Experimental migration of knickpoints: Influence of style of base-level fall and bed lithology

J. L. Grimaud, C. Paola, V. Voller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Knickpoints are fascinating and common geomorphic features whose dynamics influence the development of landscapes and source-to-sink systems in particular the upstream propagation of erosion. Here, we study river profiles and associated knickpoints experimentally in a microflume filled with a cohesive substrate made of silica, water and kaolinite. We focus on the effect on knickpoint dynamics of varying the distribution of base-level fall (rate, increment, and period) and substrate strength, i.e., kaolinite content. Such simple cases are directly comparable to both bedrock and alluvial river systems. Under a constant rate of base-level fall, knickpoints of similar shape are periodically generated, highlighting self-organized dynamics in which steady forcing leads to multiple knickpoint events. Temporary shielding of the bed by alluvium controls the spacing between these unit knickpoints. Shielding is, however, not effective when base-level drops exceed alluvium thickness. While the base-level fall rate controls the overall slope of experiments, it is not instrumental in dictating the major characteristics of unit knickpoints. Instead the velocity, face slope and associated plunge pool depth of these knickpoints are all strongly influenced by lithology. The period between knickpoints is set by both alluvium thickness and base-level fall rate, allowing use of knickpoint spacing along rivers as an indicator of base-level fall rate.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11-23
Number of pages13
JournalEarth Surface Dynamics
Volume4
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 15 2016

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The work was supported in part by the SAFL Industrial Consortium for Experimental Stratigraphy and the BanglaPIRE project, NSF Partnerships for International Research and Education grant IIA 09-68354.

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