12 December 2016 1 8K Report

Several theoretical models have been developed to study the coupling between physical and chemical weathering rates. Generally, when the physical erosion rate is extremely high (e.g. >4 mm/yr), the potential increase in chemical weathering rate due to the exposure of fresher materials is offset by the decrease in regolith thickness, therefore chemical weathering rates may decline (Ferrier and Kirchner, 2008, EPSL; Gabet and Mudd, 2008, Geology). By contrast, in landslide-dominated landscapes, there may be a positive relationship between chemical weathering and physical erosion even if the erosion rate is extremely high (e.g. >5 mm/yr), because of the particularly frequent exposure of fresh minerals (Gabet, 2007, EPSL). This is also proved by a case study on an active mountain belt, New Zealand (Emberson et al., 2015, Nat. Geosci.).

Hence, Is there always an anti-correlation between physical erosion and chemical weathering when the denudation rate is extremely high? Or the frequent landslides in certain geological settings may change this kind of relationship?

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