Abstract: With steady development of mathematical-physical models and computer technology, numerous methods of topographic simulation have emerged during the past decades. A major challenge in the modeling is how to accurately and efficiently describe processes of surface erosion at different spatial scales. This review focuses on the physical processes controlling surface erosion, including river erosion and hillslope erosion. Four popular models of topographic simulation (CASCADE, CHILD, FastScape and DAC models)and their applications are presented. Although these models have become more sophisticated in recent years, there are still some issues unsolved regarding the basics of the physical erosion processes. For example, some factors have not been taken into account, such as the impacts of changes in grain size and sediment budget during transportation on river erosion and the measurements of the rock erodibilities for various lithologies. Moreover, there is no topographic index that can be used to evaluate the modeling results. Therefore, it would be helpful to combine the models of topographic simulation with other numerical models, e.g. the low-temperature thermochronometric data modeling, to provide better constraints on the terrain modeling.

Key words: Topographic evolution model, tectonic uplift, river erosion, hillslope erosion

摘要： 随着数学物理模型和计算机技术的不断发展，各种地形模拟手段也层出不穷。在地形模拟中1个重要的问题就是如何更为精确而高效地模拟不同空间尺度下的地表侵蚀过程。文中从控制地表侵蚀的物理过程入手，包括河流侵蚀过程和坡面侵蚀过程，介绍几种目前比较流行的地形模拟模型，包括CASCADE、CHILD、FastScape以及DAC模型，探讨各种方法的异同点以及相关应用实例，最后指出尽管目前地形模拟方法得到了较大发展，但是仍然存在着一些问题。例如，在目前的模型中都尚未考虑沉积物在搬运过程中颗粒大小的变化、沉积物总量的变化以及研究区岩性的不均一性；另外，目前对于模拟结果的验证也缺乏相关地形参数衡量。因此，将地形模拟和其他模拟方法，包括低温热年代学数据模拟结合起来，对于更好地约束地形演化模拟结果具有重要意义。

关键词: 地形演化模型, 构造抬升, 河流侵蚀, 坡面侵蚀