Exceptional river gorge formation from unexceptional floods

L. Anton (), A. E. Mather, M. Stokes, A. Muñoz-Martin and G. De Vicente
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L. Anton: Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED)
A. E. Mather: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus
M. Stokes: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus
A. Muñoz-Martin: Grupo de Investigación en Tectonofísica Aplicada, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and Instituto de Geociencias (CSIC, UCM)
G. De Vicente: Grupo de Investigación en Tectonofísica Aplicada, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and Instituto de Geociencias (CSIC, UCM)

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract An understanding of rates and mechanisms of incision and knickpoint retreat in bedrock rivers is fundamental to perceptions of landscape response to external drivers, yet only sparse field data are available. Here we present eye witness accounts and quantitative surveys of rapid, amphitheatre-headed gorge formation in unweathered granite from the overtopping of a rock-cut dam spillway by small-moderate floods (∼100–1,500 m3 s−1). The amount of erosion demonstrates no relationship with flood magnitude or bedload availability. Instead, structural pattern of the bedrock through faults and joints appears to be the primary control on landscape change. These discontinuities facilitate rapid erosion (>270 m headward retreat; ∼100 m incision; and ∼160 m widening over 6 years) principally through fluvial plucking and block topple. The example demonstrates the potential for extremely rapid transient bedrock erosion even when rocks are mechanically strong and flood discharges are moderate. These observations are relevant to perceived models of gorge formation and knickpoint retreat.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8963

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