The Earth's surface is shaped by tectonics and climate. This simple statement implies that we should, in principle, be able to use the landscape as an archive of both tectonic rates changes climate regime. To solve this inverse problem, decipher geomorphic record effectively, need a sound understanding how landscapes respond erode response or climatic boundary conditions. Rivers have been major focus research field because they are patently sensitive forcing via their channel gradient...

The rate at which transient knickpoints propagate through a landscape fundamentally controls the of geomorphic response to tectonic and climatic perturbation. Here we present knickpoint retreat rates upstream active faults for 19 bedrock catchments in Turkey 11 Italy where have very good constraints on both magnitude timing perturbation climate histories are well documented. We show that average between 0.2 2 mm/yr with drainage areas 6 65 km test whether differences rock mass strength...

Research Article| February 01, 2007 Bedrock channel adjustment to tectonic forcing: Implications for predicting river incision rates Alexander C. Whittaker; Whittaker 1Grant Institute of Earth Science, School GeoSciences, University Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW, Scotland, UK Search other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Patience A. Cowie; Cowie Mikaël Attal; Attal Gregory E. Tucker; Tucker 2Cooperative in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) and Department Geological...

Channel geometry exerts a fundamental control on fluvial processes. Recent work has shown that bedrock channel width depends number of parameters, including slope, and is not solely function drainage area as commonly assumed. The present represents the first attempt to investigate consequences dynamic, gradient‐sensitive adjustment for drainage‐basin evolution. We use Channel‐Hillslope Integrated Landscape Development (CHILD) model analyze response catchment given tectonic perturbation,...

ABSTRACT Changes to the tectonic boundary conditions governing erosional dynamics in upland catchments have a significant effect on nature and magnitude of sediment supply neighbouring basins. While these links been explored detail by numerical models landscape evolution, there has relatively little work quantify timing, characteristics locus release from response changing that are well‐constrained independently. We address this challenge quantifying volume granulometric exported modern...

The transient response of bedrock rivers to a drop in base level can be used discriminate between competing fluvial erosion models. However, some recent studies conclude that river long profiles approximately characterized by transport‐limited model, while other authors suggest detachment‐limited model best explains their field data. difference is thought due the relative volume sediment being fluxed through system. Using pragmatic approach, we address this debate testing ability end‐member...

Abstract Although the stratigraphy of sedimentary basins depends on balance between magnitude and grain‐size characteristics sediment supply ( Q s ) spatial distribution tectonic subsidence generating accommodation σ( x ), is problematical to measure in present‐day routing systems formidably difficult predict their ancient counterparts. This challenge was tackled by treating discharge from outlet mountain catchments as result incision a drainage network with bulk diffusivity based length...

Abstract The volumes, rates and grain size distributions of sediment supplied from hillslopes represent the initial input delivered upland areas propagated through routing systems. Moreover, hillslope supply has a significant impact on landscape response time to tectonic climatic perturbations. However, there are very few detailed field studies characterizing as function lithology delivery process. Here, we present new empirical data tectonically‐active in southern Italy that quantifies how...

ABSTRACT We present detailed data on channel morphology, valley width and grain size for three bedrock rivers crossing active normal faults which differ in their rate, history spatial distribution of uplift. evaluate the extent to downstream changes unit stream power correlate with footwall uplift, use this information identify channels are likely be undergoing a transient response tectonics, hence clarify key geomorphic features associated signal. demonstrate that responding transiently...

ABSTRACT In order to better understand the evolution of rift‐related topography and sedimentation, we present results a numerical modelling study in which elevation changes generated by extensional fault propagation, interaction linkage are used drive landscape model. Drainage network development, landsliding sediment accumulation response faulting calculated using CASCADE, model developed Braun Sambridge, compared with field examples. We first show theoretically how ‘fluvial length scale’,...

Research Article| July 01, 2008 New constraints on sediment-flux–dependent river incision: Implications for extracting tectonic signals from profiles Patience A. Cowie; Cowie * 1School of GeoSciences, University Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JW, UK E-mail: patience.cowie@ed.ac.uk. Search other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alexander C. Whittaker; Whittaker Mikaël Attal; Attal Gerald Roberts; Roberts 2Joint School Geological and Geophysical Sciences, College London–Birkbeck College,...

Regional grain size trends in fluvial successions can reveal important information regarding the dynamics of sediment routing systems. Self‐similar solutions for down‐system fining have recently been proposed to explore how key variables, such as spatial distribution deposition, discharge, and supply characteristics, control over time scales 10 4 –10 6 years. We sensitivity these changes variables assess their applicability ancient successions. Several analyses are presented investigate...

The Pyrenees represents an orogen that developed diachronously, from east to west, between the Late Cretaceous and Miocene. Here, we use detrital zircon fission-track thermochronological analyses U-Pb geochronology, interpreted within context of thermal tectono-sedimentary development orogen, construct a 3-stage model for south-central Pyrenean sediment routing system evolution as follows: (1) *Late Paleocene*: Oblique convergence topographic growth initiates in eastern Pyrenees. After...

Research Article| July 01, 2011 Decoding downstream trends in stratigraphic grain size as a function of tectonic subsidence and sediment supply Alexander C. Whittaker; Whittaker † 1Department Earth Science Engineering, Royal School Mines, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK †E-mail: a.whittaker@imperial.ac.uk Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert A. Duller; Duller Joshua Springett; Springett 2ExxonMobil, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8UX, Rosie Smithells; Smithells...

The existence of well-preserved Holocene bedrock fault scarps along active normal faults in the Mediterranean region and elsewhere suggests a dramatic reduction rates rock weathering erosion that correlates with transition from glacial to interglacial climate. We test quantify this interpretation using case study Italian Central Apennines. are derived measurements weathering-pit depth Magnola scarp, where previous cosmogenic Cl-36 analyses constrain exposure history. To estimate average...

The supply of sediment and its characteristic grain-size mix are key controls on depositional facies stratigraphic architectures in sedimentary basins.Consequently, constraints caliber, budgets, fl uxes a prerequisite for effective prediction.Here, we investigate mid-to late Eocene (41.6-33.9Ma) routing system the Spanish Pyrenees.We derive full volumetric budget, weighted fractions, partitioned between terrestrial marine sectors, quantify depocenters.The paleo-sediment was controlled by...

Abstract The effects of climate change on eroding landscapes and the terrestrial sedimentary record are poorly understood. Using mountain catchment–alluvial fan systems as simple analogues for larger landscapes, a wide range theoretical studies, numerical models physical experiments have hypothesized that in precipitation rate could leave characteristic signal alluvial sediment flux, grain size down‐system fining rate. However, this hypothesis remains largely untested real landscapes. This...

Significance The origin of low-gradient meandering rivers—the primary conduits water, carbon, and nutrients in present-day terrestrial landscapes—is considered coeval with Silurian-age plant evolution. It was hypothesized that pre-Silurian rivers lacked bank strength were dominantly steep braided, implying vastly different transport capacities water sediment. This idea, however, is inconsistent the supercontinental-scale drainage Neoproterozoic rivers, which requires unrealistically high...

Research Article| October 01, 2012 Abrupt landscape change post–6 Ma on the central Great Plains, USA Robert A. Duller; Duller 1Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK2Department & Ocean Sciences, University Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GP, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alexander C. Whittaker; Whittaker James B. Swinehart; Swinehart 3School Natural Resources, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0961, John J. Armitage; Armitage...