A Hypsometric-Energetic Framework for Identifying Gully-Initiation Belts in Low-Permeability Catchments

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Abstract
The formation and development of gullies are pervasive drivers of hillslope degradation, yet forecasting where and at what elevation gullies begin remains challenging. This study proposes a morphometric–energetic framework to anticipate gully-initiation zones in catchments developed on low-permeability lithologies and limited tectonic control across contrasting climatic and geomorphic settings. Using GIS analyses and morphometric parameters, with some derived from hypsometric curves, our objective is to link basin-scale morphology and energy distribution to the propensity for linear incision, thereby defining a statistically representative initiation belt and stream network positions most susceptible to gully initiation. The study results show that the altitudinal range most susceptible to gully development is at the mean basin’s elevation, and that this range can be associated with an energy potential (Şen’s “Energy Index”) similar to those used to calculate hydroelectric potential in a river basin. Furthermore, the study highlights that the contributing area required to activate these erosive processes varies within fairly narrow limits, between 1 and 3 ha. The framework is designed to be quantitative, transferable among landscapes, and parsimonious in data requirements, even if applicable, as mentioned, in basins with low-permeability lithology and limited tectonic control, and as a first-level predictive tool. By prioritizing diagnostics that can be computed from standard topographic datasets, the approach aims to support land-use planning and sediment-risk mitigation, offering a practical pathway for early identification and management of areas vulnerable to gullying.

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