Stroosnijder (2005) indicates that the use of erosion pins at the hillslope
scale is a suitable “change in surface elevation” method to assess
erosion by water as well as wind. During summer 2012 there was a period of several weeks of negligible precipitation (ranging from zero to
3 mm per week), yet measurable change was recorded at interfluve,
sidewall, and channel pins, with average erosion ranging from 2 mm
to 13.5 mm per week The highest values were for channel pins during
a week with short but intense rainfall events, and average erosion for
sidewalls and interfluves was much less (2–4 mm) with individual pin
measurements ranging from negative values (indicating deposition)
to 9 mm. In particular, sidewall pins experienced both erosion and deposition,
suggesting that wind and gravity related processes (perhaps
associated with needle ice formation during winter and spring freezethaw
events) may be important lagged catalysts for later erosion. The
nature of this relationship is addressed in a separate research project
in the same study area