Role of debris flows in long-term landscape denudation in the central Appalachians of Virginia

Research Article| April 01, 2003 Role of debris flows in long-term landscape denudation in the central Appalachians of Virginia Louis Scott Eaton; Louis Scott Eaton 1Geology and Environmental Science, MSC 7703, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Benjamin A. Morgan; Benjamin A. Morgan 2U.S. Geological Survey, MS 926A, Reston, Virginia 20192, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. Craig Kochel; R. Craig Kochel 3Department of Geology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania 17837, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alan D. Howard Alan D. Howard 4Department of Environmental Sciences, Clark Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2003) 31 (4): 339–342. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0339:RODFIL>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 22 Aug 2002 rev-recd: 03 Dec 2002 accepted: 08 Dec 2002 first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Louis Scott Eaton, Benjamin A. Morgan, R. Craig Kochel, Alan D. Howard; Role of debris flows in long-term landscape denudation in the central Appalachians of Virginia. Geology 2003;; 31 (4): 339–342. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0339:RODFIL>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 Four major storms that triggered debris flows in the Virginia–West Virginia Appalachians provide new insights into the role of high-magnitude, low-frequency floods in long-term denudation and landscape evolution in mountainous terrain. Storm denudation in the Blue Ridge Mountain drainage basins is approximately an order of magnitude greater compared to basins located in the mountains of the Valley and Ridge province. This difference is probably the result of higher storm rainfall from the Blue Ridge storms. Radiocarbon dating of debris-flow deposits in the Blue Ridge indicates a debris-flow return interval of not more than 2–4 k.y. in mountainous river basins. This finding, combined with measurements of basin denudation, suggests that approximately half of the long-term denudation from mechanical load occurs episodically by debris-flow processes. Although floods of moderate magnitude are largely responsible for mobilizing sediment in low-gradient streams, our data suggest that high-magnitude, low-frequency events are the most significant component in delivering coarse-grained regolith from mountainous hollows and channels to the lowland floodplains. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.