Episodic bedrock strath terrace formation due to meander migration and cutoff

Research Article| February 01, 2011 Episodic bedrock strath terrace formation due to meander migration and cutoff Noah J. Finnegan; Noah J. Finnegan * 1Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California−Berkeley, 307 McCone Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, USA2National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, USA *Current address: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California−Santa Cruz, Earth and Marine Sciences Building, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar William E. Dietrich William E. Dietrich 1Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California−Berkeley, 307 McCone Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, USA2National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Noah J. Finnegan * 1Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California−Berkeley, 307 McCone Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, USA2National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, USA William E. Dietrich 1Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California−Berkeley, 307 McCone Hall, Berkeley, California 94720, USA2National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, USA *Current address: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California−Santa Cruz, Earth and Marine Sciences Building, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 31 Aug 2010 Accepted: 14 Sep 2010 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2011 Geological Society of America Geology (2011) 39 (2): 143–146. https://doi.org/10.1130/G31716.1 Article history Received: 31 Aug 2010 Accepted: 14 Sep 2010 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Noah J. Finnegan, William E. Dietrich; Episodic bedrock strath terrace formation due to meander migration and cutoff. Geology 2011;; 39 (2): 143–146. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G31716.1 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 In order to explore mechanisms of bedrock terrace formation, we have developed a numerical model that couples vertical river incision and meandering. Model results illustrate that flights of unpaired strath terraces can form purely from the internal dynamics of bedrock river meandering in vertically incising channels. Specifically, knickpoints that propagate upstream following meander cutoffs enhance vertical incision, whereas channel lengthening and corresponding slope reduction during meander growth suppresses vertical incision. Analysis of topography from the Smith River, Oregon, USA, suggests terrace formation by this mechanism. Our results introduce an alternative mechanism to climatic or tectonic forcing, namely inherent instability triggered by meander growth and cutoff, that explains both oscillations in rates of vertical bedrock incision and the formation of longitudinally traceable, unpaired bedrock terraces. In addition, our results point to simple topographic criteria for identifying internally generated fluvial bedrock terraces. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.