Rivers, chemical weathering and Earth's climate

We detail the results of recent studies describing and quantifying the large-scale chemical weathering of the main types of continental silicate rocks: granites and basalts. These studies aim at establishing chemical weathering laws for these two lithologies, describing the dependence of chemical weathering on environmental parameters, such as climate and mechanical erosion. As shown within this contribution, such mathematical laws are of primary importance for numerical models calculating the evolution of the partial pressure of atmospheric CO₂ and the Earth climate at geological timescales. The major results can be summarized as follow: (1) weathering of continental basaltic lithologies accounts for about 30% of the total consumption of atmospheric CO₂ through weathering of continental silicate rocks. This is related to their high weatherability (about eight times greater than the granite weatherability); (2) a simple weathering law has been established for basaltic lithologies, giving the consumption of atmospheric CO₂ as a function of regional continental runoff, and mean annual regional temperature; (3) no such simple weathering law can be proposed for granitic lithologies, since the effect of temperature can only be identified for regions displaying high continental runoff; (4) a general law relating mechanical erosion and chemical weathering has been validated on small and large catchments. The consequences of these major advances on the climatic evolution of the Earth are discussed. Particularly, the impacts of the onset of the Deccan trapps and the Himalayan orogeny on the global carbon cycle are reinvestigated. To cite this article: B. Dupré et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

Predicting landscape-scale erosion rates using digital elevation models

Functional relationships between erosion rates and topography are central to understanding controls on global sediment flux and interactions among tectonics, climate, and erosion in shaping topography. Based on such relations digital elevation models (DEMs) allow predicting landscape-scale erosion rates to the degree that process models can be calibrated and to the extent that such processes reflect elevation, drainage area, and aspect, or their derivatives such as slope and curvature. Digital elevation models allow investigating the influence of erosional processes on landscape form and evolution through generalized quantitative expressions often referred to as ‘erosion laws’. The analytical forms of such expressions are derived from physical principles, but only limited data are available to guide calibration to particular landscapes. In addition, few studies have addressed how different transport laws interact to set landscape-scale erosion rates in different environments. Conventionally, landscape-scale sediment flux is considered to be linearly related to slope or relief, but recent analyses point toward non-linear relations for steep terrain in which changes in the frequency of landsliding accommodate increased rates of rock uplift. In such situations, landscape-scale erosion rates are more closely tied to erosion potential predicted by models of bedrock river incision. Consequently, I propose that using DEMs to predict absolute or relative erosion rates at the landscape-scale counter-intuitively involves the rate of fluvial processes as governing the sediment flux from steep landscapes, and rates of hillslope processes as governing sediment flux from low-gradient landscapes. To cite this article: D.R. Montgomery, C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

Growing mountain ranges and quenched river networks

River networks in mountain ranges owe their existence to the competing effects of tectonic uplift and climate-controlled erosion. However, paradoxically, the universal geometric properties of river networks are independent of both tectonics and climate. Currently, this paradox has still not been resolved. Here we propose a solution that consists in considering that the geometry of river networks is established on the lowland margins of incipient uplifts, and is quenched into the erosion zone as the mountain belts widen with time. In our model, the geometry of river networks simply reflects the downward coalescence of alluvial rivers on un-dissected surfaces outside of mountain belts, and is therefore independent of erosion processes. To cite this article: S. Castelltort, G. Simpson, C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

The short term climatic sensitivity of carbonate and silicate weathering fluxes: Insight from seasonal variations in river chemistry

Large seasonal variations in the dissolved load of the headwater tributaries of the Marsyandi river (Nepal Himalaya) for major cations and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are interpreted to result from a greater dissolution of carbonate relative to silicate at high runoff. There is up to a 0.003 decrease in strontium isotope ratios and a factor of 3 reduction in the Si(OH)₄/Ca ratio during the monsoon. These variations, in small rivers sampling uniform lithologies, result from a different response of carbonate and silicate mineral dissolution to climatic forcing. Similar trends are observed in compiled literature data, from both Indian and Nepalese Himalayan rivers. Carbonate weathering is more sensitive to monsoonal runoff because of its faster dissolution kinetics. Silicate weathering increases relative to carbonate during the dry season, and may be more predominant in groundwater with longer water-rock interaction times. Despite this kinetic effect, silicate weathering fluxes are dominated by the monsoon flux, when between 50% and 70% of total annual silicate weathering flux occurs.     

Identification of rock weathering and environmental control in arid catchments (northern Xinjiang) of Central Asia

Chemical weathering is an integral part of the earth surface processes, whose spatial patterns and controlling factors on continental scale are still not fully understood. Highlands of the Asian continent have been shown having some of the highest observed rates of chemical weathering yet reported. However, the paucity of river gauge data in many of these terrains has limited determination of chemical weathering budget in a continental scale. A dataset of three large watersheds throughout northern Xinjiang in Central Asia is used to empirically identify chemical weathering regimes and interpret the underlying controlling factors. Detailed analysis of major ion ratios and a forward model of mass budget procedure are presented to distinguish the relative significances and contributions of silicate, carbonate weathering and evaporite dissolution. The analytical results show that carbonic acid is the most important weathering agent to the studied watersheds. Silicate weathering contributes, on average, ∼17.8% (molar basis) of total cations on a basin wide scale with an order of Zhungarer > Erlqis > Yili, indicating that silicate weathering, however, does not seem to be intense in the study basins. Evaporite dissolution, carbonate weathering and precipitation input contribute 43.6%, 29.7% and 8.9% of the total dissolved cations on average for the whole catchment, respectively. The three main morphological and hydrological units are reflected in water chemistry. Rivers from the montane areas (recharge area) of the three watersheds are very dilute, dominated by carbonate and silicate weathering, whereas the rivers of piedmont areas as well as the rivers of the sedimentary platform (runoff area) are dominated by carbonate weathering, and rivers of desert plain in the central Zhungarer basin (discharge area) are dominated by evaporite dissolution and are SO₄ rich. This spatial pattern indicates that, beside lithology, runoff conditions have significant role on the regional chemical weathering regimes. Chemical weathering processes in the areas appear to be significantly climate controlled, displaying a tight correlation with runoff and aridity. Carbonate weathering are mostly influenced by runoff, which is higher in the mountainous part of the studied basins. The identification of chemical weathering regimes from our study confirmed the weathering potential and complexity of temperate watersheds in arid environment and that additional studies of these terrains are warranted. However, because the dominant weathering reactions in the sedimentary platform of northern Xinjiang are of carbonates and evaporites rather than silicate minerals, and the climatic factors have important role on the rock weathering regimes, we think that weathering at the arid temperate drainage system (Central Asia) is maybe not an important long-term sink for atmospheric CO₂, if the future climate has no great change.     

L'érosion des chaînes de montagnes : influence de la sédimentation de piedmont

The applanation of mountain belts that results in peneplain is generally considered to be caused by the long-term activity of erosion. Peneplanation has been previously defined as the lowering of an elevated topography and the concomitant subduing of its relief. We propose a model following which piedmont sedimentation induces the base level rise, allowing applanation to develop at high elevation and resulting in an elevated ‘peneplain’. This model is illustrated by the morphological evolution of the southern flank of the Pyrenees during the Cainozoic. To cite this article: J. Babault, J. Van Den Driessche, C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Northern latitude chemical weathering rates: clues from the Mackenzie River Basin, Canada

The main scope of this study is to investigate parameters controlling chemical weathering rates for a large river system submitted to subarctic climate. More than 110 river water samples from the Mackenzie River system (northern Canada) have been sampled and analyzed for major and trace elements and Sr isotopic ratios in the dissolved phase. The three main morphological units are reflected in water chemistry. Rivers from the Canadian Shield are very dilute, dominated by silicate weathering (Millot et al., 2002), whereas the rivers of the Rocky and Mackenzie Mountains as well as the rivers of the sedimentary Interior Platform are dominated by carbonate weathering and are SO₄ rich. Compared to the rivers of the Mackenzie and Rocky Mountains, the rivers of the interior plains are organic, silica, and Na rich and constitute the dominant input term to the Mackenzie River mainstream. Rivers of the Canadian Shield area do not significantly contribute to the Mackenzie River system. Using elemental ratios and Sr isotopic ratios, a mathematical inversion procedure is presented that distinguishes between solutes derived from silicate weathering and solutes derived from carbonate weathering. Carbonate weathering rates are mostly controlled by runoff, which is higher in the mountainous part of the Mackenzie basin. These rates are comparable to the carbonate weathering rates of warmer areas of the world. It is possible that part of the carbonate weathering is controlled by sulfide oxidative weathering, but its extent remains difficult to assess. Conversely to what was stated by Edmond and Huh (1997), overall silicate weathering rates in the Mackenzie basin are low, ranging from 0.13 to 4.3 tons/km²/yr (Na + K + Ca + Mg), and confirm the negative action of temperature on silicate weathering rates for river basins in cold climates. In contrast to what has been observed in other large river systems such as the Amazon and Ganges Rivers, silicate weathering rates appear 3 to 4 times more elevated in the plains than in the mountainous headwaters. This contradicts the “Raymo hypothesis” (Raymo and Ruddiman, 1992). Isotopic characterization of suspended material clearly shows that the higher weathering rates reported for the plains are not due to the weathering of fine sediments produced in the mountains (e.g., by glaciers) and deposited in the plains. Rather, the relatively high chemical denudation rates in the plains are attributed to lithology (uncompacted shales), high mechanical denudation, and the abundance of soil organic matter derived from incomplete degradation and promoting crystal lattice degradation by element complexation. The three- to fourfold factor of chemical weathering enhancement between the plains and mountains is similar to the fourfold factor of enhancement found by Moulton et al. (2000) between unvegetated and vegetated watershed. This study confirms the negative action of temperature on silicate weathering for cold climate but shows that additional factors, such as organic matter, associated with northern watersheds are able to counteract the effect of temperature. This acceleration by a factor of 4 in the plains is equivalent to a 6°C increase in temperature.     

Quantitative evaluation of soil processes using in situ-produced cosmogenic nuclides

In situ-produced cosmogenic nuclides provide a means for quantitative evaluation of a wide range of weathering and sediment transport processes. Although these nuclides have received attention for their power as geochronometers of surface exposure, it may be argued that they are more broadly suited for study of surface processes. In many environments, they may be used to evaluate collapse, erosion, burial, bioturbation, and creep, as well as providing a qualitative basis for distinguishing allochthonous from autochthonous materials. In addition, these nuclides can provide quantitative information on rates of erosion on scales of landforms and drainage basins. Here, we review the systematics of cosmogenic nuclide production within the Earth's surface, and present field examples demonstrating the utilization of in situ-produced cosmogenic nuclides distributions for evaluation of a range of soil evolution processes. To cite this article: E.T. Brown et al., C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

唐古拉山发源的河水主要元素与锶同位素来源及环境意义

发源于唐古拉山山脉的河流在青藏高原地区具有流域面积大、径流距离长以及流量大等特点,与喜马拉雅山地区河流共同组成全球河源区最高的水流系统。它们的物理与化学侵蚀在很大程度上代表了在全球气候变化的条件下,大陆的侵蚀作用所发生的变化,即大陆与海洋的物质运移和平衡。发源于唐古拉山北坡的长江源头主要支流楚玛尔河与沱沱河的物理化学特点是溶解的化学成分含量较高,一般为10.66～410.81mmol/L,主要阳离子为Na+、Ca2+和Mg2+,占阳离子总量的97%以上。Ca2+/Na+、Mg2+/Na+、K+/Na+的比值较低,87Sr/86Sr值为(0.708954±0.000020)～(0.711860±0.000011),表明唐古拉山北坡的河水成分以蒸发岩类溶解为主。发源于唐古拉山南坡的怒江源头以及雅鲁藏布江及其支流等的主要阳离子为Ca2+、Mg2+、Na+,占阳离子总量的97%以上。Ca2+/Na+、Mg2+/Na+、K+/Na+的比值较高,87Sr/86Sr值为(0.705534±0.000016)～(0.722856±0.000014),表现为以碳酸盐岩和硅酸盐岩的溶解为主。长江河源区河水中主要化学成分来自蒸发岩,其中Na+和Cl-在河流水化学成分中占比例最大,经计算,唐古拉山北坡长江源头地区的物理侵蚀率为77kg/(km.2a),蒸发岩的化学侵蚀率为49～72.7t/(km.2a),碳酸盐岩的化学侵蚀率为15～20t/(km.2a),硅酸盐岩的化学侵蚀率为2～5t/(km.2a);南坡物理侵蚀率为34kg/(km.2a),碳酸盐岩的化学侵蚀率为25～30t/(km.2a),硅酸盐岩的化学侵蚀率为7～10t/(km.2a)。这些特征反映出北坡高寒干旱环境下河流蒸发岩的化学侵蚀作用较强,南坡碳酸盐岩和硅酸盐岩的化学侵蚀作用大于北坡。     

Contribution à l'étude de la vitesse critique d'érosion des sols cohésifs

The phenomena of erosion and sedimentation in rivers are treated qualitatively and quantitatively. An analytical solution of the bedload critical velocity for erosion and sedimentation is proposed, depending on material property, geometry and on flow characteristics. The critical velocity of erosion of the river bed, as defined by Hjulström in 1935, can be explained by a cohesive behaviour of the grains. Whereas the cohesive force is dominated by an 1/r² (r is the radius of grains) force when grains are small, it can be modelled by the cohesion C and the friction angle φ for larger grains. To cite this article: J. Gargani, C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Chemical weathering in the plain and peninsular sub-basins of the Ganga: Impact on major ion chemistry and elemental fluxes

Concentrations of major ions, Sr and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr have been measured in the Gomti, the Son and the Yamuna, tributaries of the Ganga draining its peninsular and plain sub-basins to determine their contribution to the water chemistry of the Ganga and silicate and carbonate erosion of the Ganga basin. The results show high concentrations of Na and Sr in the Gomti, the Yamuna and the Ganga (at Varanasi) with much of the Na in excess of Cl. The use of this ‘excess Na’ (Na∗ = Na_riv − Cl_riv) a common index of silicate weathering yield values of ∼18 tons km⁻² yr⁻¹ for silicate erosion rate (SER) in the Gomti and the Yamuna basins. There are however, indications that part of this Na∗ can be from saline/alkaline soils abundant in their basins, raising questions about its use as a proxy to determine SER of the Ganga plain. Independent estimation of SER based on dissolved Si as a proxy give an average value of ∼5 tons km⁻² yr⁻¹ for the peninsular and the plain drainages, several times lower than that derived using Na∗. The major source of uncertainty in this estimate is the potential removal of Si from rivers by biological and chemical processes. The Si based SER and CER (carbonate erosion rate) are also much lower than that in the Himalayan sub-basin of the Ganga. The lower relief, runoff and physical erosion in the peninsular and the plain basins relative to the Himalayan sub-basin and calcite precipitation in them all could be contributing to their lower erosion rates.Budget calculations show that the Yamuna, the Son and Gomti together account for ∼75% Na, 41% Mg and ∼53% Sr and ⁸⁷Sr of their supply to the Ganga from its major tributaries, with the Yamuna dominating the contribution. The results highlight the important role of the plain and peninsular sub-basins in determining the solute and Sr isotope budgets of the Ganga. The study also shows that the anthropogenic contribution accounts for ?10% of the major ion fluxes of the Ganga at Rajmahal during high river stages (October). The impact of both saline/alkaline soils and anthropogenic sources on the major ion abundances of the Ganga is minimum during its peak flow and therefore the SER and CO₂ consumption rates of the river is best determined during this period.     

Évolution récente et actuelle de la côte basque française (analyse et perspectives)

A recent multidisciplinary study, comprising existing data analysis and geomorphological and geological fieldwork, has helped clarify marine erosion processes of Pyrenean formations along the Basque Coast. An important discovery was made during our study of an alterite of regional extent, which calls into question recent and present evolution of the Basque Coast and the processes leading to coastline retreat. Modelling these factors has made it possible to propose a predictive scenario for future coastal evolution. To cite this article: A. Genna et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Discrimination between primary magmatic biotites, reequilibrated biotites and neoformed biotites

The ternary diagram TiO₂–FeO*–MgO (FeO* = FeO + MnO) is proposed as a quantitative objective tool for distinguishing between primary magmatic biotites and those that are more or less reequilibrated, or possibly neoformed, by or within a hydrothermal fluid. The limit of the domains of the primary magmatic biotites, the reequilibrated biotites and the neoformed biotites were determined on the basis of optical, paragenetic and chemical criteria. To cite this article: H. Nachit et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

SEM–EDS analysis of western Mediterranean obsidians: a new tool for Neolithic provenance studies

The contents of Na, Al, Si, K, Ca and Fe of 99 obsidians from the western Mediterranean islands of Lipari, Palmarola, Pantelleria and Sardinia were determined with the energy-dispersive spectrometer of a scanning electron microscope (SEM–EDS). The Na and in a lesser way other elements contents characterize any obsidian source-island. In Sardinia (80 samples), the four Monte Arci obsidian geochemical types can be discriminated from binary diagrams of element contents or by a discriminant analysis based on the six elements measured. It is concluded that SEM–EDS offers a new option for Neolithic obsidian provenance studies in this region. To cite this article: F.-X. Le Bourdonnec et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

The strontium isotopic budget of Himalayan rivers in Nepal and Bangladesh

Himalayan rivers have very unusual Sr characteristics and their budget cannot be achieved by simple mixing between silicate and carbonate even if carbonates are radiogenic. We present Sr, O, and C isotopic data from river and rain water, bedload, and bedrock samples for the western and central Nepal Himalaya and Bangladesh, including the monsoon season. Central Himalayan rivers receive Sr from several sources: carbonate and clastic Tethyan sediments, High Himalayan Crystalline (HHC) gneisses and granitoids with minor marbles, carbonates and metasediments of the Lesser Himalaya (LH), and Miocene-Recent foreland basin sediment from the Siwaliks group and the modern flood plain. In the Tethyan Himalaya rivers have dissolved [Sr] ≈ 6 μmol/l and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ≈ 0.717, with a large contribution from moderately radiogenic carbonate. Rivers draining HHC gneisses are very dilute with [Sr] ≈ 0.2 μmol/l and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ≈ 0.74. Lesser Himalayan streams also have low [Sr] ≈ 0.4 μmol/l and are highly radiogenic (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ≥ 0.78). Highly radiogenic carbonates of the LH do not contribute significantly to the Sr budget because they are sparse and have very low [Sr]. In large rivers exiting the Himalaya, Sr systematics can be modeled as a mixture between Tethyan rivers, where slightly radiogenic carbonates (mean ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ≈ 0.715) are the main source of Sr, and Lesser Himalaya waters, where extremely radiogenic silicates (>0.8) are the main source of Sr. HHC waters are less important because of their low [Sr]. Rivers draining the Siwaliks foreland basin sediments have [Sr] ≈ 4 μmol/l and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ≈ 0.725. Weathering of silicates in the Siwaliks and the flood plain results in a probably significant radiogenic (0.72–0.74) input to the Ganges and Brahmaputra (G-B), but quantification of this flux is limited by uncertainties in the hydrologic budget. The G-B in Bangladesh show strong seasonal variability with low [Sr] and high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr during the monsoon. Sr in the Brahmaputra ranges from 0.9 μmol/l and 0.722 in March to 0.3 μmol/l and 0.741 in August. We estimate the seasonally weighted flux from the G-B to be 6.5 × 10⁸ mol/yr with ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7295.     

Variations of U and Sr isotope ratios in Alsace and Luxembourg rain waters: origin and hydrogeochemical implications

Major and trace element concentrations, as well as Sr and U isotope ratios, were measured in rainwater samples collected in three different locations in Alsace (East of France) and Luxembourg: a mid-altitude mountain site (Aubure Environment HydroGeochemical Observatory), an urban site (Strasbourg) and a peri-urban site located in an area of well developed industrial activity (Esch-sur-Alzette in Luxembourg). Results highlight the quite high spatial and temporal variability of the chemical and isotopic characteristics of rainwater at the regional scale. They also suggest a quite systematic contribution of a local component in the chemical composition of rainwater. In urban and peri-urban sites, the local component is certainly linked to human activities, as it is well illustrated in this study with the Esch-sur-Alzette samples. On the other hand, for the Aubure site, i.e. a small forested watershed of mid-altitude mountain, data presented in this study demonstrate the influence of the vegetation on the chemical composition of rainwater for alkali and calc-alkali elements, as well as for the Sr isotope ratios. Such a result questions the reliability of the method classically used to estimate the rainwater contribution on the river chemical budget. In addition, data of the present study confirm the very low content of uranium in rainwater and demonstrate, especially through the U isotope analysis of Aubure rainwater, the negligible effect of rainwater on U budget of river waters. This work thus outlines the property of U to be a geochemical tracer specific of weathering fluxes carried by rivers. To cite this article: F. Chabaux et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Erosion balance in the watersheds of the western Paris Basin by high-frequency monitoring of discharge and suspended sediment in surface water

An accurate quantification of erosion, based on high-frequency monitoring of river discharge and suspended sediment fluxes is proposed for two watersheds in the western Paris Basin, a sensitive area with respect to erosion phenomena. This continuous monitoring makes it possible to include flood events of short duration, but significant erosion potential. The obtained erosion rate (16 and 21 t?km^?2?yr^?1) is among the weakest of the planet (3.5 to 18?000 t?km^?2?yr^?1). However, this annual balance does not reflect the behaviour of these rivers which can be torrential in certain cases. To cite this article: B. Laignel et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

Chemical erosion in the eastern Himalaya: Major ion composition of the Brahmaputra and δC of dissolved inorganic carbon

Major ion composition of waters, δ¹³C of its DIC (dissolved inorganic carbon), and the clay mineral composition of bank sediments in the Brahmaputra River System (draining India and Bangladesh) have been measured to understand chemical weathering and erosion and the factors controlling these processes in the eastern Himalaya. The time-series samples, collected biweekly at Guwahati, from the Brahmaputra mainstream, were also analyzed for the major ion composition. Clay mineralogy and chemical index of alteration (CIA) of sediments suggest that weathering intensity is relatively poor in comparison to that in the Ganga basin. This is attributed to higher runoff and associated physical erosion occurring in the Brahmaputra basin. The results of this study show, for the first time, spatial and temporal variations in chemical and silicate erosion rates in the Brahmaputra basin. The subbasins of the Brahmaputra watershed exhibit chemical erosion rates varying by about an order of magnitude. The Eastern Syntaxis basin dominates the erosion with a rate of ∼300 t km⁻² y⁻¹, one of the highest among the world river basins and comparable to those reported for some of the basaltic terrains. In contrast, the flat, cold, and relatively more arid Tibetan basin undergoes much slower chemical erosion (∼40 t km⁻² y⁻¹). The abundance of total dissolved solids (TDS, 102-203 mg/L) in the time-series samples collected over a period of one year shows variations in accordance with the annual discharge, except one of them, cause for which is attributable to flash floods. Na* (Na corrected for cyclic component) shows a strong positive correlation with Si, indicating their common source: silicate weathering. Estimates of silicate cations (Na_sil+K_sil+Ca_sil+Mg_sil) suggest that about half of the dissolved cations in the Brahmaputra are derived from silicates, a proportion higher than that for the Ganga system. The CO₂ consumption rate due to silicate weathering in the Brahmaputra watershed is ∼6 × 10⁵ moles km⁻² y⁻¹; whereas that in the Eastern Syntaxis subbasin is ∼19 × 10⁵ moles km⁻² y⁻¹, similar to the estimates for some of the basaltic terrains. This study suggests that the Eastern Syntaxis basin of the Brahmaputra is one of most intensely chemically eroding regions of the globe; and that runoff and physical erosion are the controlling factors of chemical erosion in the eastern Himalaya.     

Enregistrement de phénomènes de resédimentation au cours du Maastrichtien supérieur et du Paléocène supérieur (J. Serj, Tunisie atlasique) : apport micropaléontologique et signature tectono-eustatique

Sedimentological and biostratigraphic analysis of Campanian–Maastrichtian reduced series of the J. Serj permitted to characterize two episodes of submarine erosion. The first is pre-Upper Maastrichtian (Rosita contusa zone), the second is pre-Upper Palaeocene (Morozovella velascoensis zone). Thus, two type-1 boundary surfaces are distinguished. These surfaces limit three stratigraphic intervals in apparent continuity. Syn-sedimentary tectonic activity is attested by gravity deposits or processes (conglomerates, slumps). To cite this article: A. Amri et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

长江澄通河段河床冲淤对流域减沙的响应

为研究潮汐河道不同区段在流域来沙减少条件下的冲淤响应机制,以长江澄通河段为例,根据水动力特性将其划分为江阴—天生港和天生港—徐六泾两段,结合1950—2014年的水沙资料及2005—2014年的地形资料,比较两段冲淤对流域减沙的响应差异。结果表明:上游江阴—天生港段对流域减沙敏感,较快地由淤积转为冲刷;下游天生港—徐六泾段1998—2004年期间受洪季平均径流流量减小、潮汐顶托作用相对增大的影响,冲刷速率为减小趋势,2004年以后受洪季平均径流流量增大、潮汐顶托作用相对减小及流域来沙持续减少的共同影响,冲刷速率为增大趋势。使得潮汐动力对天生港—徐六泾段由促淤变为促冲的临界洪季平均径流流量为36 000 m3/s,该径流流量也是使得潮汐顶托作用在江阴—天生港段由不显著变为显著的临界流量。目前,流域减沙已加剧澄通河段整体的冲刷。