Quaternary landscape evolution and erosion rates for an intramontane Neogene basin (Guadix–Baza basin, SE Spain)

The landscape evolution in Neogene intramontane basins is a result of the interaction of climatic, lithologic, and tectonic factors. When sedimentation ceases and a basin enters an erosional stage, estimating erosion rates across the entire basin can offer a good view of landscape evolution. In this...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geomorphology (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Netherlands), 2009-05, Vol.106 (3), p.206-218
Main Authors: Pérez-Peña, José Vicente, Azañón, José Miguel, Azor, Antonio, Tuccimei, Paola, Della Seta, Marta, Soligo, Michele
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Erosion rates
Exact sciences and technology
Geomorphology, landform evolution
GIS
Guadix–Baza basin
Landscape evolution
Marine and continental quaternary
River capture
Stratigraphy
Surficial geology
U/Th dating
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The landscape evolution in Neogene intramontane basins is a result of the interaction of climatic, lithologic, and tectonic factors. When sedimentation ceases and a basin enters an erosional stage, estimating erosion rates across the entire basin can offer a good view of landscape evolution. In this work, the erosion rates in the Guadix–Baza basin have been calculated based on a volumetric estimate of sediment loss by river erosion since the Late Pleistocene. To do so, the distribution of a glacis surface at ca. 43 kyr, characterised by a calcrete layer that caps the basin infilling, has been reconstructed. To support this age, new radiometric data of the glacis are presented. The volume of sediment loss by water erosion has been calculated for the entire basin by comparing the reconstructed geomorphic surface and the present-day topography. The resulting erosion rates vary between 4.28 and 6.57 m 3 ha − 1 yr − 1 , and are the consequence of the interaction of climatic, lithologic, topographic, and tectonic factors. Individual erosion rates for the Guadix and Baza sub-basins (11.80 m 3 ha − 1 yr − 1 and 1.77 m 3 ha − 1  yr − 1 respectively) suggest different stages of drainage pattern evolution in the two sub-basins. We attribute the lower values obtained in the Baza sub-basin to the down-throw of this sub-basin caused by very recent activity along the Baza fault.
ISSN:0169-555X
1872-695X
DOI:10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.10.018