Incision and channel morphology across active structures along the Peikang River, central Taiwan: Implications for the importance of channel width

Research Article| July 01, 2010 Incision and channel morphology across active structures along the Peikang River, central Taiwan: Implications for the importance of channel width Brian J. Yanites; Brian J. Yanites † 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, 2200 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA †E-mail: brian.yanites@colorado.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Gregory E. Tucker; Gregory E. Tucker 2Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, 2200 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Karl J. Mueller; Karl J. Mueller 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, 2200 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Yue-Gau Chen; Yue-Gau Chen 3Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4th, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan, Republic of China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Tarka Wilcox; Tarka Wilcox 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, 2200 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Shao-Yi Huang; Shao-Yi Huang 3Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4th, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan, Republic of China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kuo-Wei Shi Kuo-Wei Shi 3Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4th, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan, Republic of China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Brian J. Yanites † 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, 2200 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA Gregory E. Tucker 2Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, 2200 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA Karl J. Mueller 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, 2200 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA Yue-Gau Chen 3Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4th, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan, Republic of China Tarka Wilcox 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, 2200 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA Shao-Yi Huang 3Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4th, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan, Republic of China Kuo-Wei Shi 3Department of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4th, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan, Republic of China †E-mail: brian.yanites@colorado.edu Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 16 Feb 2009 Revision Received: 31 Aug 2009 Accepted: 04 Sep 2009 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2010 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2010) 122 (7-8): 1192–1208. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30035.1 Article history Received: 16 Feb 2009 Revision Received: 31 Aug 2009 Accepted: 04 Sep 2009 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Brian J. Yanites, Gregory E. Tucker, Karl J. Mueller, Yue-Gau Chen, Tarka Wilcox, Shao-Yi Huang, Kuo-Wei Shi; Incision and channel morphology across active structures along the Peikang River, central Taiwan: Implications for the importance of channel width. GSA Bulletin 2010;; 122 (7-8): 1192–1208. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30035.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract River morphology and dynamics are strongly influenced by active tectonics. We report channel dynamics for the Peikang River, which flows through the Hsuehshan Range in central Taiwan. Using a digital elevation model and field surveys, we constrain channel morphology for an ∼90 km stretch of river to calculate unit stream power and boundary shear stress along the river path. Incision rates are estimated with optically stimulated luminescence dating of sand deposited on strath terraces. We find a strong correlation between unit stream power/shear stress and incision rate, but only if variation in channel width is considered. A calibrated river incision rule implies river incision rates of ∼9–13.5 mm/yr upstream of the Meiyuan and Tili faults and suggests that one or both of these structures are presently active. Our results indicate that the Shuilikeng fault is also actively deforming, as incision rates increase to ∼6–10 mm/yr across it, compared to 1–4 mm/yr in adjacent reaches. Prominent narrowing across the Shuilikeng fault, and the absence of significant gradient variation indicate that channel width is a first-order morphological adjustment to differential incision. Only when the channel width-to-depth ratio reaches a minimum does the channel slope significantly adjust to local changes in base level, as is the case upstream of the Meiyuan and Tili faults. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.