Streambed investigations in a small mountain catchment

“…In the Upper Wye and Severn Rivers in the UK, Newson and Harrison (1978) similarly identified boulder steps caused by small gradient changes, and bedrock steps where bedrock protrusions form a natural dam which is then emphasized by boulders. O'Loughlin (1969) stressed the inherent stability of step pool systems by noting the growth of moss and lichen on boulder surfaces in the steep upper reaches of a New Zealand catchment. The largest flood in 10 years failed to cause any marked changes in the stream bed.…”

Section: Mechanics Of Tumbling Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They have been reported in humid streams (O'Loughlin, 1969;Hayward, 1978Hayward, , 1980Newson and Harrison, 1978) and arid desert fluvial systems (Wertz, 1966;Clarke and Hansen, 1988). In some cases, the boulders in step pool streams are remnants of former glacial processes (Newson and Harrison, 1978;Newson, 1981).…”

mentioning

confidence: 95%

Step pools in stream channels

Chin

1989

Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment

123

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Steps and pools are the characteristic bedforms which dominate the channel morphology of steep mountain streams. However, such steps and pools have received less attention in fluvial geomorphological research than pools and riffles. In the absence of sufficient published research on step pools, there may have been a tendency to assume that they are very similar to pool riffle sequences.Step pool morphology, different from pool riffle forms, characterizes mountain areas which cover a sizable portion of the earth's surface (Graf, 1988: 175). Because mountain areas are sources for the water and sediment of large downstream basins, the enhanced understanding of step pools is critical in explaining the operation of the general fluvial system. Present literature is widely scattered and has originated from different intellectual sources. There are three major groups of studies. The first is a body of engineering literature concerned particularly with the mechanics of tumbling flow resulting from the step pool configuration. The second is a group of catchment studies that demonstrates the hydrologic significance of step pools in mountain streams. The third is a small but growing body of literature that ties together the previous two groups of studies and focuses on channel processes and step pool formation. This third group includes studies of vegetative debris and log steps.This paper synthesizes the literature on step pools, with particular reference to theory construction and explanatory models. The paper proceeds from a discussion of the fundamental aspects of step pools to a clarification of terminology. The paper then reviews the contributions made by the three groups of studies, followed by suggestions for areas of future research.

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“…Studies of sediment transport and behaviour (O'Loughlin, 1969;Hayward, 1979;Griffiths, 1980Griffiths, , 1981 also strongly indicate the episodic behaviour in time and space of steepland fluvial systems, as was suggested by Schumm (1977). Such a range of phenomena, episodic at different scales, can be integrated conceptually as is shown by Burns and Tonkin (1982) in the Colorado Front Range.…”

Section: Mountain Structure and Sculpture In New Zealandmentioning

confidence: 83%

Stability and Instability of Ecological Systems in New Zealand Mountains

O'Connor¹

1984

Mountain Research and Development

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Streambed investigations in a small mountain catchment

Cited by 14 publications

References 5 publications

The self-organization of step-pools in mountain streams

The self-organization of step-pools in mountain streams

Step pools in stream channels

Stability and Instability of Ecological Systems in New Zealand Mountains

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