Climatically controlled river terrace staircases: A worldwide Quaternary phenomenon

Bridgland, David R.; Westaway, Rob

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.12.032

Cited by 472 publications

(335 citation statements)

References 128 publications

(176 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

304

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The factors behind changes in the fluvial dynamic associated with sediment deposition, terrace abandonment and subsequent incision may be complex because of the interplay of tectonics and climate (e.g., Pazzaglia et al, 1998;Burbank and Anderson, 2001;Formento-Trigilio et al, 2002;Pan et al, 2009). Globally compiled fluvial records indicate that terrace formation is primarily a consequence of tectonic uplift combined with cyclic climate (e.g., Bridgland and Westaway, 2008;Westaway et al, 2009). The cyclic glaciations of the Quaternary have played an important role in triggering sediment generation and water discharge (e.g., Hancock and Anderson, 2002;FormentoTrigilio et al, 2002;Wang et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The cyclic glaciations of the Quaternary have played an important role in triggering sediment generation and water discharge (e.g., Hancock and Anderson, 2002;FormentoTrigilio et al, 2002;Wang et al, 2009). Tectonic uplift causes relative base level lowering that is an important precondition of terrace incision and preservation (e.g., Bridgland and Westaway, 2008;Vandenberghe et al, 2011). Without relative uplift, fluvial sediments rather form stacked or over-and onlapping deposits as observed, for example, in sedimentary basins (Vandenberghe et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Rates of river incision across the main tectonic units of the Pamir identified using optically stimulated luminescence dating of fluvial terraces

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Calculated incision rates along the Panj, the main river of the Pamir, are used to investigate any influence by tectonics or climate on the architecture of the river. The depositional ages of Panj river terraces were calculated using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of terrace sand. Fluvial incision rates were generated by integrating the terrace depositional ages with accurate kinematic GPS measurements of terrace heights above the modern Panj. We investigated 16 terraces along the Panj at the western Pamir margin and one terrace from the Vakhsh River to the north of the Pamir. The results reveal brief periods of fluvial deposition over the past 26 kyr. The oldest Panj terrace depositional ages coincide with early MIS 2 and MIS 2/1 glaciations on the Pamir Plateau. Younger terrace ages have no apparent link with glacial cycles. Terraces with varying heights above the modern Panj at different localities yielded similar depositional ages. This suggests that local conditions have determined fluvial incision rates. Combining all of the terrace measurements, the average incision rate of the Panj over the last 26 kyr has been ∼5.6 mm/yr. A high mean incision rate of ∼7.3 mm/yr was calculated from terraces where the Panj has cut a steep-sided valley through the Shakhdara Dome. Significantly lower incision rates (∼2 -3 mm/yr) were calculated from terraces where the Panj flows along the southern boundaries of the Shakhdara and Yazgulom domes. At those localities, graded segments of the Panj river profile and increased valley widths are indicative of local base levels. Downstream of the Yazgulom Dome, river incision rates are generally lower (∼4 -5 mm/yr) than the Panj average. However, there is one exception where higher incision rates (∼6 mm/yr) were calculated upstream of the Darvaz Fault Zone, a major tectonic feature that forms the western boundary of the Pamir. The Vakhsh river terrace to the north of the Pamir yielded a lower incision rate (∼3 mm/yr) compared to the Panj average. Variation in incision rates along the Panj does not correspond to changes in rock type or river catchment area. Instead, incision rates appear to have been primarily influenced by river capture across the southern and central metamorphic domes of the Pamir. Wherever the Panj cuts these domes it displays a convex river profile. The combination of localized river profile convexity and changes in incision rates across the Pamir domes indicates that the dome boundaries have been active recently.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rates of river incision across the main tectonic units of the Pamir identified using optically stimulated luminescence dating of fluvial terraces

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In this sense, the Miño River system is very different from many other river systems in the world, where climate change is a major driver for terrace formation and base level has a less prominent (but still important) influence (Bridgland & Westaway, 2008a). Tectonic uplift is becoming more and more accepted as another important driver for terrace preservation (Bridgland & Westaway, 2008b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Incision can be caused by changes in the ratio sediment load: water discharge, which is normally a climatically induced change (e.g. Starkel, 2003); or because of changes in base level, induced by either sea level changes or tectonic uplift (Bridgland & Westaway, 2008a). Tectonic uplift is considered a prerequisite in preserving terraces above the current river bed (Maddy, 1997;Viveen et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because river terraces can be formed by a variety of regional or even global factors (climate changes, tectonics), they are often used to assess the importance of these factors on landscape formation (Bridgland & Westaway, 2008a). Studies of river terrace formation usually involve a plethora of research techniques (Stokes, Cunha, & Martins, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Fluvial terraces of the northwest Iberian lower Miño River

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A new fluvial terrace map with a tectonic framework for the northwest Iberian lower Miño River is presented. It is the first integrated map to cover the entire lower, 67-km reach of the Miño River, and to cover both the Spanish and Portuguese side of the river. The map is presented at a scale of 1:200,000, although its features were mapped at a scale of 1:5000. Various map layers can be viewed, such as a digital elevation model (DEM), fluvial sediment thickness layers, a palaeoflow direction layer, a lineament and fault layer, and two terrace and tectonic basin layers, showing up to 10 fluvial terraces and a floodplain level. Interpretation of the map shows that next to regional tectonic uplift and glacioeustacy, local basin subsidence and small-scale block movement are very important for the fluvial network, localised fluvial terrace formation, and preservation.

show abstract

Numerical model predictions of autogenic fluvial terraces and comparison to climate change expectations

Limaye

Lamb

2016

JGR Earth Surface

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Terraces eroded into sediment (alluvial) and bedrock (strath) preserve an important history of river activity. River terraces are thought to form when a river switches from a period of slow vertical incision and valley widening to fast vertical incision and terrace abandonment. Consequently, terraces are often interpreted to reflect changing external drivers including tectonics, sea level, and climate. In contrast, the intrinsic unsteadiness of lateral migration in rivers may generate terraces even under constant rates of vertical incision without external forcing. To explore this mechanism, we simulate landscape evolution by a vertically incising, meandering river and isolate the age and geometry of autogenic river terraces. Modeled autogenic terraces form for a wide range of lateral and vertical incision rates and are often paired and longitudinally extensive for intermediate ratios of vertical-to-lateral erosion rate. Autogenic terraces have a characteristic reoccurrence time that scales with the time for relief generation. There is a preservation bias against older terraces due to reworking of previously visited parts of the valley. Evolving, spatial differences in bank strength between bedrock and sediment reduce terrace formation frequency and length, favor pairing, and can explain sublinear terrace margins at valley boundaries. Age differences and geometries for modeled autogenic terraces are consistent, in cases, with natural terraces and overlap with metrics commonly attributed to terrace formation due to climate change. We suggest a new phase space of terrace properties that may allow differentiation of autogenic terraces from terraces formed by external drivers.

show abstract

Climatically controlled river terrace staircases: A worldwide Quaternary phenomenon

Cited by 472 publications

References 128 publications

Rates of river incision across the main tectonic units of the Pamir identified using optically stimulated luminescence dating of fluvial terraces

Rates of river incision across the main tectonic units of the Pamir identified using optically stimulated luminescence dating of fluvial terraces

Fluvial terraces of the northwest Iberian lower Miño River

Numerical model predictions of autogenic fluvial terraces and comparison to climate change expectations

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About