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Abstract |
Mountain trail erosion is one of the geomorphological phenomena, which is generally caused by surface water and human trampling. Mountain trail erosion is one of the most serious problems in many national parks of Japan. Such examples are observed on trails in Mt. Rausu-take (Shiretoko National Park), Mt. Rishiri-san (Rishiri Rebun Sarobetsu National Park), Mt. Daisetsuzan (Daisetsuzan National Park), and Mt. Miyanoura-take (Yakushima National Park). Volcanic ashes cover trails in most of these mountains, and snow remains until the time when many trekkers come. For these reasons, trails in these mountains are eroded rapidly and deeply. Therefore, it is important to conduct studies to predict further erosion. Mountain trail erosion has been traditionally studied by surveying cross-sectional changes at certain sites. The method of surveying cross section can be conducted quickly and simply for park managers to understand changing magnitudes of mountain trail erosion for a long period. In Japan, this method has been used mainly in Daisetsuzan National Park, and numerous data have been already accumulated in some trails. However, magnitudes of mountain trail erosion are understood in just two dimensions by this method. Furthermore, the largest limitation of this method is that the eroded/deposited area is understood only at the measured sites and does not produce the eroded/deposited volume of the entire trail segment with a certain length, which is more important for trail management. This study, conducted in Daisetsuzan National Park (DNP), Japans largest national park, has three objectives: (1) to show digital elevation models (DEMs) of the mountain trails including the surrounding ground surface, and to estimate the change of the eroded volume from 2014 to 2021; (2) to predict further erosion in the near future; and (3) to understand a relationship between the trail erosion and the number of trekkers. |
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