Geology and Geomorphological Evolution of the Ebro River Delta

Somoza, Luı́s; Rodríguez-Santalla, Inmaculada

doi:10.1007/978-94-017-8628-7_18

Cited by 15 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Our best-matched model also agrees with observations suggesting increased flood plain deposition in the drainage basin (∼ 2000-1800 yr BP; Thorndycraft and Benito, 2006). The model-estimated avulsion times compare closely with the existing, albeit limited, historical evidence (Canicio and Ibáñez, 1999;Somoza and Rodriguez-Santalla, 2014), at least for the avulsion of the Sol de Riu at ∼ 300 years BP. Other model simulation results, such as the maximum extent of the modeled Riet Vell Lobe (∼ 20 km, Fig.…”

Section: Timescales Of Change On the Delta Plainsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…1) (Canicio and Ibáñez, 1999). From relict channel deposits on the delta plain (Maldonado, 1975), published maps, and historical evidence, Canicio and Ibáñez (1999) and Somoza and Rodriguez-Santalla (2014) suggest that the progradation of the Riet Vell lobe stopped after 1000 years BP but prior to 600 years BP, when the avulsion of the main channel started the new Sol de Riu lobe to the north ( Fig. 1), which also prograded rapidly.…”

Section: Ebro Delta Holocene Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late Holocene evolution of the Ebro Delta

et al. 2017

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Abstract. The distinctive plan-view shape of the Ebro Delta coast reveals a rich morphologic history. The degree to which the form and depositional history of the Ebro and other deltas represent autogenic (internal) dynamics or allogenic (external) forcing remains a prominent challenge for paleo-environmental reconstructions. Here we use simple coastal and fluvial morphodynamic models to quantify paleo-environmental changes affecting the Ebro Delta over the late Holocene. Our findings show that these models are able to broadly reproduce the Ebro Delta morphology, with simple fluvial and wave climate histories. Based on numerical model experiments and the preserved and modern shape of the Ebro Delta plain, we estimate that a phase of rapid shoreline progradation began approximately 2100 years BP, requiring approximately a doubling in coarse-grained fluvial sediment supply to the delta. River profile simulations suggest that an instantaneous and sustained increase in coarse-grained sediment supply to the delta requires a combined increase in both flood discharge and sediment supply from the drainage basin. The persistence of rapid delta progradation throughout the last 2100 years suggests an anthropogenic control on sediment supply and flood intensity. Using proxy records of the North Atlantic Oscillation, we do not find evidence that changes in wave climate aided this delta expansion. Our findings highlight how scenario-based investigations of deltaic systems using simple models can assist first-order quantitative paleo-environmental reconstructions, elucidating the effects of past human influence and climate change, and allowing a better understanding of the future of deltaic landforms.

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Section: Timescales Of Change On the Delta Plainsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Ebro Delta Holocene Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late Holocene evolution of the Ebro Delta

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The best matched model estimates for the start of rapid delta growth, made purely based on physical constraints set by alongshore sediment transport and fluvial sediment supply, roughly coincide with observations suggesting increased flood plain deposition in the drainage basin (2000-1800 years BP Thorndycraft and Benito, 2006). The model-estimated avulsion times also compare closely with scant historical evidence (Canicio and Ibáñez, 1999;Somoza and Rodriguez-Santalla, 2014), at least for the avulsion of the Sol de Riu at ~300 years BP. We also find that the maximum extent of the modeled Riet Vell Lobe (~20 km, Fig.…”

supporting

confidence: 73%

“…Relict channel deposits on the delta plain (Maldonado, 1975) combined with published maps and historical evidence (Canicio and Ibáñez, 1999;Somoza and Rodriguez-Santalla, 2014) suggest that the progradation of the Riet Vell lobe stopped after 1000 years BP but prior to 600 years BP, when the avulsion of the main channel started the new Sol de Riu lobe to the north (Fig. 1).…”

Section: Ebro Delta Holocene Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late Holocene evolution of the Ebro delta, Spain

Nienhuis¹,

Ashton²,

Kettner³

et al. 2017

Preprint

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Abstract. The distinctive plan-view shape of the Ebro Delta, Spain, reveals a rich morphologic history. The degree to which the form and depositional history of the Ebro and many other deltas represent autogenic (internal) dynamics or allogenic (external) forcing remains a prominent challenge for paleo-environmental reconstructions. Here we use simple coastal and fluvial morphodynamic models to quantify paleo-environmental changes that affected the Ebro delta over the late Holocene. Based on numerical model experiments and the preserved and modern Ebro delta shape, we estimate that a phase of rapid shoreline progradation began approximately 2100 years BP, requiring a large increase (doubling) in coarse-grained fluvial sediment supply to the delta. We do not find evidence that changes in wave climate aided this delta expansion. River profile models suggest that such an instantaneous and sustained increase in coarse-grained, beach-compatible sediment to the delta would require a combination of flood discharge increase and increased sediment input into the river channel from upstream drainage basin erosion. The persistence of rapid delta progradation throughout the last 2100 years suggests an anthropogenic signal of sediment supply and flooding intensity. Our findings highlight how scenario-based investigations of deltaic systems using simple models can assist first-order quantitative paleo-environmental reconstructions, elucidating the effects of past human influence and climate change and allowing a better understanding of the future of deltaic landforms.

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“…The ITGE-6 borehole was approximately 30 m long, of which approximately 27 m was Holocene in age. The Holocene stack was interpreted to be composed of five progradational units (with assigned ages in Somoza and Rodríguez-Santalla, 2014). Basal unit d0 is composed of bioclastic coarse sand containing marine molluscs and deposited during the TST before 7000 yr BP.…”

Section: Previous Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Holocene palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Ebro Delta (Western Mediterranean Sea): Evidence for an early construction based on the benthic foraminiferal record

et al. 2016

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Major Mediterranean deltas began to develop during a period between 8000 and 6000 22 yr BP when the rate of fluvial sediment input overtook the declining rate of sea-level 23 rise. However, different authors have argued that the Ebro Delta primarily formed 24 during the Late Middle Ages as a consequence of increased anthropogenic pressure on 25 its river basin and these arguments are supported by the scarcity of previous geological 26 studies and available radiocarbon dates. To reconstruct the environmental evolution of 27 the Ebro Delta during the Holocene, we used micropalaeontological analysis of 28 continuous boreholes drilled in two different locations (Carlet and Sant Jaume) on the 29 central delta plain. Different lithofacies distributions and associated environments of 30 deposition were defined based on diagnostic foraminiferal assemblages and the 31 application of a palaeowater-depth transfer function. The more landward Carlet 32 sequence shows an older and more proximal progradational delta with a sedimentary 33 record composed of inner bay, lagoonal, and beach materials deposited between 7600 34 yr BP and >2000 yr BP under rising sea-level and highstand conditions. This phase 35 was followed by a series of delta-plain environments reflected in part by the Carlet 36 deposits that formed before 2000 yr BP. The Sant Jaume borehole is located closer to 37 the present coastline and contains a much younger sequence that accumulated in the 38 last 2.0 ka during the development of three different deltaic lobes under highstand sea-39 level conditions. The results of the present study reinforce the idea that the Ebro Delta 40 dates to the early Holocene, similar to other large Mediterranean deltas.

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Geology and Geomorphological Evolution of the Ebro River Delta

Cited by 15 publications

References 10 publications

Large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late Holocene evolution of the Ebro Delta

Large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late Holocene evolution of the Ebro Delta

Large-scale coastal and fluvial models constrain the late Holocene evolution of the Ebro delta, Spain

Holocene palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Ebro Delta (Western Mediterranean Sea): Evidence for an early construction based on the benthic foraminiferal record

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