Abstract.A large part of Central Jordan is drained by the Wadi el-Mujib basin. This river developed a deep canyon through the Moab plateau, the eastern shoulder of the Dead Sea Rift. Intense subsidence of the base level at the Dead Sea is the main cause for the high rate of Pliocene/Pleistocene fluvial incision along the lower reaches of the Mujib basin. During this phase of accelerated incision the wadis were submitted to the presence of a dense fault net in the canyon area. The directions of the thalwegs correspond well with the apparent directions of the faults, indicating that fluvial incision occurred preferentially along tectonic lines characterized by rock weakness and discontinuity. Major convex knickpoints along the longitudinal profiles are caused by normal fault movement or due to the delay in headward erosion with respect to the main or local base level. Minor knickpoints correspond usually to differences in rock resistance. Climatic changes seem to be the principal cause for several types of Pleistocene deposits in the canyon but tectonic influence often played an additional role. Flash floods drive the principal incision events that result in effective erosion in the present dry semi-arid climate.
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