{rfName}
St

Indexed in

Altmetrics

Analysis of institutional authors

Lopez-Martinez, JeronimoAuthor

Share

December 11, 2025
Publications
>
Article
No

Stream channel morphology and water flow in ice-free areas of Byers Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica

Publicated to: Geomorphology. 494 110101- - 2026-02-01 494(), DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.110101

Authors:

Ortega-Becerril, Jose Antonio; Schmid, Thomas; Corella, Juan Pablo; Carcavilla, Luis; Calle, Mikel; Lopez-Martinez, Jeronimo
[+]

Affiliations

CSIC, Museo Nacl Ciencias Nat, Serrano 115 Bis, Madrid 28006, Spain - Author
Ctr Invest Energet Medioambientales & Tecnol, Dept Environm, Ave Complutense 40, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
Inst Geol & Minero Espana IGME CSIC, Calera 1, Madrid 28760, Spain - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Fac Ciencias, Campus Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain - Author
Univ Complutense Madrid, Fac Ciencias Geol, C Jose Antonio Novais,12,Ciudad Univ, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
Univ Turku, Geog & Geol Dept, FI-20014 Turku, Finland - Author
See more

Abstract

Fluvial stream channels in Antarctic ice-free areas provide valuable insights into deglaciation/neoglaciation, and the pace of morphogenetic processes shaping the landscape. The northern Antarctic Peninsula, particularly the South Shetland Islands, offers unique conditions for such studies due to extensive ice-free zones, glacial history, and rapidly changing environments. This research focuses on Byers Peninsula (BP), the largest ice-free area of the archipelago, characterized by a well-developed drainage system previously studied and mapped. This paper expands knowledge of channel development, water flow, and related morphologies, relevant for understanding other ice-free Antarctic regions. Morphometric analyses were conducted on 26 streams, alongside evaluation of channel equilibrium in three selected watersheds. Water flow was monitored for two years in two streams using data loggers, with complementary field data from a third. Seven morphotypes were distinguished within a theoretical watershed, including diffuse drainage, platform lakes, braided systems, canyons, cutting raised platforms, open braided channels, entrenched channels on raised beaches, lagoons and/or small fans. Results highlight significant variability in channel size and hydraulic properties across sub-basins. Southern BP streams reveal higher fluvial energy, while Western streams, draining larger basins with higher stream orders, display more advanced fluvial development and concentrate the main systems of the region. Basin orientation, glacier proximity, and topography emerged as key factors shaping channel dimensions, while glacial lake outburst floods strongly influenced morphology and sediment dynamics. The presence of paired morphometrically similar channels on North and South coasts supports a stepwise west-east retreat of Rotch Dome Glacier, marked by stagnation phases producing mature channels and rapid retreats yielding less developed systems.
[+]

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Geomorphology due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2026, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Earth-Surface Processes.

[+]

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-24:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 2 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

[+]

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Finland.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Ortega-Becerril, Jose Antonio) and Last Author (LOPEZ MARTINEZ, JERONIMO).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been Ortega-Becerril, Jose Antonio.

[+]

Awards linked to the item

This work was supported by the Projects RTI2018-098099-B-I00 and PID2021-125778OB-I00 of the Spanish R & D National Plan. The authors acknowledge the logistic support provided by the National Antarctic Program of Spain.
[+]