Influence of Digital Elevation Model Resolution on the Normalized Stream Length–Gradient Index in Intraplate Regions: A Case Study of the Yangsan Fault, Korea
The spatial variability of input parameters plays a crucial role in the interpretation of geomorphic indices, with digital elevation models (DEMs) being the primary data source. However, the influence of DEM resolution on these indices has rarely been investigated. This study investigated the influe...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Remote Sensing |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/9/1638 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850030285682376704 |
|---|---|
| author | Hyunjee Lim Sangmin Ha Sohee Kim Hee-Cheol Kang Moon Son |
| author_facet | Hyunjee Lim Sangmin Ha Sohee Kim Hee-Cheol Kang Moon Son |
| author_sort | Hyunjee Lim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The spatial variability of input parameters plays a crucial role in the interpretation of geomorphic indices, with digital elevation models (DEMs) being the primary data source. However, the influence of DEM resolution on these indices has rarely been investigated. This study investigated the influence of DEM resolution on the assessment of tectonic activity using the normalized stream length–gradient (SLk) index, which reflects variations along river profiles. The SLk index is sensitive to changes in river gradients that may result from active faulting or differential uplift, making it a valuable tool for identifying zones of active tectonic deformation. Therefore, understanding the impact of DEM resolution on SLk analysis is critical for accurately detecting and interpreting subtle tectonic signals, particularly in intraplate regions where deformation is slow and geomorphic expressions are faint and discontinuous. By comparing high-resolution LiDAR-derived DEMs (L-DEMs) and low-resolution topographic map-derived DEMs (T-DEMs), we analyzed the SLk index distributions along the Yangsan Fault, Korean Peninsula, an intraplate setting with Quaternary activity. According to the results, SLk anomalies derived from L-DEMs had a continuous distribution along the fault, closely aligning with known surface ruptures and indicating active tectonic deformation. In contrast, SLk anomalies derived from T-DEMs were sporadic and less continuous, especially in low-relief landscapes such as alluvial fans and floodplains, highlighting the limitations of T-DEMs in detecting fault-related features. High-resolution DEMs were better able to capture finer-scale geomorphic features, such as fault scarps, deflected streams, and lineaments associated with active tectonics, providing a more comprehensive view of fault-related deformation. This discrepancy highlights the importance of resolution choice in tectonic assessments, as low-resolution DEMs may underestimate the tectonic activities of intraplate faults by missing subtle topographic variations. While the choice of DEM resolution may depend on study area, scope, and data availability, high-resolution DEMs are critical for identifying tectonic activity in intraplate regions where geomorphic features of faulting due to slow deformation are subtle and dispersed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a48ee6032af441a68cf6ec2d180c7316 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj-art-a48ee6032af441a68cf6ec2d180c73162025-08-20T02:59:15ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-05-01179163810.3390/rs17091638Influence of Digital Elevation Model Resolution on the Normalized Stream Length–Gradient Index in Intraplate Regions: A Case Study of the Yangsan Fault, KoreaHyunjee Lim0Sangmin Ha1Sohee Kim2Hee-Cheol Kang3Moon Son4Department of Geological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Geography Education, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Geological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Geological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Geological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of KoreaThe spatial variability of input parameters plays a crucial role in the interpretation of geomorphic indices, with digital elevation models (DEMs) being the primary data source. However, the influence of DEM resolution on these indices has rarely been investigated. This study investigated the influence of DEM resolution on the assessment of tectonic activity using the normalized stream length–gradient (SLk) index, which reflects variations along river profiles. The SLk index is sensitive to changes in river gradients that may result from active faulting or differential uplift, making it a valuable tool for identifying zones of active tectonic deformation. Therefore, understanding the impact of DEM resolution on SLk analysis is critical for accurately detecting and interpreting subtle tectonic signals, particularly in intraplate regions where deformation is slow and geomorphic expressions are faint and discontinuous. By comparing high-resolution LiDAR-derived DEMs (L-DEMs) and low-resolution topographic map-derived DEMs (T-DEMs), we analyzed the SLk index distributions along the Yangsan Fault, Korean Peninsula, an intraplate setting with Quaternary activity. According to the results, SLk anomalies derived from L-DEMs had a continuous distribution along the fault, closely aligning with known surface ruptures and indicating active tectonic deformation. In contrast, SLk anomalies derived from T-DEMs were sporadic and less continuous, especially in low-relief landscapes such as alluvial fans and floodplains, highlighting the limitations of T-DEMs in detecting fault-related features. High-resolution DEMs were better able to capture finer-scale geomorphic features, such as fault scarps, deflected streams, and lineaments associated with active tectonics, providing a more comprehensive view of fault-related deformation. This discrepancy highlights the importance of resolution choice in tectonic assessments, as low-resolution DEMs may underestimate the tectonic activities of intraplate faults by missing subtle topographic variations. While the choice of DEM resolution may depend on study area, scope, and data availability, high-resolution DEMs are critical for identifying tectonic activity in intraplate regions where geomorphic features of faulting due to slow deformation are subtle and dispersed.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/9/1638geomorphic indexSLk indexactive faultDEM resolutionYangsan Fault |
| spellingShingle | Hyunjee Lim Sangmin Ha Sohee Kim Hee-Cheol Kang Moon Son Influence of Digital Elevation Model Resolution on the Normalized Stream Length–Gradient Index in Intraplate Regions: A Case Study of the Yangsan Fault, Korea Remote Sensing geomorphic index SLk index active fault DEM resolution Yangsan Fault |
| title | Influence of Digital Elevation Model Resolution on the Normalized Stream Length–Gradient Index in Intraplate Regions: A Case Study of the Yangsan Fault, Korea |
| title_full | Influence of Digital Elevation Model Resolution on the Normalized Stream Length–Gradient Index in Intraplate Regions: A Case Study of the Yangsan Fault, Korea |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Digital Elevation Model Resolution on the Normalized Stream Length–Gradient Index in Intraplate Regions: A Case Study of the Yangsan Fault, Korea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Digital Elevation Model Resolution on the Normalized Stream Length–Gradient Index in Intraplate Regions: A Case Study of the Yangsan Fault, Korea |
| title_short | Influence of Digital Elevation Model Resolution on the Normalized Stream Length–Gradient Index in Intraplate Regions: A Case Study of the Yangsan Fault, Korea |
| title_sort | influence of digital elevation model resolution on the normalized stream length gradient index in intraplate regions a case study of the yangsan fault korea |
| topic | geomorphic index SLk index active fault DEM resolution Yangsan Fault |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/9/1638 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hyunjeelim influenceofdigitalelevationmodelresolutiononthenormalizedstreamlengthgradientindexinintraplateregionsacasestudyoftheyangsanfaultkorea AT sangminha influenceofdigitalelevationmodelresolutiononthenormalizedstreamlengthgradientindexinintraplateregionsacasestudyoftheyangsanfaultkorea AT soheekim influenceofdigitalelevationmodelresolutiononthenormalizedstreamlengthgradientindexinintraplateregionsacasestudyoftheyangsanfaultkorea AT heecheolkang influenceofdigitalelevationmodelresolutiononthenormalizedstreamlengthgradientindexinintraplateregionsacasestudyoftheyangsanfaultkorea AT moonson influenceofdigitalelevationmodelresolutiononthenormalizedstreamlengthgradientindexinintraplateregionsacasestudyoftheyangsanfaultkorea |