Epigenetic gorges in fluvial landscapes

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

OUIMET, W.B.

Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, Etats-Unis

WHIPPLE, K.X.

School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State Univ., Tempe, Etats-Unis

CROSBY, B.T.

Dept. of Geosciences, Idaho State Univ., Pocatello, Etats-Unis

JOHNSON, J.P.

Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, Etats-Unis

SCHILDGEN, T.F.

Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, Etats-Unis

Description :
The formation of epigenetic gorges depends upon the competition between the resistance to transport, strength and roughness of valley-filling sediments and a river's ability to sculpt and incise bedrock. The AA. begin by introducing conceptual models for the formation of epigenic gorges in relation to landslides and fluvial aggradation. They support these models and highlight the prevalence of epigenetic gorges in actively incising landscapes by discussing examples from around the world, in rivers that drain the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau, Peruvian Andes, Colorado Plateau and North Island of New Zealand. Motivated by these examples, they discuss the dynamics involved in epigenetic gorge formation, as well as their significance and implications in the context of studying the rates and processes of bedrock river incision and landscape evolution.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2008, vol. 33, n°. 13, p. 1993-2009, nombre de pages : 17, Références bibliographiques : 41 ref.

Date :
2008

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley

Langue :
Anglais