Geomorphology最新文献

{"title":"Impulse wave run-up mechanism for typical landslides in complex terrains","authors":"Shulou Cheng,&nbsp;Bolin Huang,&nbsp;Peng Zhang,&nbsp;Qiuwang Li,&nbsp;Xingchen Dong,&nbsp;Guowei Li","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109735","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109735","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Impulse wave run-up is an important index to measure the impact of impulse waves and potential damage caused by landslides. Three-dimensional microtopography strongly affects the impulse wave run-up. In complex terrains, the mechanism of the run-up is unclear. Hence, in this study, 53 groups of run-up tests were performed in a test site for 3D landslide-induced impulse waves in the Wangjiashan (WJS) section of Baihetan reservoir in Jinsha River under different volume and sliding speed conditions. The run-up mechanism of the impulse wave in complex terrains characterized by gullies, estuaries, and tributary bends was analyzed. Through particle image velocimetry (PIV) flow field analysis, it was found that the impulse wave run-up speed in the gully increased rapidly, and a high-speed zone was formed in the middle of the narrow zone and the rotation zone of the gully mouth. In the estuary terrain, the estuary water diversion and terrain groove were the hardest hit areas by the impulse wave run-up. The attenuation rate of the run-up from the tributary bend to the Xiaojiang bank slope area was up to 70 %. The impact center of the bend was roughly linear with the run-up on the straight bank slope of the Xiaojiang river, and the ratio was 2.51. Based on the different run-up characteristics, such as the run-up incident angle under unconfined and confined propagations of the impulse wave in the reservoir area, two run-up formulae were derived by multiple regression, and their accuracy rates were 75.2 % and 61.5 %. Finally, the Gongjiafang landslide in the Three Gorges Reservoir area was taken as an example to verify the proposed formulae; the average error was 9.7 %. The study results provide an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of landslide-induced impulse wave run-up under complex terrain conditions and theoretical support for run-up calculations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"479 ","pages":"Article 109735"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143714989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the impacts of regulation works on an Upper Rhine reach for developing a process-based restoration framework","authors":"Valentin Chardon,&nbsp;Grzegorz Skupinski,&nbsp;Laurent Schmitt","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109731","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109731","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Historical studies are fundamental to the assessment of the effects of regulatory works on the functionality of river systems and to the definition of management strategies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of engineering works conducted along the Upper Rhine River on an 11-km stretch between Offendorf (France) and Lichtenau (Germany). This was achieved through a before–after approach, with the aim of formulating functional restoration guidelines for future actions. This study employed historical maps, long-term water level data and groundwater level changes from 1830 to 2020 to quantify land cover changes from 1778 to 2021. Hand corings were conducted to estimate the thickness of fine sediments, while their spatial distribution and the calculation of fine sediment rates were performed using historical maps and an aerial topographic LiDAR survey. The results of this study demonstrate that engineering work has resulted in significant impoverishment of both aquatic and riparian habitats. This is due to the metamorphosis of the braided-anabranching channels and the associated gravel bars, which have undergone a transformation into a single narrow subrectilinear channel. The deterioration of lateral connectivity between the main channel and the floodplain after the correction works resulted in a reduction in the number of side channels and a contraction of these channels over time. Additionally, there was a homogenisation of the water channel typology related to terrestrialisation processes and dewatering of the channels. Following the Rhine correction, there was a notable decline in fine sediment deposition along the floodplain. The majority of this deposition occurred at low topographic points, which were found to correlate with the historical lateral displacement of the thalweg. Despite the considerable adverse effects of Rhine regulation, this study indicates that the link between the canalised Rhine and the floodplain may be regarded as viable, given the minimal bed incision and the consistent mean groundwater level over time. It may be beneficial to implement several bank-lowering operations of the canalised Rhine to rehabilitate lateral connectivity between the main channel and the floodplain, redynamise old side channels and improve ecosystem services.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"478 ","pages":"Article 109731"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143686715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydraulic and climate controls of hypogene and epigene speleogenesis at a regional scale in northeastern Brazil","authors":"Augusto S. Auler ,&nbsp;Philippe Audra ,&nbsp;Jo De Waele ,&nbsp;Rubson P. Maia ,&nbsp;Francisco H.R. Bezerra ,&nbsp;Xianfeng Wang ,&nbsp;Marco Antonellini ,&nbsp;Fabrizio Balsamo ,&nbsp;Giovanni Bertotti ,&nbsp;Carla Furtado ,&nbsp;Vincenzo La Bruna ,&nbsp;Rebeca Lima ,&nbsp;Francisco Pinheiro Lima-Filho ,&nbsp;Luca Pisani ,&nbsp;Cayo C.C. Pontes ,&nbsp;Diego Pujoni ,&nbsp;Felipe Santana ,&nbsp;Eliana E. dos Santos ,&nbsp;Murilo A. Valle ,&nbsp;Gabriela Veitenheimer","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109733","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109733","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hypogene karst and caves have a global distribution but represent only a minor proportion of accessible caves. The recognition of hypogene caves is important across multiple fields as they are commonly associated with metal or hydrocarbon deposits of economic significance. As uplift brings hypogene caves towards the surface, several competing meteoric-related processes promote modification or complete removal of early hypogene diagnostic features. Although the number of case studies related to hypogene speleogenesis is growing, there remains a lack of a regional approach aiming to understand how hypogene karst manifests itself across regional climatic and hydrological transitional profiles and how it interacts with better studied epigene processes in shaping karst dynamics. A 250 km-long north-south transect over Proterozoic Salitre Formation carbonates in northeastern Brazil presented an opportunity to assess the relative importance of hypogene and epigene mechanisms of speleogenesis. By isolating uniform lithological and tectonic parameters along the transect and comparing them with variable climate and hydrological conditions, we have evaluated how these environmental parameters control the manifestation and preservation of distinct types of cave development. We have found that hypogene karst is more prevalent in the drier northern zone, but also occurs in the wetter south, notably in sectors away from major axes of epigene cave development and in areas with a low hydraulic gradient. Overall, hypogene caves tend to be truncated (or erased) by later epigene branchwork passages if located along regional-scale tectonic lineaments or if associated with fracture corridors, and fold or anticlinal structures. As expected, epigene branchwork caves predominate in the wetter southern portion, correlating positively with higher runoff from neighboring quartzite hills. Maze cave sectors are linked to localized floodwater zones, often resulting from sediment plugs and base-level rise. Collapsed zones in caves are associated with cave entrances (resulting in collapse dolines) but also occur in some passages with higher width spans. Proximity to base level inhibits the manifestation of collapse dolines and hypogene and epigene caves, due to sedimentation processes associated with sediment input during seasonal base level floods. Understanding the interplay between hypogene and epigene processes, although challenging, is critical for the correct interpretation of the evolutionary history of caves and karst areas, potentially aiding in the identification of hypogene-related oil and mineral deposits. It can provide valuable insights into how various geomorphological, climatic and hydrological parameters influence the manifestation and preservation of active and relict solutional voids.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"478 ","pages":"Article 109733"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143704598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New luminescence chronology of a loess-paleosol sequence at Jinchuan and its implications for aeolian deposition processes in the Tibetan Plateau","authors":"Shengli Yang ,&nbsp;Li Liu ,&nbsp;Dongxue Li ,&nbsp;Rui Li ,&nbsp;Weiming Liu ,&nbsp;Yuanlong Luo ,&nbsp;Pushuang Li ,&nbsp;Jinbo Zan ,&nbsp;Xiaomin Fang","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109730","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109730","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aeolian loess deposits in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are critical archives for documenting the plateau's aridification and past environmental changes. However, the lack of detailed chronological control over the TP loess sequences has hindered a more comprehensive understanding of aeolian processes, the TP's arid history, and its response to global climate change. This study investigates a well-preserved loess-paleosol sequence at Jinchuan in the eastern TP, employing single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) protocols to establish a robust chronology and elucidate the dust history and development of loess landscapes in the TP. Our results demonstrate that quartz SAR OSL dating provides reliable ages up to ~50 ka, while the pIR₂₀₀IR₂₉₀ protocol extends age control to ~160 ka for the Jinchuan loess sequence. The newly established numerical chronology for the Jinchuan loess, spanning the Last Interglacial, reveals significant glacial-interglacial fluctuations in dust activity, characterized by increased dust accumulation during glacial periods and decreased accumulation during interglacial periods on the TP. By integrating OSL ages, extrapolated dust accumulation rates, identified S1–S5 paleosols, and correlations between magnetic susceptibility curves and marine isotope stage records, we estimate the basal age of the MC loess-paleosol sequence to exceed approximately 620 ka. This suggests that an arid environment and extensive aeolian loess landscapes have developed on the TP since the mid-Pleistocene. Global climate change has served as the primary driver in shaping the geomorphic development and dust accumulation history of this region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"478 ","pages":"Article 109730"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143686749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long term evolution of an escarpment in a tableland landscape (Serra Geral de Goiás, Brazil): Insights from in situ-produced cosmogenic nuclides","authors":"Luis Felipe Soares Cherem ,&nbsp;Lionel L. Siame ,&nbsp;Márcio Henrique de Campos Zancopé ,&nbsp;Guilherme Taitson Bueno ,&nbsp;Régis Braucher ,&nbsp;Vincent Godard ,&nbsp;Laëtitia Leanni ,&nbsp;Valéry Guillou ,&nbsp;ASTER Team","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109721","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109721","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Topographic escarpments are striking geomorphic features shaping the Earth's surface, often forming distinct water divides in tectonically stable regions. This study presents a new analysis of the geomorphic evolution of the Serra Geral Escarpment in the State of Goiás, Central Brazil, using <em>in situ</em>-produced cosmogenic nuclides. The objective is to quantify Quaternary denudation rates associated with different geomorphic compartments of this regional-scale escarpment by measuring the concentrations of ¹⁰Be, ²⁶Al, and ³⁶Cl in river-borne sediments and bedrock outcrops. The results reveal three distinct denudation regimes: the summit surface of the Western Bahia Plateau (7.4 ± 0.2 m Myr⁻¹), the pediplanation surface at the toe of the Serra Geral Escarpment (22.6 ± 0.6 m Myr⁻¹), and the steep escarpment slopes (84.4 ± 3.8 m Myr⁻¹). The significant influence of regolith burial and landslides on isotopic signatures is highlighted, underscoring the importance of accounting for these processes when interpreting cosmogenic nuclide data. Estimated escarpment retreat rates range from 30 to 90 m Myr⁻¹ along active segments, while the southern region shows stabilization indicative of an advanced stage of landscape evolution. These findings demonstrate the complex interplay between geomorphic processes, lithology, and climate in shaping escarpments within continental interiors. Preliminary geomorphic evidence suggests that escarpment retreat and pediplanation at the glint's base may have initiated as early as the upper Miocene. This study establishes a framework for understanding tropical plateau erosion and offers insights into the evolution of similar escarpments worldwide.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"478 ","pages":"Article 109721"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143686748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Numerical study on morphology and material spatial distribution of landslide dams in different shaped valleys","authors":"Yuanyuan Zhou ,&nbsp;Zhenming Shi ,&nbsp;Hongchao Zheng ,&nbsp;Chengzhi Xia","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109727","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109727","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The characteristics of a landslide dam, including morphology and material spatial distribution, are dependent on its formation conditions and directly affect the dam stability. In this study, a series of numerical modeling tests were performed to reveal the importance of six accessible factors (landslide material, volume, height, slope gradient, width of sliding path, and valley shape) on dam characteristics. Two deposition modes were observed during dam formation: “collisional spreading” mode in U-shaped valleys and “pushing and climbing” mode in V-shaped valleys. The dam height was strongly related to the valley shape and landslide volume, whilst the dam width was highly sensitive to the slope gradient and width of sliding path. The crest surface frontal angle and up/downstream slopes were mainly influenced by slope gradient and landslide material. Due to the different deposition modes, the main factors regulating the material distribution of the dam in the U-shaped valley were the width-to-depth ratio of the valley and landslide height, while in the V-shaped valley, the slope gradient and valley bank slope were the primary parameters. The prediction models considering significant influencing factors were established for evaluating the geometrical and material distribution parameters of a landslide dam. Two case studies (Attabad and Baige landslide dams) are presented to test the prediction models. This study provides a rapid prediction of landslide dam characteristics, which can be used to assess the dam stability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"478 ","pages":"Article 109727"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143644847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of vegetation cover on hydro-sedimentary fluxes in the marly badlands of the Southern Alps (Draix-Bléone Critical Zone Observatory, SE France)","authors":"Raphaël Bunel ,&nbsp;Yoann Copard ,&nbsp;Le Bouteiller Caroline ,&nbsp;Nicolas Massei ,&nbsp;Nicolas Lecoq","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109726","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109726","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Located in the Southern Alps, the Terres Noires region is characterized by highly erodible and poorly permeable soils. This, combined with the steep slopes and short, intense rains of the Mediterranean climate results in the formation of highly rilled/gullied surfaces known as badlands. Anthropogenic activities such as deforestation have exacerbated runoff and erosion on these surfaces. The aim of this study is to characterize the influence of vegetation cover on the multiscale temporal hydro-sedimentary functioning (and its controlling factors) of badlands. For this purpose, an approach combining the analysis of field data and the use of the physics-based model CAESAR-Lisflood was developed. The results indicate that the forested surfaces exhibit greater dampening of the fluxes than the bare surfaces, especially in the short term. The lower hydrological reactivity of the forested areas compared to the bare areas can be attributed to the higher retention and percolation capacity of the forested soils. Additionally, vegetation impedes the formation of regolith and the physical disaggregation of particles by regulating humidity and temperature fluctuations. With regard to predictive capacity, the model provides reliable estimates of the hydrologic balance of the catchments. However, there is potential for improvement in the calibration process to better represent the temporal dynamics of water flows and the amplitude and variability of sediment fluxes. The results of this study can serve as a basis for the development of water and soil management strategies in the badlands of the Southern Alps.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"478 ","pages":"Article 109726"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143686712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors controlling the formation and movement of clustered shallow landslides triggered by the extreme rainstorm in July 2023 in Beijing, China","authors":"Hao Ma ,&nbsp;Fawu Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109728","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109728","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Timely recording and analyzing the characteristics of landslides triggered by an extreme climate event is essential for understanding the disaster impacts of such events and for informing disaster prevention efforts. From July 29 to August 2, 2023, a record-breaking rainstorm hit Beijing, and triggered numerous landslides in the western mountainous areas. To enhance the understanding of landslide characteristics and identify their controlling factors, detailed remote sensing interpretation, statistical analysis, and field investigations were conducted. A total of 15,174 landslides have been identified. Small, shallow debris slides are the primary initial failure mode of the landslides, and the subsequent fluidized movement substantially expands the affected area of individual landslides. The landslides are primarily densely distributed in the northwestern and southeastern parts of Mentougou District and the southwestern part of Changping District. Correlation analysis and machine learning regression reveal that landslide distribution density is primarily controlled by precipitation and distance to fault, while landslide mobility is mainly affected by slope gradient. Most of the landslides investigated in the field exhibit translational sliding along the soil-rock interface or rotational sliding in residual gravel soil. The increased fragmentation of rock due to long-term fault activity, which results in reduced weathering resistance, may be the primary reason for the close correlation between landslide distribution and fault location.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"478 ","pages":"Article 109728"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143686713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seismic response and run-out process of the Shiguchuan landslide: Insights from geological investigations and numerical simulation","authors":"Ping Sun ,&nbsp;Haojie Wang ,&nbsp;Chaoying Ke ,&nbsp;Kangyun Sang ,&nbsp;Shuai Han ,&nbsp;Shuai Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109725","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109725","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tianshui City is located in the transitional zone between the Western Qinling Mountains and the Loess Plateau, an area significantly affected by strong earthquakes. Historical seismic events have induced numerous landslides in this region. Through an integrated methodology combining field investigations, drilling, and numerical simulation, the seismic response and failure mechanisms of the loess-bedrock slope are revealed, and the run-out process of Shiguchuan landslide under basic and rare seismic conditions is examined. The key findings are as follows: The seismic response of the loess-bedrock slope is primarily controlled by the thickness of the loess layer, topographic features, and the loess-bedrock interface, which exhibits significant elevation amplification, surface amplification, and loess layer amplification effects. Below the mid-slope elevation, horizontal acceleration amplification factors (AAFs) dominate over vertical components, whereas this relationship reverses above the mid-slope elevation. Spectral analysis reveals that the seismic amplification in loess-bedrock slopes exhibits pronounced frequency-dependent characteristics. Significant amplification of horizontal components (2.2–2.5 Hz) and vertical components (5–6 Hz) is observed in the upper-middle slope section. The failure mechanism of the Shiguchuan landslide is characterized by high-level shear sliding of the mid-upper slope loess along the bedrock interface. Under rare seismic conditions, the run-out and accumulation behaviors of the landslide, as determined by numerical simulations, are generally consistent with the post-failure characteristics observed through field investigations, suggesting that the Shiguchuan landslide was likely triggered by seismic ground motions with a PGA (peak ground motion acceleration) of ≥0.6 g. These results have significant implications for understanding the dynamic behavior of such landslides and the potential triggering seismic intensities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"478 ","pages":"Article 109725"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143631898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Holocene paleoflood stratigraphy in the lower Yellow River floodplain, China","authors":"Jinsong Yang ,&nbsp;Zhe Liu ,&nbsp;Shenghua Liu ,&nbsp;Yong Wang ,&nbsp;Mark G. Macklin ,&nbsp;Pengfei Liu ,&nbsp;Qiuyao Dong ,&nbsp;Wengeng Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109720","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geomorph.2025.109720","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The lower Yellow River has experienced enormous floods, levee breaches, and channel avulsions over the last 4000-year history, resulting in the deposition of extensive paleoflood sediments across the North China Plain. However, a comprehensive investigation of paleoflood stratigraphy in alluvial plains is still lacking. Here, representative paleoflood profiles along the abandoned channel areas in the lower Yellow River have been comprehensively and systematically analyzed in terms of sedimentology, stratigraphy, and chronology. Our findings reveal that the subsurface stratigraphy is mainly formed by twelve lithological facies and four facies associations. The facies associations are interpreted to represent lowland, paleosol, overbank and channel environments. Compared with the mutable overbank and channel deposits, lowland and paleosol facies that have been developed during relatively stable periods without flood aggradation can be utilized to refine stratigraphic correlations. By combining stratigraphic evidence and radiometric dating results, four sedimentary units are consistently identified in the study area: Unit I related to the early geomorphic surface before the ∼8.0 ka, Unit II represents stability period during the middle Holocene, Unit III with different sequences of overbank flood deposits and paleosols suggesting an abrupt environmental change since ∼4.0 ka, and Unit IV of widely distributed indicating the frequent cycles of flood and interflood since the last millennium. Furthermore, a sedimentary model of paleofloods with a distinct upward-coarsening sequence along the abandoned channel areas is proposed, illustrating the multi-stage deposition of the flooding process. In particular, the thick layer of uniform silt and clay in the lower Yellow River demonstrates distinct features of slack water deposits, which explores the potential of applying the traditional method to more populated and higher-risk areas on floodplains and similar lower rivers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55115,"journal":{"name":"Geomorphology","volume":"478 ","pages":"Article 109720"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143686710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}