River incision or diversion in response to bedrock uplift

Research Article| January 01, 2000 River incision or diversion in response to bedrock uplift Neil F. Humphrey; Neil F. Humphrey 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Sarah K. Konrad Sarah K. Konrad 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Neil F. Humphrey 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA Sarah K. Konrad 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 01 Jun 1999 Revision Received: 14 Sep 1999 Accepted: 22 Sep 1999 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2000) 28 (1): 43–46. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<43:RIODIR>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 01 Jun 1999 Revision Received: 14 Sep 1999 Accepted: 22 Sep 1999 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Neil F. Humphrey, Sarah K. Konrad; River incision or diversion in response to bedrock uplift. Geology 2000;; 28 (1): 43–46. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<43:RIODIR>2.0.CO;2 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 Contrary to the popular belief that stream power determines whether a river incises through or diverts around an evolving bedrock uplift, we propose that river sediment flux tectonic uplift rate are the most influential variables. We construct a simplified theoretical model of an equilibrium alluvial river system responding to local bedrock uplift by coupling a diffusion model describing the alluvial river with a kinematic wave model describing the incising bedrock river. The initial uplift reduces local river gradient, causing the river to deposit sediment in the accommodation space created upstream. At the same time, the river incises into the uplifting bedrock, starting from a knickpoint at the downstream edge of the uplift. The sediment aggradation must keep pace with the uplift rate until the incision has propagated through to the upstream edge of the bedrock block; otherwise the river will divert to another course. We use geometric arguments to identify sediment flu ∧ uplift rate as the controlling variables of the system. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.