Is river avulsion style controlled by floodplain morphodynamics?

Research Article| March 01, 2014 Is river avulsion style controlled by floodplain morphodynamics? E.A. Hajek; E.A. Hajek 1Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, 511 Deike Building, University Park, Pennsylvania 16803, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D.A. Edmonds D.A. Edmonds 2Department of Geological Sciences and Center for Geospatial Data Analysis, Indiana University, 1001 East 10th Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2014) 42 (3): 199–202. https://doi.org/10.1130/G35045.1 Article history received: 18 Aug 2013 rev-recd: 11 Nov 2013 accepted: 14 Nov 2013 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation E.A. Hajek, D.A. Edmonds; Is river avulsion style controlled by floodplain morphodynamics?. Geology 2014;; 42 (3): 199–202. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G35045.1 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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract River relocation, or avulsion, is a fundamental process that fills alluvial basins. However, it is difficult to predict avulsion patterns because the landscape conditions associated with different avulsion styles are currently unknown. Two end-member avulsion styles have been documented in modern rivers: progradational avulsions, during which significant floodplain deposition occurs as a new channel is built, and incisional avulsions, during which floodplain erosion captures flow from a parent channel. Here we propose that avulsion style is related to the tendency for overbank flows to erode or deposit sediment (i.e., floodplain morphodynamics). We present a scaling comparison of floodplain erosion and deposition rates, test it with morphodynamic modeling, and show field data from ancient deposits that are consistent with modeling results. These results demonstrate that floodplain morphodynamics may determine how rivers relocate and that assessing the relative influence of floodplain erosion and deposition may be useful for predicting sedimentation patterns in avulsive systems. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.