Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Feedbacks Among Climate, Soils, Vegetation, And Erosion Drive Valley Asymmetry Development In The Mountains Of Central Idaho, Michael John Poulos

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Aspect has long been recognized as a significant source of landscape variability, which is induced by the orientation of land surfaces relative to solar incidence. Insolation differences on opposing aspects (e.g., north and south-facing slopes) act as localized climatic perturbations, altering surface energy balances and temperatures. Over shorter timescales, aspect-induced changes to the energy balance alter snow pack dynamics, soil water input rates and seasonality, and plant available water and water stress. Over longer timescales, aspect-induced insolation variability affects bedrock weathering rates and depths, soil and regolith development, vegetation type and density, erosion rates and processes, and ultimately hillslope and …