The Cenozoic Lower Rhine Basin – rifting, sedimentation, and cyclic stratigraphy

In the Cenozoic, the Lower Rhine Basin formed as a rift at the southeastern terminus of the Dutch German Central Graben, while the Rhenish Massif was uplifted. The study focusses on the marginal marine and fluvial fill of the Lower Rhine Basin. A basin model is developed. Support for this study was given by extensive industry outcrop and well data, by new stratigraphical and sedimentological observations. The ingression and subsequent regression of the Cenozoic North Sea is analysed using the concept of base level cyclicity. As the geohistory of the basin was complex, a subsidence curve is constructed. Furthermore, an attempt is made to trace the simultaneous uplift of the Rhenish Massif.     

Interplay between tectonic, fluvial and erosional processes along the Western Border Fault of the northern Upper Rhine Graben, Germany

The northern Upper Rhine Graben, situated in the central part of the European Cenozoic rift system, is currently characterized by low intra-plate seismicity. Historical earthquakes have not been large enough to produce surface rupturing. Moreover, the records of Quaternary surface processes and human modifications are presumably better preserved than the record of the relatively slow tectonic deformation.In order to gain information on the neotectonic activity and paleoseismicity in this setting, the geological and geomorphological records of fault movements along a segment of the Western Border Fault (WBF) were studied using an integration of techniques in paleoseismology, structural analysis and shallow geophysics. The WBF segment investigated follows a 20 km long linear scarp of unclear origin. A series of geophysical measurements were performed and the results suggested that near-surface deformation structures are present at the segments' southern end. Several trenches opened at this location revealed fault structures with consistent extensional style and a maximum vertical displacement of 0.5 m. In one trench, the deformation structures were dated between 19 and 8 ka. Assuming the deformation has been caused by an earthquake, a M_w 6.5 earthquake would be implied. Aseismic deformation would point to a fault creep rate ≥ 0.04 mm/yr.A reconstruction of the sequence of events at the trench site, from Middle Pleistocene to Present, demonstrates that the morphology at the base of the scarp is the result of interplay between tectonic activity and fluvial and erosional processes. At the regional scale, a mixed origin for the WBF scarp is proposed, combining the effects of fluvial dynamics, erosion, regional uplift and localized tectonic activity on the WBF.     

川西岷江松潘段第四纪与新构造运动特征分析

在已有调查研究的基础上,通过野外地质调查和剖面测量,重点分析了岷江松潘段的漳腊盆地、斗鸡台盆地地貌特征、第四纪沉积物类型、物质成分、空间分布等特征,并系统测量和研究了松潘段岷江干流及其支流的河流阶地特征。研究表明,新构造运动控制了松潘段第四纪盆地的形态和地貌演化过程,漳腊盆地和斗鸡台盆地形成于中新世末至上新世初,西侧控盆断裂为东倾正断层,东侧为西倾逆断层,盆地为断块发生西降东升的翘板式断块运动过程中形成的,称之为"翘板式箕状盆地"。松潘段岷江河谷地貌呈现出宽谷和窄谷交替出现的特点,岷江干流及其支流中发育多处湖相地层,沉积特征表现为堰塞湖。岷江上游松潘段最多发育6级阶地,以侵蚀阶地和堆积阶地为主,主要形成于中更新世晚期—全新世时期。阶地级数具有分段性特点,不同区段阶地阶面宽窄不一,受区内新构造活动控制明显。岷江上游新构造运动表现为南北条带性和东西向差异掀斜抬升的特点,红桥关以上整体为构造隆升区,至少具有3次构造隆升,岷江上游斗鸡台盆地构造隆升强度整体上大于漳腊盆地。在尕米寺地区可能发生了6次构造抬升,红桥关一带构造抬升明显要强于漳腊盆地。     

High-resolution seismic survey on the Rhine River in the northern Upper Rhine Graben

In the northern part of the Upper Rhine Graben (URG), a high-resolution seismic reflection survey was carried out on the Rhine River over a length of 80 km, and on its tributary Neckar over a length of 25 km. The seismic investigation provides new results to redefine the base of Quaternary fluvial sediments from Oppenheim upstream to the south of Mannheim. The standard Quaternary thickness map of Bartz (1974) was partially revised and completed. Maximum Pleistocene sediment thickness is documented in the area of Mannheim with approximately 225 m. The top of the Pliocene in this area is sub-horizontal and not faulted, and rises downstream continuously towards the fault block of Worms. Intercalated lacustrine pelitic layers play a main role in defining the litho-stratigraphy in this part of the URG. In the north of Worms, Pleistocene sediments are mainly coarse-grained. In the area of Worms, a Pleistocene tectonic phase along N–S striking normal faults with variable displacement along the strike is obvious.     

Late Quaternary activity of the Feldbiss Fault Zone, Roer Valley Rift System, the Netherlands, based on displaced fluvial terrace fragments

The Meuse River crosses the Feldbiss Fault Zone, one of the main border fault zones of the Roer Valley Graben in the southern part of the Netherlands. Uplift of the area south of the Feldbiss Fault Zone forced the Meuse River to incise and, as a result, a flight of terraces was formed. Faults of the Feldbiss Fault Zone have displaced the Middle and Late Pleistocene terrace deposits. In this study, an extensive geomorphological survey was carried out to locate the faults of the Feldbiss Fault Zone and to determine the displacement history of terrace deposits.The Feldbiss Fault Zone is characterized by an average displacement rate of 0.041–0.047 mm a⁻¹ during the Late Pleistocene. Individual faults show an average displacement rate ranging between 0.010 and 0.034 mm a⁻¹. The spatial variation in displacement rates along the individual faults reveals a system of overstepping faults. These normal faults developed by reactivation of Paleozoic strike-slip faults.As fault displacements at the bases of the younger terrace deposits are apparently similar to the tops of the adjacent older terrace, the age of these horizons is the same within thousands of years. This implies that the model of terrace development by rapid fluvial incision followed by slow aggradation does apply for this area.     

Dating fluvial erosion: fluvial response to climate change in the Moselle catchment (France,Germany) since the Late Saalian

This paper focuses upon the youngest terraces of the Moselle and its tributary the Meurthe (NE France and SW Germany). It includes research on several sections, in particular the key sections of Golbey‐Pré Droué and Thörnich‐Hochrech (located in the vicinity of the Vosges Massif and in the Rhenish Massif, respectively), and the use of the Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating method. Our investigations made it possible to obtain a more robust chronostratigraphical framework and to update the previous model of fluvial response to climate change. The results demonstrate that the Moselle terrace M3 (first terrace formed after the capture of the Upper Moselle by the Palaeo‐Meurthe) has the same age from the Vosges to the Rhenish Massif. The formation of this terrace included two main periods of sedimentation attributed to the Late Saalian (MIS 6) and the Early Weichselian (MIS 5), respectively. They were separated by a major episode of fluvial erosion that may be allocated to the MIS 6–5 transition on the basis of chronological and sedimentological evidence. This erosion led to the removal of most of the MIS 6 deposits, whereas the MIS 5 deposits have been widely preserved following the subsequent (MIS 5–4) terrace incision. This evolution somewhat contrasts with that observed in the Sarre valley, the main tributary of the Moselle, and with many fluvial systems in western Europe, which show better preservation of deposits from cold periods. This atypical behaviour is explained by the relationship between the fluvial evolution and the glaciers covering the upper Moselle catchment (Vosges Massif) during the Pleistocene cold periods.     

Quaternary faulting in the Upper Rhine Graben revealed by high-resolution multi-channel reflection seismic

A high-resolution multichannel seismic reflection river profiling campaign was completed in July 2002 in the southern Upper Rhine graben (URG), along the River Rhine. Preliminary results show apparent Quaternary vertical slip rates, on intra-graben faults that are relatively slow, of the order of a few thousandths to a few hundredths of mm/yr. Moreover, kinematical data from the Ludwigshafen area show decreasing vertical slip rates since the Middle Pleistocene and/or a migration of tectonic activity. While still preliminary, these data show inhomogeneous and relatively slow tectonic activity in the URG that could probably not alone have shaped the Quaternary graben morphology. To cite this article: G. Bertrand et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

Fluvial aggradation phases in the Upper Rhine Graben—new insights by quartz OSL dating

The Upper Rhine Graben (URG) is characterized by a thickness of up to 500 m of unconsolidated Quaternary sediments, providing excellent records of the Rhine river system and its responses to tectonic and climatic changes. The most complete Quaternary sequence of fluvial and limnic-fluvial deposits is found in the Heidelberg Basin, due to its long-term subsidence since the mid-Eocene. The aim of this study is to provide a chronological framework using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of aeolian and fluvial sands derived from the upper 33 m of a sediment core, which was drilled into the Heidelberg Basin infill close to the village of Viernheim, Germany. The OSL ages demonstrate that the dated fluvial sediments were deposited during the last glacial period (Weichselian) and that there were at least three aggradation periods during this episode. The coversands that cap the sequence were emplaced during the early Holocene.     

祁连山大通河河流阶地形成时代及地质意义

祁连山是研究青藏高原隆升与构造变形的关键部位,其中大通河河流阶地是祁连山地区早更新世以来构造隆升和气候变化的载体,厘定大通河河流阶地的形成时代及地质意义对于分析祁连山地区的区域构造和气候环境改变具有重要意义。通过ESR测年技术,并对大通河流域江仓区域的剖面样品实测,获取岩层形成时代数据,分别为(42±4) ka B.P.、(71±5) ka B.P.、(121±12) ka B.P.、(210±20) ka B.P.和(602±60) ka B.P.。根据测年结果,确认剖面为河流相沉积环境,形成时代对应中晚更新世酒泉砾岩和戈壁砾岩时期,表明大通河河流阶地在542~662 ka B.P.之前就已经形成,推测其可能是受到中新世白杨河组之后的盆山运动或早更新世祁连山的褶皱变形影响而形成的。利用测年数据计算抬升速率,从中更新世晚期到晚更新世中期,抬升速率加快,反映了大通河流域的构造运动和气候变化加强,祁连山江仓地区在此期间快速隆升,为青藏高原东北缘以面积和体积扩张的观点提供了新的依据。     

内蒙古狼山山前台地成因及其新构造运动意义

内蒙古狼山地处阴山造山带西段、河套断陷带的西北缘,晚新生代以来狼山山前断裂广泛发育、构造抬升强烈。研究晚更新世以来狼山的构造隆升对深入了解河套断陷带的形成演化机制及其隆升过程对河套盆地古地理格局的影响具有重要的意义。狼山山前翁格勒其格和乌兰敖包台地的沉积学、地貌学和年代学研究表明,T1台地形成于47.4 kaB.P.,其沉积物为晚更新世河套古大湖沉积;T2台地形成于69 kaB.P.,其沉积物可能为黄河流经狼山山前的冲积物。台地特征的分析显示,狼山山前台地主要由构造抬升形成,两级台地记录了狼山晚更新世晚期(Qp^3-2)以来的构造隆升过程。69 kaB.P.到47.4 kaB.P.翁格勒其格和乌兰敖包地区的隆升速率分别为1.34 m/ka和1.25 m/ka,47.4 kaB.P.以来分别为0.81 m/ka和1.18 m/ka,狼山南段(翁格勒其格地区)构造抬升有减小的趋势。晚更新世晚期(Qp^3-2)以来由于狼山的快速隆升,导致黄河河道不断东迁,河套平原的古河道是其迁移的证据。狼山山前湖岸阶地的研究进一步证实晚更新世晚期河套地区发育统一古大湖。     

秦岭南缘青川断裂新生代变形特征及其走滑运动学转换

青川断裂作为秦岭构造带南部边界断层,新生代以来受到印度-欧亚大陆碰撞产生的远场效应,发生了强烈的走滑复活,调节了青藏高原隆升和向东扩展。本文基于错断地貌测量与断裂带脆性变形的野外调查,建立了该断裂新生代2期走滑运动历史,并讨论了走滑运动学转换的大地构造意义。沿断裂带河流水系偏移地貌分析发现,主要河流的Ⅳ级支流沿断裂发生一致的右旋偏移,指示断裂右旋位错量在200~800 m;河流阶地的右旋位错量在49~62 m。野外调查发现,青川断裂发育5~100 m宽的断裂破裂带,主要由断层泥、磨砾岩、断层透镜体等组成,S-C组构发育,磨砾石旋转定向排列。断裂破碎带运动学指向记录了青川断裂2期脆性走滑变形:早期为左旋走滑活动、晚期为右旋走滑活动。结合断裂带东端汉中盆地地层时代和秦岭山地隆升时代,我们推断晚期右旋走滑运动主要发生在上新世以来,调节了碧口地块的向东挤出;而早期左旋走滑运动则很可能是对古近纪晚期青藏高原隆升和扩展的响应。     

Paleogeography of the Upper Rhine Graben (URG) and the Swiss Molasse Basin (SMB) from Eocene to Pliocene

Twenty paleogeographic maps are presented for Middle Eocene (Lutetian) to Late Pliocene times according to the stratigraphical data given in the companion paper by Berger et al. this volume. Following a first lacustrine-continental sedimentation during the Middle Eocene, two and locally three Rupelian transgressive events were identified with the first corresponding with the Early Rupelian Middle Pechelbronn beds and the second and third with the Late Rupelian Serie Grise (Fischschiefer and equivalents). During the Early Rupelian (Middle Pechelbronn beds), a connection between North Sea and URG is clearly demonstrated, but a general connection between North Sea, URG and Paratethys, via the Alpine sea, is proposed, but not proved, during the late Rupelian. Whereas in the southern URG, a major hiatus spans Early Aquitanian to Pliocene times, Early and Middle Miocene marine, brackish and freshwater facies occur in the northern URG and in the Molasse Basin (OMM, OSM); however, no marine connections between these basins could be demonstrated during this time. After the deposition of the molasse series, a very complex drainage pattern developed during the Late Miocene and Pliocene, with a clear connection to the Bresse Graben during the Piacenzian (Sundgau gravels). During the Late Miocene, Pliocene and Quaternary sedimentation persisted in the northern URG with hardly any interruptions. The present drainage pattern of the Rhine river (from Alpine area to the lower Rhine Embayment) was not established before the Early Pleistocene.     

Distribution and Forming Model of Fluvial Terrace in the Huangshui Catchment and its Tectonic Indication

<正>The Huang Shui River,a main tributary of the Yellow River,crosses a series of tectonically subsided and uplifted areas that show different patterns of terrace formation.The distribution of fluvial terrace of the Huang Shui River is studied through topographic and sedimentologic terrace mapping.Three terraces in the Haiyan Basin,four terraces in the Huangyuan Basin,19 terraces in the Xi'ning Basin(the four high terraces may belong to another river),nine terraces in the Ping'an Basin, five terraces in the Ledu Basin and 12 terraces in the Minhe Basin are recognized.Sedimentology research shows that the geomorphologic and sedimentological pattern of the Huang Shui River,which is located at the margin of Tibet,are different from that of the rivers at other regions.The formation process of the terrace is more complicated at the Huang Shui catchment:both accumulation terrace and erosion terrace were formed in each basin and accumulation terraces were developed in some basins when erosion terraces were formed in other basins,indicating fluvial aggradation may occur in some basins simultaneously with river incision in other basins.A conceptual model of the formation process of these two kinds of fluvial terraces at Huang Shui catchment is brought forward in this paper.First,the equilibrium state of the river is broken because of climatic change and/or tectonic movement,and the river incises in all basins in the whole catchment until reaching a new equilibrium state.Then,the downstream basin subsides quickly and the equilibrium state is broken again,and the river incises at upstream basins while the river accumulates at the subsidence basin quickly until approaching a new equilibrium state again.Finally,the river incises in the whole catchment because of climatic change and/or tectonic movement and the accumulation terrace is formed at the subsidence basin while the erosion terrace is formed at other basins.The existence of the accumulation terrace implied the tectonic subsidence in the sub-basins in Huang Shui catchment.These tectonic subsidence movements gradually developed from the downstream Minhe Basin to the upstream Huangyuan Basin.Dating the terrace sequence has potential to uncover the relationship between the subsidence in the catchment and the regional tectonic at the northeastern Tibetan Plateau.     

The geology and morphology of the Antakya Graben between the Amik Triple Junction and the Cyprus Arc

In southeastern Turkey, the NE-trending Antakya Graben forms an asymmetric depression filled by Pliocene marine siliciclastic sediment, Pleistocene to Recent fluvial terrace sediment, and alluvium. Along the Mediterranean coast of the graben, marine terrace deposits sit at different elevations ranging from 2 to 180 m above present sea level, with ages ranging from MIS 2 to 11. A multisegmented, dominantly sinistral fault lying along the graben may connect the Cyprus Arc in the west to the Amik Triple Junction on the Dead Sea Fault (DSF) in the east. Normal faults, which are younger than the sinistral ones, bound the graben’s southeastern margin. The westward escape of the continental ?skenderun Block, delimited by sinistral fault segments belonging to the DSF in the east and the Eastern Anatolian Fault in the north caused the development of a sinistral transtensional tectonic regime, which has opened the Antakya Graben since the Pliocene. In the later stages of this opening, normal faults developed along the southeastern margin that caused the graben to tilt to the southwest, leading to differential uplift of Mediterranean coastal terraces. Most of these normal faults remain active. In addition to these tectonic movements, Pleistocene sea level changes in the Mediterranean affected the geomorphological evolution of the area.     

黄河晋陕峡谷河流阶地和鄂尔多斯高原第四纪构造运动

本文通过黄河晋陕峡谷河段21个地点的阶地横剖面观察和阶地对比研究,确定出6级宽谷阶地序列,同时,依据17个放射性测年数据对阶地定年。6级宽谷阶地序列揭示了鄂尔多斯高原第四纪区域造陆隆起和局部构造变形,区域造陆隆起的发生时间比之青藏高原隆起要滞后0．113～0．25Ma,而且,平均区域造陆隆起量比之青藏高原的内部和边缘的隆起量小得多。晋陕峡谷河段发生过3期加积作用幕,指示着造陆隆起景观中的气候变化时间线。渭河盆地北缘的韩城断裂悬崖带记录着构造基准面下降,影响的河流长度仅为21～127km。     

Cenozoic uplift of the Tibetan Plateau: Evidence from the tectonic-sedimentary evolution of the western Qaidam Basin

Geologists agree that the collision of the Indian and Asian plates caused uplift of the Tibet Plateau.However,controversy still exists regarding the modes and mechanisms of the Tibetan Plateau uplift.Geology has recorded this uplift well in the Qaidam Basin.This paper analyzes the tectonic and sedimentary evolution of the western Qaidam Basin using sub-surface seismic and drill data. The Cenozoic intensity and history of deformation in the Qaidam Basin have been reconstructed based on the tectonic developments,faults growth index,sedimentary facies variations,and the migration of the depositional depressions.The changes in the sedimentary facies show that lakes in the western Qaidam Basin had gone from inflow to still water deposition to withdrawal.Tectonic movements controlled deposition in various depressions,and the depressions gradually shifted southeastward.In addition,the morphology of the surface structures in the western Qaidam Basin shows that the Cenozoic tectonic movements controlled the evolution of the Basin and divided it into(a) the southern fault terrace zone, (b) a central Yingxiongling orogenic belt,and(c) the northern fold-thrust belt;divided by the XI fault (Youshi fault) and Youbei fault,respectively.The field data indicate that the western Qaidam Basin formed in a Cenozoic compressive tectonic environment caused by the India—Asia plate collision. Further,the Basin experienced two phases of intensive tectonic deformation.The first phase occurred during the Middle Eocene—Early Miocene(Xia Ganchaigou Fm.and Shang Ganchaigou Fm.,43.8—22 Ma),and peaked in the Early Oligocene(Upper Xia Ganchaigou Fm.,31.5 Ma).The second phase occurred between the Middle Miocene and the Present(Shang Youshashan Fm.and Qigequan Fm., 14.9—0 Ma),and was stronger than the first phase.The tectonic—sedimentary evolution and the orientation of surface structures in the western Qaidam Basin resulted from the Tibetan Plateau uplift,and recorded the periodic northward growth of the Plateau.Recognizing this early tectonic—sedimentary evolution supports the previous conclusion that northern Tibet responded to the collision between India and Asia shortly after its initiation.However,the current results reveal that northern Tibet also experienced another phase of uplift during the late Neogene.The effects of these two stages of tectonic activity combined to produce the current Tibetan Plateau.     

Quaternary crustal deformation along a major branch of the San Andreas fault in central California

Deformed marine terraces and alluvial deposits record Quaternary crustal deformation along segments of a major, seismically active branch of the San Andreas fault which extends 190 km SSE roughly parallel to the California coastline from Bolinas Lagoon to the Point Sur area. Most of this complex fault zone lies offshore (mapped by others using acoustical techniques), but a 4-km segment (Seal Cove fault) near Half Moon Bay and a 26-km segment (San Gregorio fault) between San Gregorio and Point Ano Nuevo lie onshore.At Half Moon Bay, right-lateral slip and N—S horizontal compression are expressed by a broad, synclinal warp in the first (lowest: 125 ka?) and second marine terraces on the NE side of the Seal Cove fault. This structure plunges to the west at an oblique angle into the fault plane. Linear, joint0controlled stream courses draining the coastal uplands are deflected toward the topographic depression along the synclinal axis where they emerge from the hills to cross the lowest terrace. Streams crossing the downwarped part of this terrace adjacent to Half Moon Bay are depositing alluvial fans, whereas streams crossing the uplifted southern limb of the syncline southwest of the bay are deeply incised. Minimum crustal shortening across this syncline parallel to the fault is 0.7% over the past 125 ka, based on deformation of the shoreline angle of the first terrace.Between San Gregorio and Point Ano Nuevo the entire fault zone is 2.5–3.0 km wide and has three primary traces or zones of faulting consisting of numerous en-echelon and anastomozing secondary fault traces. Lateral discontinuities and variable deformation of well-preserved marine terrace sequences help define major structural blocks and document differential motions in this area and south to Santa Cruz. Vertical displacement occurs on all of the fault traces, but is small compared to horizontal displacement. Some blocks within the fault zone are intensely faulted and steeply tilted. One major block 0.8 km wide east of Point Ano Nuevo is downdropped as much as 20 m between two primary traces to form a graben presently filling with Holocene deposits. Where exposed in the sea cliff, these deposits are folded into a vertical attitude adjacent to the fault plane forming the south-west margin of the graben. Near Point Ano Nuevo sedimentary deposits and fault rubble beneath a secondary high-angle reverse fault record three and possibly six distinct offset events in the past 125 ka.The three primary fault traces offset in a right-lateral sense the shoreline angles of the two lowest terraces east of Point Ano Nuevo. The rates of displacement on the three traces are similar. The average rate of horizontal offset across the entire zone is between 0.63 and 1.30 cm/yr, based on an amino-acid age estimate of 125 ka for the first terrace, and a reasonable guess of 200–400 ka for the second terrace. Rates of this magnitude make up a significant part of the deficit between long-term relative plate motions (estimated by others to be about 6 cm/yr) and present displacement rates along other parts of the San Andreas fault system (about 3.2 cm/yr).Northwestward tilt and convergence of six marine terraces northeast of Ano Nuevo (southwest side of the fault zone) indicate continuous gentle warping associated with right-lateral displacement since early or middle Pleistocene time. Minimum local crustal shortening of this block parallel to the fault is 0.2% based on tilt of the highest terrace. Five major, evenly spaced terraces southeast of Ano Nuevo on the southwest flank of Mt. Ben Lomond (northeast side of the fault zone) rise to an elevation of 240 m, indicating relatively constant uplift (about 0.19 m/ka and southwestward tilt since Early or Middle Pleistocene time (Bradley and Griggs, 1976).     

Pleistocene evolution of the Danube in the Carpathian Basin

The present-day drainage system of the Carpathian Basin originates from the gradual regression of the last marine transgression (brackish Pannonian Sea). The flow directions of the rivers including the Danube, are determined by the varying rates and locations of subsidence within the region. The Danube, which forms the main axis of the drainage network, first filled the depression of the Little Plain Lake and then, further southward, the Slavonian Lake. From the end of the Pliocene, the crustal movements which caused the uplift of the Transdanubian Mountains, forced the Danube to flow in an easterly direction, towards the antecedent Visegrid Gorge, and into the subsiding basins of the Great Plain. Climatic changes during the Pleistocene had the effect of forming up to seven fluvial terraces. The uplift of the mountains is demonstrated by the deformation of the terraces, while the subsidence of the Plains is proven by an accumulation of several hundred metres of sediment. The river only occupied its present position south of Budapest in the latest Pleistocene.     

贵州涟江惠水段河流阶地特征与地貌演化研究

贵州涟江惠水段级次清晰的四级阶地是流域地貌阶段性演化的直观记录。笔者等利用差分GPS测量法精确厘定了涟江阶地的级序和高程,结合剖面观测发现从上游到下游,涟江惠水段阶地标高和级差逐渐降低,地貌面整体呈“收拢”趋势;阶地沉积物呈现砾石层厚度变小,砾石含量降低、砾径减小,砂质沉积占比增大趋势;阶地类型从基座阶地为主向堆积阶地为主演变。光释光(OSL)测年显示,T1阶地埋藏年龄31.2±2.0 ka BP到14.7±1.3 ka BP,T2阶地122.4±8.5 ka BP到66.9±3.8 ka BP,阶地年龄与贵州高原其他流域十分相近,具有同步演化特征。结合阶地时代和发育特征,认为贵州高原河流阶地是构造运动的产物。涟江四级阶地记录了在更新世以来四次构造抬升背景下,流域经过多期自北向南“削高补低”的地貌改造,逐步由构造洼地演变为山间盆地的地貌过程。     

贵州涟江惠水段河流阶地特征与地貌演化研究

贵州涟江惠水段级次清晰的四级阶地是流域地貌阶段性演化的直观记录。笔者等利用差分GPS测量法精确厘定了涟江阶地的级序和高程,结合剖面观测发现从上游到下游,涟江惠水段阶地标高和级差逐渐降低,地貌面整体呈“收拢”趋势;阶地沉积物呈现砾石层厚度变小,砾石含量降低、砾径减小,砂质沉积占比增大趋势;阶地类型从基座阶地为主向堆积阶地为主演变。光释光（OSL）测年显示,T1阶地埋藏年龄31.2±2.0 ka BP到14.7±1.3 ka BP,T2阶地122.4±8.5 ka BP到66.9±3.8 ka BP,阶地年龄与贵州高原其他流域十分相近,具有同步演化特征。结合阶地时代和发育特征,认为贵州高原河流阶地是构造运动的产物。涟江四级阶地记录了在更新世以来四次构造抬升背景下,流域经过多期自北向南“削高补低”的地貌改造,逐步由构造洼地演变为山间盆地的地貌过程。