Cascades of sub-decadal,channel-floodplain changes in low-gradient,non-vegetated reaches near a dryland river terminus: Salar de Uyuni,Bolivia

The terminus of the ephemeral Río Colorado is located at the margins of Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, the world's largest salt lake. The low-gradient (<0.0006 m m^-1), non-vegetated reaches approaching the terminus provide an excellent natural laboratory for investigating cascades of channel-floodplain changes that occur in response to quasi-regular flows (at least once annually) and fine-grained sediment supply (dominantly silt and clay). High-resolution satellite imagery (<0.65 m, various dates from 2004 onwards) and field data reveal widespread, pronounced and rapid morphodynamics on sub-decadal timescales, including channel erosion and chute cutoff formation, and development of crevasse channels and splays, floodouts (unchannelled surfaces at channel termini), and erosion cells (floodplain scour-transport-fill features). In particular, following high annual precipitation (>400 mm) in 2004–2005 and two subsequent high magnitude daily precipitation events (~40 mm), all of which led to widespread flooding, numerous crevasse splays formed between 2004 and 2016, avulsions occurred at nearby floodouts, and erosion cells downstream of the splays and floodouts underwent striking morphological changes. High-precision GPS data reveal two preferential localities for erosion cell development: partially or fully abandoned channels with crevasse splay remnants, and topographic lows between channels. In this overall low-gradient setting, comparatively high gradients (up to ~0.0006 m m^-1) at the edge of splay deposits and topography created by crevasses and abandoned channels may initiate knickpoint retreat and thereafter erosion cell development. Abandoned channels with splays tend to give rise to narrow, deep erosion cells, while topographic lows promote relatively shallow, wide erosion cells. In both situations, erosion cells may extend upslope and downslope, and eventually connect to form straight channels. The channel-floodplain morphodynamics near the Río Colorado terminus extend previous analyses of low-gradient, dryland river systems, particularly because the lack of vegetation and quasi-regular floods drive cascades of rapid changes on sub-decadal timescales. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The character and age structure of valley fills in upper Wolumla Creek catchment,south coast,New South Wales,Australia

Extensive valley fills at the base of the escarpment in upper Wolumla Creek, on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia, have formed from a combination of ‘cut and fill’ processes. The valley fills comprise series of alternating, horizontally bedded sand and mud units, reflecting reworking of detritus from deeply weathered granites of the Bega Batholith. Sand units are deposited as sand sheets or splays on floodplain surfaces or in floodouts that form atop intact valley fill surfaces downstream of discontinuous gullies. Alternatively, sands are deposited from bedload and form bars or part of the valley floor within channel fills. Organic-rich mud units are deposited from suspension in swamps or in seepage zones at the distal margin of floodouts. Within 5 km of the escarpment, valley deposits grade downstream from sand sheet and splay deposition in floodouts, to mud deposition in swamp and seepage zones. Radiocarbon dates indicate that virtually the entire valley fill of upper Wolumla Creek was excavated prior to 6000 years BP . Remnant terraces are evident at valley margins. The valley subsequently filled between 6000 years BP and 1000 years BP producing valley fills around 12 m deep, but no greater than 300 m wide. Reincision into the valley fill, on a scale smaller than the present incision phase, is indicated at around 1000 years BP , following which the channel refilled. Portion plans dated from 1865 refer to the study area as ‘Wolumla Big Flat’, and show large areas of swampy terrain, suggesting that the valley fill had re-established by this time. Within a few decades of European settlement the valley fill incised once more. Upper Wolumla Creek now has a channel over 10 m deep and 100 m wide in places, draining a catchment area of less than 20 km². © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SAND SLUGS FORMED BY LARGE‐SCALE CHANNEL EROSION DURING EXTREME FLOODS ON THE EAST ALLIGATOR RIVER,NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

In February/March 2007 extreme rainfall occurred over a four‐day period in the 7000 km² East Alligator River catchment in Arnhem Land, northern Australia. The resultant large flood caused extensive bank erosion, channel widening, stripping of point bars and floodplain, resulting in large amounts of sand transport. This sand was largely deposited in the downstream river channel as a sand slug, and as deep overbank sand splays where the valley abruptly widened immediately downstream of an island anabranching, bedrock‐confined reach. Interpretation of a time series of aerial photographs and satellite images from 1950 to 2012 showed that there have been considerable channel changes along the study reach. The aerial photographs show that extensive sedimentation in the same reach as in 2007 also occurred in 1975, 1981 and 1984. Each time, the sand slug was reworked rapidly over succeeding years by subsequent smaller floods, and the channel deepened naturally as sand supply declined due to revegetation of the upstream riparian zone and the reformation and stabilisation of point and lateral bars. Sand slug formation at an intermediate floodout is an episodic process dependent on the supply of large volumes of sand by extensive channel erosion during extreme floods. A conceptual geomorphic model was developed to highlight the differential effectiveness of extreme versus moderate floods.