Active Tectonics and Alluvial Rivers

The interactions between tectonic uplift, river erosion and alluvial deposition are fundamental processes which have acted to shape the landscape we see today. These processes are of course ongoing, and are important not only in geomorphology, sedimentology and structural geology, but also hydrology and river engineering. The authors have combined their specialities to bring together evidence and a variety of examples from both field and experimental studies to demonstrate how alluvial rivers are responding to uplift, subsidence and lateral tilting. Such recognition of the nature of river response yields criteria for the identification of active tectonics elsewhere, especially in areas without a history of seismic activity, or in the stratigraphic record. This volume will be of interest to graduate students, consultants and academic researchers in geomorphology, sedimentology and stratigraphy, structural geology, hydrology, geophysics and geography.

Part I. Background: 1. Introduction; 2. Deformation and river response; Part II. Effects of Known Measurable Deformation: 3. Experimental studies; 4. Measured active tectonics; 5. Earthquake effects; Part III. Effects of Unmeasured Deformation: 6. Response of channel morphology, sedimentology, hydrology, and hydraulics; 7. Lateral response; Part IV. Applications: 8. Tectonics and fluvial sedimentation; 9. Identification of active and neotectonic structures; 10. Applications; References; Index.