Systematic valley asymmetry in the central California Coast Ranges

Research Article| June 01, 1978 Systematic valley asymmetry in the central California Coast Ranges JOHN C. DOHRENWEND JOHN C. DOHRENWEND 1Department of Geology, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information JOHN C. DOHRENWEND 1Department of Geology, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1978) 89 (6): 891–900. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1978)89<891:SVAITC>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation JOHN C. DOHRENWEND; Systematic valley asymmetry in the central California Coast Ranges. GSA Bulletin 1978;; 89 (6): 891–900. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1978)89<891:SVAITC>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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Asymmetry of east-west-trending valleys is a prominent landscape feature in the Salinas Valley and Gabilan Mesa area of the central California Coast Ranges. North-facing side slopes in these valleys are significantly steeper, less dissected and more heavily vegetated than south-facing side slopes. This systematic asymmetry persists throughout terrains of widely varying lithology, structural style, and tectonic history, and it is most strongly developed in areas that are underlain by horizontal to very gently dipping semiconsolidated sedimentary rocks. Asymmetric distribution of fill terraces and beheaded streams and close correlation between valley side-slope angle and valley gradient demonstrate that preferential lateral stream erosion has played a dominant role in the development of this valley asymmetry. For most of the valleys studied, this preferential lateral erosion is not related to tectonic movement; it is caused mainly by the asymmetric operation of slope-wasting processes arising from microclimatic differences on opposing valley side slopes. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.