of Landscape Change," Land, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-4, May.
    2. Gerrit Günther & Thomas Clemen & Rainer Duttmann & Brigitta Schütt & Daniel Knitter, 2021. "Of Animal Husbandry and Food Production—A First Step towards a Modular Agent-Based Modelling Platform for Socio-Ecological Dynamics," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-25, December.

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