Universal and local controls of avulsions in southeast Texas Rivers

Phillips, Jonathan D.

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2010.10.001

Cited by 43 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 46 publications

(111 reference statements)

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“…The geomorphic literature is, of course, replete with evidence of channel avulsions during floods (cf. Phillips, 2011) so the occurrence of an avulsion does not immediately indicate a catastrophic effect -field evidence and aerial imagery suggests that it hasn't happened in this location recently (historically?). Moreover, rather than incising into alluvial material, the new channel eroded into Pleistocene till.…”

Section: Contextualizing the Geomorphic Effects Of The Irene Floodmentioning

confidence: 98%

The efficacy of stream power and flow duration on geomorphic responses to catastrophic flooding

2015

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Section: Contextualizing the Geomorphic Effects Of The Irene Floodmentioning

confidence: 98%

The efficacy of stream power and flow duration on geomorphic responses to catastrophic flooding

2015

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“…As a result, late Wisconsin sediments are preserved in valley positions that otherwise might be occupied by overbank flood plain deposits. One way this can occur is when the channel reoccupies preexisting valley lows or paleochannels (Brakenridge, 1984;Harden, 1990;Aslan & Blum, 1999;Mohrig et al, 2000;Phillips, 2011). Figure 8c portrays a similar type of bedrock control where the channel is entrenched and deeply incised into bedrock without abutting a cliff.…”

Section: Geomorphological Controls and Archaeological Site Preservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Bedrock‐Controlled Channel Migration Can Structure Selective Preservation of Archaeological Sites: Implications for Modeling Paleoindian Settlement

Herrmann

2015

Geoarchaeology

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Although Paleoindian sites in Indiana, USA, are commonly located on late Wisconsin (Last Glacial Maximum) outwash terraces, drainage basin development since deglaciation often obscures the visibility of such sites on flood plains by either burying them under alluvium or destroying them through erosion. Significant clusters of Paleoindian and Early Archaic sites, however, have been identified proximal to the modern White River channel in central Indiana on what is mapped as “floodplain.” These site cluster locations are patterned. They typically occur within bedrock‐controlled river reaches but are rare along unconfined meandering reaches. Subsurface reconnaissance and chronology indicate that despite the fact that they often flood, portions of the so‐called flood plains within bedrock‐confined reaches are actually terraces constructed of late Wisconsin outwash with minimal overbank sedimentation. Terrace preservation in these settings is a result of bedrock structure that protects older sediments from lateral erosion and differentially preserves archaeological sites near the modern channel in bedrock‐controlled reaches. Comparisons of archaeological sites within bedrock‐controlled segments of the White River to those in unconfined meandering segments suggests that significant numbers of Paleoindian and Early Archaic sites may be missing from river settings across the midcontinent. These findings demonstrate that bedrock channel controls are important to recognize when assessing prehistoric settlement distributions.

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“…The lower Sabine, Neches, and Trinity Rivers lie on the Gulf of Mexico coastal plain in southeast Texas. Despite their geographical adjacency and some obvious similarities, the three systems have different avulsion regimes and related valley morphologies (Figure ), as outlined in detail in previous work (Phillips, , , ). The lower Sabine River features extensive anastomosing subchannels, flood or high‐flow channels, distributary channels, and Yazoo channels, at a lower elevation than the alluvial ridge associated with the main channel of the modern Sabine River.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Trinity River has a lower density of meander depressions than the Sabine or Neches, and they are more likely to occur at the valley edge. Further, the Trinity depressions do not necessarily present anything more than a highly localized gradient advantage (Phillips, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laws, place, history and the interpretation of landforms

Phillips

2016

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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The state of an Earth surface system (ESS) is determined by three sets of factors: laws, place, and history. Laws (L = L1, L2, . . . , Ln) are the n general principles applicable to any such system at any time. Place factors (P = P1, P2, . . . , Pm) are the m relevant characteristics of the local or regional environment. History factors (H = H1 , H2, . . . , Hq) include the previous evolutionary pathway of the ESS, its stage of development, past disturbance, and initial conditions. Geoscience investigation may focus on laws, place, or history, but ultimately all three are necessary to understand and explain ESS. The LPH triad is useful as a pedagogical device, illustrated here via application to explaining the world's longest cave (Mammoth Cave, KY). Beyond providing a useful checklist, the LPH framework provides analytical traction to some difficult research problems. For example, studies of the avulsions of three southeast Texas rivers showed substantial differences in avulsion regimes and resulting alluvial morphology, despite the proximity and superficial similarity of the systems. Avulsions are governed by the same laws in all cases [L(A) = L(B) = L(C)], and the three rivers have undergone the same sea‐level, climate, and tectonic histories, as well as the same general anthropic impacts [H(A) ≈ H(B) ≈ H(C)]. Though regional environmental controls are similar, local details such as the location of the modern main channel relative to Pleistocene meander channels differ, and thus these place factors explain the differences between the rivers. The LPH framework, or similar types of reasoning, is implicit in many types of geoscience analysis. Explicit attention to the triad can help solve or address many specific problems and remind us of the importance of all three sets of factors. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Universal and local controls of avulsions in southeast Texas Rivers

Cited by 43 publications

References 46 publications

The efficacy of stream power and flow duration on geomorphic responses to catastrophic flooding

The efficacy of stream power and flow duration on geomorphic responses to catastrophic flooding

How Bedrock‐Controlled Channel Migration Can Structure Selective Preservation of Archaeological Sites: Implications for Modeling Paleoindian Settlement

Laws, place, history and the interpretation of landforms

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